When considering cultured pearls, Akoya pearls trump the other kinds in luster and shine. But if you are not familiarized with pearls, you might confused Akoya with freshwater pearls. This is an article that tells the main difference between the two.
Introduction
Pearls are one of the very few jewelry pieces, if not the only jewelry piece, produced from a living organism. A by-product of shelled mollusks, they are prized by lots of women worldwide mainly because of their complex splendor and eternal elegance. They fall under three major categories: natural, cultured, and imitation. Plus they are available in different designs, dimensions, shine, and luster, or qualities that usually determine their worth.
In the past, there was plethora of natural pearls, or those that grow without the need for human intervention. However as the years went by, oysters producing them are becoming increasingly more difficult to find. Therefore people started to make their very own farms to induce the production process, thereby resulting to what we now call as “cultured pearls.” Of this kind, Akoya is claimed to have the highest quality.
Different Between Freshwater and Akoya
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If you’re planning on stunning your loved one with an Akoya pearl necklace or pearl earrings, knowing the difference between freshwater and Akoya prevents you from buying the incorrect type. Right here are the difference between the two.
1. Luster
Although both types may have excellent luster, freshwater pearls have a satin-like and soft shininess. And sometimes, they can have a rainbow brilliancy in them. Akoya, however, has a much more lustrous surface area that gives the whole piece an extremely shiny and brilliant character. Many would state that Akoya’s luster is almost mirror-like.
2. Cultivation
Just like what the name implies, a freshwater pearl is cultivated in farms that use mainly freshwater. Akoya, however, is produced in the ocean or sea surrounding Japan. To grow Akoya, a shell is forced in to the oyster, which eventually coats the shell with nacre, a substance that gives the resulting gem its brilliant outer coating or luster. The drawback of this technique is the fact that as the the gem ages, the nacre thins out therefore the shell will be noticeable. As for freshwater, there aren’t any shells involved, so they are mainly to last for many decades to come.
3. Price
In general, Akoya may cost more than freshwater. It is because the ocean can be perilous and capricious. As for freshwater, the natural environment can be managed, so freshwater mollusks possess the capability to produce more than 1 pearl simultaneously.
4. Shape
Akoya has a round shape, while freshwater is usually off-round.
5. Color
The colour of pearls rely on the colour of the mollusk’s shell. But generally, an Akoya can have a blue and yellow colour, while the freshwater-type is mainly white.