Akoya Pearls
The term .
pearl necklace.
encompasses a wide variety of pearl necklaces that depend on the type of
cultured pearls. The most
traditional pearl necklace is made with
Akoya
pearls. These pearls are white, very round, and create lovely
strands of matching pearls. Their size ranges from very small to
moderate. Akoya pearls are bead-nucleated, which means that they are more
consistently round than other pearls. Almost all pearls are cultured.
This means that they are formed through a human-induced irritant. The
only natural pearls that are available today are very small and have
yellowish hues. In today.s pearl market, it is especially important to
consider the surface quality of Akoya pearls. Many pearl farms withdraw
their pearls prematurely, resulting in thinner nacre and a blotchy
surface. Nacre is the pearly substance that forms around the bead used at
nucleation.
Freshwater Pearls
High quality freshwater pearls look comparable to Akoya pearls, but will
never be truly round. The main distinguishing factor occurs during the
nucleation process. Freshwater pearls are nucleated with small pieces of
mantle tissue. Additionally, the tissue pieces are inserted into the
inner lining of the shell and not into the gonad, as they are with
saltwater (Akoya) cultivation.
Freshwater
pearls are often less round and appear in a larger variety of
naturally occurring colors. They are most commonly found in hues of pink,
purple, white and cream. Oftentimes .black. freshwater pearls are
advertised, but these pearls are dyed through irradiation to obtain their
.black. color
South Sea Pearls
The other well-known white pearl type is South Sea. South Sea pearls are
generally either golden or white. They are usually much larger than both
Freshwater and Akoya pearls. They are more rare, and therefore more
expensive and valuable. Aside from their impressive size, South Sea
pearls are also distinguished by having a satiny luster. Rather than
reflecting a mirror-like surface (as favored in Akoya pearls), their color
appears dense and layered.
South
Sea pearls generally come from Australia or French Polynesia.
Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian pearls are recognizably different from other pearl types.
Tahitian pearls are the only naturally occurring .
black
pearls. and range in color from silvery champagne, to blue, green,
aubergine and grey. Similar to South Sea pearls, they frequently grow to
larger sizes than Akoya or Freshwater pearls.
Tahitian
pearls entered pearl fashion later than Akoya and Freshwater pearls,
and are sometimes known as the most contemporary or .avant garde. pearl.
Tahitian pearls are used in pearl necklaces, earrings and in men.s jewelry
as studs for cufflinks and tie tacks.
