Japanese Cultured Pearl Education

Origin & History

Known to be the world’ most popularized saltwater pearl, Japanese Cultured Pearl has history dating back to the late 1800s when a skilled son of a noodle maker in Japan, Mikimoto tried producing cultured pearl from oysters with sheer dedication. After 12 years of unsuccessful attempts, he finally hoaxed a pearl by introducing an irritant to the oyster. That led to the discovery of first ever Japanese cultured pearl. Round and radiant! The pearl industry was on the rise ever since with it being traded worldwide in the 1900s. That kept you glued with our Japanese cultured pearl education guide.

Where is Japanese Cultured Pearl found?

Having discussed the intriguing history of these Akoya Pearls, don’t you want to know where exactly is this saltwater pearl found today? Well, just like its name suggests, Japanese Cultured Pearl are found in the cold salt waters of Pacific Ocean on the bays of Japan. How exactly? Well, it is known to be formed in Pinctada Fucata oyster, fondly known as the Akoya Pearl oyster.

Akoya PEARL  vs Freshwater Pearl

Both light pearls, both royal and both softly radiant. How on earth do you figure out the difference? Our akoya pearl guide is here to assist you with just that.

AKOYA PEARL

Akoya or Japanese cultured pearl, on the other hand, has color ranging from white to grey with slight silver or pinkish overtones. Being majorly produced in Japan, a Freshwater Pearl comes from Akoya oyster. And of course, it is known for its perfectly round shape.

FRESHWATER PEARL

The color of Freshwater Pearl ranges from soft white to a range of pastel color hues including cream, lavender and light pink. The dominant producer being China, these pearls are hyriopsisschlegeli and hyriopsiscumingi. The name probably would’ve suggested that to you. These do come in a number of different shapes naturally.

Japanese Cultured Pearl Quality and Price Filters

As much as we’re a fan of its soft lustrous beauty, aren’t we always looking for ways to analyze the quality of our favorite jewelry better. When it comes to pearls, that we all love adorning so much, it becomes all the more important to judge the quality, right? Let’s help you with the same with our Japanese cultured buying guide:

The color of a pearl is actually the pearl’s body color and is available in number of hues that is white or silvery-blue. A secondary overtone can also be seen when light is reflected off the surface of a pearl. Therefore, the pearl must be carefully examined as it may appear white at first glance but an overtone can be revealed well looked closer.

White Akoya Pearl

The white colored Akoya Pearl possessing a sheen like transparent color is known to be the highest value pearl.

Cream Akoya Pearl

The cream colored Akoya Pearl are highly sought after and one of the most common color category of Akoya Pearl, thanks to its warm color tone.

Silver Akoya Pearl

Probably one of the most lustrous category of Akoya Pearl! The silver colored Akoya Pearl has that luxurious sheen that makes it look just as alluring and royal.

The Akoya Pearls can be measured on the basis of their Carat Weight, however, more than often, the better measuring factor for pearl can be in terms of their size in millimeters. In case of Japanese Cultured Pearls the size ranges from 2 MM to 9 MM. However, sizes over 9.5 MM are quite rare and very expensive.

Luster is the deep shine produced by pearls which is a combination of the exterior shine as well as the glow from within. This luster occur due to the reflection of light from the calcium carbonate crystals. Nacre’s thickness and layer arrangement in a pearl determine the luster. These factors further depend upon the pearl’s type and the time it’s allowed to grow for.

Nacre is the essence of the pearl depicting the formation of thousands of layers. Nacre of the Pearl is the iridescent material which produce the luster. The nacre of the Akoya Pearl contains microscopic crystals which are perfectly inclined to let the light pass along the axis to be reflected and refracted to produce rainbow. Akoya Pearl is known to possess a nacre thickness of a minimum of 0.4 mm.

Akoya Pearl Grading value

Yes, the old school grading system. Without a doubt, makes us understand the quality of this June birthstone better. Narrows everything down to understandable categories, making the process of judging and analyzing all the more easier for you. That being said, let’s help you judge the quality of akoya pearl better with our grading system:

Hanadama quality

The premium, most sought after and thus the most rare quality of Japanese Cultured Pearl. Having a minimum nacre thickness of 0.4 mm along with a sharp luster, a Japanese Cultured Pearl belonging to this category have a blemish rate ranging between 0-5 %. Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by such high quality royal pearl?

AAA quality

Having a nacre thickness of up to 0.4 mm and a sharp luster, Akoya pearl belonging to this category have a blemish rate up to 5 % along with little to no variation in color, tone, shape and size.

AA+ quality

Having a nacre thickness of up to 0.4 mm and a sharp luster, Akoya pearl belonging to this category have a blemish rate up to 5 % along with little to no variation in color, tone, shape and size.

AA quality

Having a quite thin nacre and a good luster, Akoya pearl belonging to this category have a blemish rate between 15 to 20 % along with very little variation in color, tone, shape and size.

A quality

Having a thin nacre and a fair to poor luster, Akoya pearl belonging to this category have a blemish rate of up to 30 % along with very little variation in color, tone, shape and size.

Benefits of Japanese Cultured Pearl

Japanese cultured pearl, world known for their elegance, royalty and rarity. Comes with it, a number of beliefs attached for as long as we have witnessed and loved pearl. That being said, let’s have a glance at the wholesome benefits of Japanese cultured pearl:

Physical Healing

Apart from its elegant beauty and purity, this June birthstone has long been believed to help people suffering from breathing problems including asthma, lung diseases and tuberculosis, liver diseases, kidney problems, urinary problems and of course heart diseases. Basically, an Akoya pearl is here to keep you sound and healthy.

Metaphysical healing

Akoya pearl has long been known to keep the wearer away from negative energies and bless him with positive and divine energy. It is even known to bring wealth and prosperity in the life of the wearer.

Personal relations

Other than that, Japanese cultured pearl is also known to help strengthen human relations, thus bringing harmony and balance in the life of the wearer.

FAQS

How is a Japanese Cultured Pearl formed?

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.

What is difference between cultured and natural Japanese Cultured Pearls?

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 mollusks.

Where do Japanese Cultured Pearls come from?

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.

How to take care of Japanese Cultured Pearls Jewelry?

When it comes to Japanese Cultured Pearl jewelry, 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.

What is a Japanese Cultured Pearl certification?

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.

What is special about Japanese Cultured Pearl?

Every pearl comes with its own set of specialties. Japanese cultured pearl is known for its perfectly round shape that we bet you won’t witness in any other pearl and radiant luster.

What is the birthstone of Akoya pearl?

Akoya pearl is known to be the birthstone of June.

What are the different shapes of Akoya pearl?

Akoya Pearl is crafted in a number of different shapes including round, semi-round, drop, baroque and circle baroque.

Conclusion

Japanese cultured pearl, better known as akoya pearl, has that radiant glow combined with the perfect round shape that makes it so alluring and unique. We’re all so fascinated with wearing Akoya pearls right from the royalties to celebrities. Who isn’t in love with wearing pearl jewelry? Why not get ourselves a little well versed with pear ourselves? To facilitate you with just that, we’re here with our japanese cultured pearl education guide covering right from the history to the benefits and properties. We hope you had something to take away Here we wish you all the luck in choosing your favorite pearl jewelry.

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