Akoya Pearl Jewelry
The most popular cultured pearls are Akoya pearls. These pearls are cultivated from sea water mollusks from Japan and China, and are among the most well-rounded and lustrous pearls in the market. Only because they're more abundant than black Tahiti pearls, they're prices slightly lower than the former pearl type.
Akoya pearls usually have classic white body colors, although some of them naturally exist in pale hues of pink, gold, blue, and gray. Some pearl farms also treat their akoya pearls artificially to make them resemble the more expensive, Tahiti black pearls.
Although not all Akoya pearls are fully rounded, they have the highest occurring rounded pearls among cultured pearls in the market. They're also characterized as relatively shinier and bigger than other pearl types. Semi-round and button Akoya pieces are usually used for bracelets and necklaces, and are sold at slightly cheaper prices compared to fully-rounded loose strands. You should look for pieces with 7.0mm to 7.5mm diameter to get the best value. These seawater cultured pearls have generally higher quality compared to freshwater cultured pieces.
Cultured versus synthetic
A cultured pearl is not a fake or a synthetic pearl. In other words, you should be wary of pearl dealers who try to pass off painted glass or plastic pieces as 'cultured pearls'. Because they're cultured, akoya pieces should naturally feel smooth when rubbed against your teeth. It would be pretty useless to pull off the front tooth test here. You're not looking for a natural pearl piece, but an authentic, akoya cultured pearl piece.
Ask the pearl dealer to scrape off the surface of the pearl with his/her knife. If the piece is real, the scraping should produce no real harm to the piece. Expect powdery debris when the surface is scraped off. If the piece is synthetic or face, the knife's edge should peel off the paint and reveal the glass or plastic bead core.
About the Author:
The article is contributed by a professional content writer, having experiences of working in different industries. For further information on akoya pearls and pearl necklaces please visit http://www.alohapearls.com/
