The Quality of Akoya Pearl
The Akoya pearl is one of the most sought after kinds of cultured pearls that are grown through the akoya oysters. Japan and China are so far the major and leading producers of Akoya pearls. Generally, an Akoya pearl is considered as the most lustrous of all pearls and this significantly elevates the quality of the pearl.
However, the pearl’s luster is only one of the five qualities that are being considered to determine the quality of the pearls. Aside from luster are the pearl’s surface, shape, color, and size.
The pearls’ color is vast which basically includes the colors blue, green, gold, white, cream, silver, black, champagne, and many more. They also have various overtones that are very much recognizable from the basic color of the pearl. Akoya pearls are often white or cream in color accentuated with overtones like silver, cream, or rose. But then, the color of the pearl is one factor that determines the pearl that is appropriate for you.
Size directly affects the quality of the pearl. Typically, a pearl with a larger size fairly has a much higher price. This is done by simply measuring the diameter of the pearl in terms of millimeters. Akoya pearls however, tend to be small as they are grown from the smallest pearl-producing oyster of today. The average size of Akoya pearls range from 6-8 millimeters which is relatively smaller compared to freshwater, South Sea, and Tahitian pearls. However, the size of the pearls that is often marketed and sold today are that of Akoya’s.
However, the size of the pearls that is often marketed and sold today are that of Akoya’s. A pearl with a smooth surface usually has no bumps, discolorations, and spots. The main advantage of Akoya pearls is that they are most of the time shiny and reflective which in turn provides them with a high quality.
Freshwater pearls also vary in their shapes. In some cases, pearls have ringed shapes, significantly flattened into a disk-like button, tear-drop shapes, and those that are known as baroque pearls. Pearls in baroque shapes are the ones that appear as abstract and asymmetrical. However, the rarest shape of pearls is the perfect round shape and is often very expensive. An Akoya pearl usually come as round or near-round in shape. These main characteristics of Akoya pearls help elevate their quality. These days, Akoya pearls are some of the considered favorites by pearl enthusiasts and the perfect elements in making jewelries.