Japanese Cultured pearls are the organic gems created by Akoya oyster of saltwater. These pearls can be natural or cultured. Akoya pearls were first harvested in 1893 in Japan, making them the oldest cultured pearls. This lustrous birthstone of June is a rare catch in nature and their fame increased greatly in US after World War II. However, almost all the Akoya pearls obtained today are from the cultured pearl farms.
Japanese Cultured Pearls are not only nature’s creation but also tell a story of an organism’s years of biological activity.
Japanese Cultured Pearls are adored by the world for their neutral colors and overtones. This soothing luster makes them heart captivating.
Akoya Pearls symbolize sincerity and innocence, they are believed to bring truth and purity to the wearer.
The Japanese Cultured Pearl is known for neutral body colors with overtones of white to gray, pink, green or silver. Very rarely, they might be blue with silver and pink overtones.
The sizes of Japanese Cultured pearls can vary from 2 mm to 9 mm and on rare occasion can even be over 9.5 mm. Such exceptional sizes fetch exceptional prices.
Luster is the glow that comes from within a Japanese Cultured pearl through the nacre layers. By far, it is the most important factor to define the grade of pearls.
The smoother the surface of the nacre layer is the higher is the grade of the Japanese Cultured pearl and more is the price it will fetch.
In nature, all the mollusks can produce pearls when a microscopic organism gets trapped inside its shell. In response to this foreign entry the mollusk starts to deposit layers of calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite.
Japanese Cultured Pearls are formed as a defense mechanism of mollusks when an irritant gets trapped inside the mollusk. In case of natural pearls, the formation takes place naturally but it is not the case with cultured pearls, which are formed with the help of human intervention when an irritant is introduced in the Akoya oysters.
Japanese Cultured Pearls are cultured in Japan, China and Vietnam. However, Japan is the leading Akoya Pearl producer and grows the best quality Japanese Cultured Pearls.
When it comes to Japanese Cultured Pearl Ring, the simple rule of thumb is to wear them last and take off first. Use of hairspray, lotion or perfume can dull the luster of the pearl. After their use, wipe them with soft tissue or cloth before putting them back. The organic gem must be kept in soft cloth bag to help them breathe.
The most common Japanese Cultured Pearl Certifications includes from GIA, IGL and HRD labs. It is usually a document you receive on the behalf of the aforementioned 3rd party labs which describes an Japanese Cultured Pearl in all of its characteristics.
Each and every party’s defining grounds may defer.
On an average, a Japanese Cultured pearl can fetch an average price of $150-$300 per carat.
