Akoya pearls are famous and known all over the world for its high luster and white color brilliance. Since akoya pearls are grown in seawater, they are also popular as akoya seawater or saltwater pearls, Japanese pearls and cultured seawater pearls. Name akoya means saltwater in Japanese language and Akoya pearls are the classic cultured pearls of Japan.

In the early Nineteenth Century, a Japanese man named Kokichi Mikimoto introduced to this world his bead-nucleating technique of culturing pearls in seawater - oyster's naturally occurring process of forming the pearl with human help thereby stimulating the process by producing the initial irritant or nucleus. Akoya oysters are small mollusks, so the pearls they produce range from sizes 3mm to 9mm. The oyster secretes nacre to cover the bead with layer upon layer of nacre. Thicker the nacre better is the quality. Akoya pearls are produced by Pinctada fucata oyster type.

Akoya pearls are primarily cultivated in the sea salt waters off the coastal areas of Japan and China but in recent years China is producing in large quantity and their quality is exceeding remarkable. With new improved modern techniques of culturing pearls, it has become possible to harvest better quality akoya pearls. It takes about 3-5 years to grow nice quality akoya pearls and pearl farms in China and Japan constantly monitor its growth during this period in order to get good harvest as well as good quality akoya pearls. Akoya oyster rarely produces more than two pearls whereas freshwater oysters are nucleated to produce about fifty pearls each. Akoya pearls normally take longer time to grow and the total quantity comparatively is not very large due to variable seawater climatic conditions and oysters’ mortality.

Akoya pearls come in natural white and cream colors with natural overtones. Akoya pearl jewelry is made with akoya pearls, which are known for their brilliant luster, high quality and nearly perfect round shapes. Akoya pearl necklace is designed and hand-knotted with very selective lustrous pearls. It takes about 40-50 pearls to make a standard pearl necklace of princess length style (16-18”), which is widely worn around by all women. Akoya pearl necklace is the preferred choice for many women and adorned all over the world. Akoya pearls are very alluring and make excellent luxurious gifts.

Whenever you see any woman wearing white color most lustrous pearl necklace, most likely it is akoya pearl necklace. Celebrities, young models and rich people have always been fascinated with the beauty of akoya pearl jewelry.

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