(Grown in Japan and China)
Akoya pearls are the classic cultured pearls of Japan. They are the most lustrous of all pearls found anywhere in the world. In recent years, China has been successful in producing Akoya pearls within their own waters. However, at this time they are unable to produce as brilliant a luster as high quality Japanese Akoya cultured pearls.

The Akoya pearl is either white or cream in body color and can have yellow, pink or blue hues.  Some Akoya pearls achieve a rosé or green overtone.  It typically has an excellent, good or fair luster, which is why the Akoya is such a prized gem.  The best pearls have clean surface quality and acceptable nacre.  The most highly valued Akoyas are larger, have excellent luster and clean surface quality.

Only one pearl and maybe an accidental Keshi pearl is harvested from one oyster. This is one reason why seapearls are usually higher price that freshwater pearls...several freshwater pearls can be grown at a time in each clam.

The Akoya pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata has been fished for pearls for centuries and is amongst the most widespread of the pearl oyster species. Akoya oysters are found on areas of the eastern coastline of North and South America , the east-coast of Africa , the Mediterranean and throughout the Indo-Pacific. Most notably, the Akoya oyster is found in

Japan , where it has formed the basis of a multi-million dollar pearling industry.

The Japanese Akoya, Pinctada fucata martensii, or Pinctada fucata

produces pearls between two and ten millimeters in size, the industry standard for many decades.