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Akoya Pearls

Ready to ship or made to order

Our collection of jewelry made using the lustrous saltwater pearls from the Akoya oyster. Akoya pearls are white and usually have a subtle pink hue. Typically between 6mm to 9mm in diameter, they can sometimes reach 11mm.

Buying guide

About Akoya pearls

Akoya is the classic round white pearl, grown by the small Pinctada fucata oyster in the cool coastal waters of Japan and China. It is the pearl most people picture: perfectly round, bright, with a sharp reflection you can almost read in.

Oyster
Akoya oyster (Pinctada fucata)
Grown in
Japan and China
Size
2–9.5mm; most strands are 6.5–8.5mm
Color
White and cream, with rose, silver or ivory overtones
Luster
The sharpest of any cultured pearl
Best for
A first strand, bridal pearls and everyday studs

What sets Akoya apart

The Akoya oyster is small, so its pearls are small too, rarely over 9.5mm. In return it lays down fine, tightly packed layers of nacre, and that gives Akoya its signature mirror-like luster. Because the pearls grow evenly, Akoya is also the easiest type to match into a strand where every pearl agrees with its neighbors.

How we judge an Akoya

Luster comes first: we look for a crisp, defined reflection rather than a soft glow. Then surface, nacre and matching across the whole strand. Each piece carries our own grade from AA+ to AAAA, and you can add a certificate from an independent gemological laboratory at an added cost. Hanadama is a term some Japanese laboratories use for the finest Akoya of a harvest; it is a laboratory designation, not a grade we assign.

Choosing a size

7.0–7.5mm is the classic size for a first strand and suits almost everyone. 8.0–8.5mm has more presence and reads well on its own. Each half millimetre adds visible size and price, because larger Akoya are much rarer. For studs, 6.5–7.5mm is the everyday choice.

Choosing a length

16 and 18 inches are the most worn by far. 16 inches sits at the base of the neck; 18 inches, the princess length, falls just below the collarbone and works with almost every neckline. We knot every strand on silk between each pearl.

Before you buy

Are Akoya pearls real pearls?

Yes. Akoya pearls are cultured pearls: a real oyster grows the pearl around a small nucleus placed by hand, over many months. They are real pearls made of nacre, not imitation or plastic pearls.

What size Akoya pearl necklace should I buy?

For a first strand, 7.0–7.5mm. Choose 8.0–8.5mm if you want the strand to be noticed across a room, or if you are taller or wear it mostly in the evening. Come to the gallery and we will lay sizes side by side for you.

What is the difference between Akoya and freshwater pearls?

Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls from Japan and China: rounder, brighter and more evenly matched. Freshwater pearls are grown in mussels, are made entirely of nacre, come in soft natural pastels and cost less. Akoya is the classic choice for a bridal or heirloom strand.

Are Hanadama pearls better than other Akoya?

Hanadama is a certificate some Japanese laboratories give the top Akoya of a harvest, each to its own standard. It confirms a strand is within a range, not where in that range it sits, so judge the strand itself as well as the paper.

Do your Akoya pearls come with a certificate?

The grade on every piece is ours. For any pearl piece you can add a certificate from an independent gemological laboratory, at an added cost, documenting the type, size, color, luster and surface of the pearls.

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