Pearl

Akoya pearls are renowned for their exceptional luster and nearly perfect round shapes, making them a classic and highly sought-after variety of cultured saltwater pearls. Akoya pearls are primarily cultivated in Japan and China, with Japan being recognized as the pioneer and leading producer of high-quality Akoya pearls. The cultivation of Akoya pearls began in the early 20th century by Kokichi Mikimoto, often credited with developing the first successful methods for culturing pearls.

• Size: They are generally smaller than other types of saltwater pearls, with sizes ranging from about 2mm to 11mm in diameter. The most common sizes found in jewelry are between 6mm and 8mm.
• Shape: Akoya pearls are best known for their perfectly round shape, which is highly valued in pearl jewelry. Although round pearls are the most sought after, Akoya pearls can also be found in slightly off-round shapes.
• Color: They typically exhibit white or cream colors with possible overtones of pink, silver, or green. The overtones add depth and beauty to the pearl’s appearance, enhancing its appeal.
• Luster: One of the defining features of Akoya pearls is their sharp, mirror-like luster. High-quality Akoya pearls have a bright, reflective surface that makes them particularly attractive.
• Surface Quality: Akoya pearls are also valued for their smooth surface, with fewer blemishes being a sign of higher quality.

Tahitian pearls are exotic and prized for their unique colors and overtones. Cultivated primarily in the French Polynesia region, especially in the waters around Tahiti and the Tuamotu Archipelago, these pearls emanate from the black-lipped oyster, Pinctada margaritifera. Unlike the common perception, Tahitian pearls are not exclusively black but come in a wide range of colors. While known as Tahitian pearls, they are not exclusively from Tahiti but rather from various locations throughout French Polynesia. Tahiti serves as the main trading center for these pearls. The cultivation process in the warm, clear waters of this region contributes to the unique colors and qualities of Tahitian pearls.

• Size: Tahitian pearls are generally larger than Akoya pearls, with sizes ranging from about 8mm to over 18mm in diameter, making them quite substantial in appearance.
• Shape: They can be found in a variety of shapes, including round, semi-round, drop, baroque, and circle (ringed), with round pearls being the most valued.
• Color: The color palette is extensive, including shades of black, gray, silver, green, blue, purple, and brown. The term “black” pearl is somewhat misleading, as these pearls often display a range of colors and overtones.
• Luster: Tahitian pearls are known for their high luster, though it can vary from pearl to pearl. The best specimens have a deep, almost metallic shine, with rich overtones that add complexity to their appearance.
• Surface Quality: Like other pearls, the surface quality of Tahitian pearls can vary, with fewer blemishes indicating higher quality. However, even those with minor imperfections are valued for their unique beauty.

South Sea pearls are celebrated for their impressive size, soft luster, and rich colors. Cultivated primarily in the waters off Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar, these pearls are produced by the Pinctada maxima oyster, which is the largest pearl-producing oyster. South Sea pearls come in two main varieties based on the color: gold-lipped oysters produce golden South Sea pearls, and silver-lipped oysters yield white South Sea pearls. South Sea pearls are sourced from the vast, warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The cultivation process is extensive, often taking 2 to 4 years to produce a single pearl, which contributes to their rarity and value.

• Size: Among the largest of all pearl types, their sizes typically range from 9mm to 20mm, with some pearls even exceeding 20mm.
• Shape: While perfectly round South Sea pearls are the most coveted, they can also be found in semi-round, drop, baroque, and oval shapes. The variety in shape offers unique options for jewelry design.
• Color: White South Sea pearls can range from pure white to silver, with overtones of pink, blue, or green. Golden South Sea pearls exhibit hues from pale champagne to deep gold, the latter being particularly prized for its intense color.
• Luster: South Sea pearls are known for their rich, satiny luster, which is softer and more subdued compared to the sharp luster of Akoya pearls. This gives them a unique, luxurious glow.
• Surface Quality: The surface of South Sea pearls can vary, but due to their large size, minor blemishes are common. High-quality South Sea pearls have a clean surface with few imperfections.

Freshwater pearls are a versatile and popular type of pearl, primarily cultivated in freshwater lakes and rivers. They are predominantly produced in China, which has become the world’s largest producer of freshwater pearls. Freshwater pearls are known for their wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. While freshwater pearls are found in various countries, China dominates the market, thanks to advanced pearl farming techniques and a high volume of production. Freshwater pearls are grown in mussels, with each mussel capable of producing multiple pearls at a time, which contributes to their abundance and affordability.

• Size: Freshwater pearls vary greatly in size, ranging from as small as 2mm to as large as 15mm or more. Their size, combined with their shape variety, makes them suitable for a wide range of jewelry pieces.
• Shape: They are available in an extensive array of shapes, including round, oval, button, drop, and baroque (irregular shapes). The baroque pearls, in particular, are appreciated for their unique and organic shapes.
• Color: Freshwater pearls come in a spectrum of natural colors, including white, cream, pink, purple, and orange. Through various treatments, they can also be found in an array of enhanced colors, making them even more versatile in jewelry design.
• Luster: The luster of freshwater pearls can vary, with the highest quality pearls exhibiting a bright, reflective surface. However, their luster is generally considered softer compared to saltwater pearls, like Akoya, Tahitian, or South Sea pearls.
• Surface Quality: The surface of freshwater pearls can range from nearly flawless to heavily blemished. High-quality freshwater pearls have a smooth, clean surface with minimal imperfections.

Baroque pearls are cherished for their unique and irregular shapes, standing out from the traditional round pearl with their distinctive, often asymmetrical forms. The term “baroque” refers to pearls that are non-spherical and vary widely in shape and size, encompassing a range of subcategories from slightly off-round to highly irregular and abstract forms. This variety includes everything from minor deviations from a perfect sphere to elongated, twisted, and even sculptural shapes. Baroque pearls can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Freshwater pearls from lakes and rivers, particularly in China, often exhibit baroque shapes due to the organic nature of their nucleation and growth processes. Saltwater baroque pearls, including Tahitian and South Sea varieties, are cultivated in oysters in oceans and seas, and their shapes can be influenced by the conditions within the mollusk and its environment.

• Size: The size of baroque pearls can vary significantly, from small to very large, depending on the type of mollusk that produced them and the environmental conditions.
• Shape: The defining feature of baroque pearls is their irregular shape. Each pearl is unique, with no two pearls being exactly alike. Shapes can range from slightly off-round to highly abstract and sculptural forms.
• Color: Baroque pearls come in a wide range of colors, depending on their origin. Freshwater baroque pearls often display soft pastel shades, while saltwater varieties, like Tahitian baroque pearls, can show deeper, more vibrant colors.
• Luster: The luster of baroque pearls can vary widely, with some displaying a high shine and others exhibiting a more subdued glow. The irregular surface of baroque pearls can scatter light in unique ways, contributing to their distinctive appearance.
• Surface Quality: The surface of baroque pearls can include ridges, valleys, and other textural features that add character and depth to the pearl.

Biwa pearls refer to freshwater pearls that were originally cultured in Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake. For many years, Lake Biwa was renowned for producing high-quality freshwater pearls, known for their unique shapes and lustrous quality. However, due to environmental pollution and overharvesting, pearl production in Lake Biwa has significantly declined since its peak, and the term “Biwa pearl” has since broadened in its application. Located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, Lake Biwa was once the leading source of freshwater pearls, starting the production in the 1930s. The pearls cultivated here set a high standard for quality in freshwater pearls. By the late 20th century, pollution and ecological changes in Lake Biwa led to a decline in pearl farming, effectively ending large-scale production.

• Shape and Size: Biwa pearls were originally known for their elongated, often irregular shapes, distinguishing them from the more commonly round saltwater pearls. Their size can vary, but they are often found in slender, stick-like forms or as more conventional oval shapes.
• Color and Luster: They exhibit a wide range of colors, including white, cream, pink, and lavender, with a soft, attractive luster that can range from subtle to quite pronounced, depending on the quality.
• Quality: The best Biwa pearls were celebrated for their high luster and unique shapes, making them highly prized in the pearl market.

Modern Usage of the Term “Biwa Pearl”

Today, the term “Biwa pearl” is less about the geographic origin and more about the style and quality that were characteristic of pearls from Lake Biwa. It is sometimes used generically to describe high-quality freshwater pearls with similar characteristics, regardless of their actual source. Modern freshwater pearls that are referred to as “Biwa-style” pearls are mainly cultivated in China, which has become the world’s largest producer of freshwater pearls.

Mabe pearls, also known as blister pearls, are a type of cultured pearl grown against the inside shell of an oyster rather than within the oyster’s body. This method produces a semi-spherical pearl with a flat back, making Mabe pearls particularly suited for certain types of jewelry. To cultivate Mabe pearls, a hemispherical nucleus is attached to the inside shell of the oyster. The oyster then covers this nucleus with layers of nacre, the iridescent substance that gives pearls their luster and color. After a period, typically one to three years, the pearl is harvested. Mabe pearls are primarily produced in saltwater oysters, with Pinctada maxima (the silver-lipped and gold-lipped oysters) and Pinctada margaritifera (the black-lipped oyster) being common species used for their cultivation.

• Shape and Size: Mabe pearls are characterized by their dome shape and flat back. They can vary significantly in size, often ranging from 10mm to 20mm in diameter, making them larger than many types of round pearls.
• Color and Luster: The color of Mabe pearls depends on the oyster species used and can include white, cream, blue, silver, and even black shades, particularly when cultivated in black-lipped oysters. They have a beautiful luster, though it can be slightly less intense than that of round pearls due to the flatter surface area.
• Surface: The nacre of Mabe pearls is usually thick and lustrous, but since they are grown against the shell, they may have imperfections on the dome surface that are typically concealed within the setting of the jewelry.

Keshi pearls are a unique and interesting type of pearl known for their irregular shapes and lustrous nacre. Unlike traditional cultured pearls, Keshi pearls are not nucleated; instead, they form spontaneously as by-products in oysters or mussels that have been previously seeded to cultivate other pearls. The absence of a nucleus means that Keshi pearls are composed entirely of nacre, the substance that gives pearls their beautiful luster and iridescence. 

• Formation: Keshi pearls form when the mollusk, already implanted with a nucleus to produce a cultured pearl, ejects the nucleus but continues to deposit nacre around the accidental or residual particles. This process can occur in both freshwater and saltwater mollusks.
• Composition: Since they are composed entirely of nacre, Keshi pearls have a high luster and often display a greater depth of color and iridescence than many nucleated pearls.
• Shape and Size: Keshi pearls are known for their irregular shapes, ranging from flat and elongated to chunky and abstract. Their sizes can vary widely, but they are generally smaller than many other types of pearls, often ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
• Color: The color of Keshi pearls depends on the type of mollusk that produces them and their environment, including white, cream, pink, grey, and black, among others.