Prior to a pearl purchase, it is beneficial to understand the different characteristics of Chinese freshwater pearls vs. Akoya pearls. Both Akoya pearls and freshwater pearls are genuine organic gems produced by living oysters in the oceans or freshwater pearl beds of Asia. Other than the obvious differences in price (Akoya pearls are more costly), other differences include shapes, colors, nuclei and culturing processes.
Chinese freshwater pearls are cultured in mollusks (Hyriopsis Cumingii) with a large variety of sizes ranging from tiny rice shaped pearls to very large pearls up to 16mm.Unlike the Akoya pearls, freshwater pearls are often asymmetrical in shape, including rice, button, baroque and a variety of off-round shapes. Recently, the Chinese have been able to produce very round freshwater pearls, as well. Natural colors in freshwater pearls include white, pink, peach and lavender. Additional pearl colors such as black, silver and gold are also available, but achieve this color through various pearl dyeing techniques.
Akoya pearls are generally smaller than Chinese freshwater pearls, ranging from 2 to 9 millimeters in diameter. The vast majority of commercially available pearls fall in the 5-6.5mm range. Natural Akoya pearl body colors include white and cream, with natural overtones of green, yellow and rose. Of these, rose is considered the rarest, and therefore the most valuable among Akoya pearls.
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Pearl Care Guide
Pearls are highly treasured gems and require proper care in order to ensure a beauty and luster to last a lifetime! Whether you purchase these gems from National Pearl or from your own trusted jewelry retailer, we hope to provide you with special tips for preserving and caring for your precious pearls.
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Pearl Quality Criteria
Unlike diamonds and other gems or stones, there is no standardized grading system for pearls. The truth is that each jeweler could have a completely different system for grading their pearls. Many pearl dealers have a system of grading ranging from A (the lowest quality) to AAA (the highest quality), though these grades are not recognized or used by some prestigious jewelery associations and organizations such as the G.I.A.
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Natural VS. Cultured
Both natural and cultured pearls are formed as a result of very similar processes. When an irritant such as a parasite (natural) or mantle tissue/mother-of-pearl nucleus insert (man-made) becomes lodged or implanted within the tissue of a saltwater oyster or freshwater mollusk, a natural substance known as nacre is secreted to soothe the irritant. It is this gradual build up of nacre encapsulating the irritant that eventually takes shape as a natural or cultured pearl.
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About Akoya Pearls
Akoya refers to pearls produced by the Japanese Akoya oyster (Pinctada Fucata martensii). Primarily cultivated in the ocean waters off the coasts of Japan and China, Akoya are the most famous of all pearl producing oysters. Akoya yield saltwater pearls that are known for their intense luster, beautiful color, stunning overtones and exquisite roundness. In each quality, the Akoya are superior to the freshwater pearl and therefore command much higher market values.
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Chinese or Japanese
If you have researched Akoya pearls, you already know that the vast majority of Akoya pearls are cultured and harvested in China. Years back, the statement "Japanese pearls are better than Chinese pearls" would have been true. Today, when comparing China's top quality Akoya pearls against Japan's top quality Akoya pearls, values will be equal, especially for pearl diameter sizes below 8.5mm. However, if you desire to purchase large diameter Akoya pearls in excess of 8.5mm in diameter, Japan's producers still hold a significant edge in overall quality.
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Pearl Polishing
Unlike other gems such as precious stones that are cut and polished in order to reveal their hidden beauty, many believe that pearls are harvested and presented in their natural state without any enhancing treatments. In reality, this is not the case. Nearly all pearls harvested and sold today undergo some form of pearl treatment.
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