The color of and Akoya pearl is determined by the nacre. Environmental factors as well as the specific oyster also play a hand in the pearl's color.

After harvest, the pearl may undergo treatments to enhance or alter color. While white pearls are still by far the most popular, darker pearls with a metallic - satiny sheen have recently commanded a demand in the fine jewelry market.

By far the most popular, white Akoya have been the standard pearls that belong in every woman's jewelry wardrobe.

White Akoya Pearls
White Akoya pearls, as a color category, encompass light creamy pearls as well as those with an overtone. The overtone of a pearl is the color a pearl reflects that lies just above the pearl body color it self. In the white color family, overtones range from pink to a creamy, ivory, or silver.

Pearl color and overtone can vary slightly under different lighting sources and ambient colors, as a result of the pearl's makeup. For example, Florescent light, an overcast sky and shaded light tends to intensify blues. Regular incandescent light bulbs as well as a rising or setting sun tend to intensify reds and yellows. For the truest color, choose natural sunlight about midday.

Most importantly, the pearls themselves will best reflect and radiate the ambient light from the wearer. Her skin tones, her coloring and clothing will subtly effect the color of the pearls' shine.

Black Akoya Pearls
With the popularity of black Tahitian pearls, dyed Akoya with a metallic shine has gained prominence in the fine jewelry market. Dyed Akoya is by no means fake and have been available in fine jeweler establishments since the 1930's.

Today, dyed Akoya have become more in demand. Treatment allows consumers access to colors that are not naturally available and at smaller sizes than traditional Tahitian pearl. Most dyed black pearls are under 8mm to 9mm where as black Tahitian pearls are not as readily available in that size.

These pearls will exhibit more of a metallic shine than traditional white ones. Their darker colors are brought on by irradiation or a silver salt treatment. The treatment permanently changes the nacre of the pearls.

The metallic iridescence resulting from these treatments is very beautiful. The most popular are black with green-peacock, deep sapphire blue and dark onyx black. Blue pearls have also become popular ranging in shades of dark blue to light aqua.

A well treated pearl will display even coloring and a metallic shine.

By far, most Akoyas are strung in the traditional pearl necklace. These popular jewelry pieces become family heirlooms. They are often a "Sweet 16" present or accessorize wedding gowns. Pearl necklaces come in a variety of sizes, but the 14- to 16-inch choker and the 17- to 19-inch princess are the two most popular.

The choker is perfect with virtually every neckline, from an opened buttoned-down blouse to a business suit. This piece looks great with everything from blue jeans to evening wear. The princess necklace works well with crew necklines and turtlenecks.

Akoyas are also popular in strand bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants, brooches, tie tacks and cufflinks.

The Akoya oyster is the smallest of the pearl-producers. Adults are only 3 to 5 inches in diameter. Because the oyster is small, so is the pearl. Typical Akoya pearls range from 2 mm to 11 mm, with the 10 and 11 mm sizes rare finds.

Of all the pearl value factors, the Akoya excels at matching - in fact, most of them rank as "excellent" in the category. That's why many Akoya pearls are sold as strands. The reason the pearls can be so easily matched is that most of them are round or near-round.

Sizes in Akoyas are valuable when they are in high demand. There is a big amount of difference in value between a 7.5 and 8 mm size, just because the 8 mm is desirable in fashion at the moment. However, as a rule of thumb, Akoyas become more valuable as they increase in size. Although most Akoya pearls are round or near-round, nature still produces baroques, semi-baroques and sometimes even drops in some harvests.

The Akoya pearl is either white or cream in body color with rose, cream, silver or ivory overtones. Some Akoya pearls achieve a black body color through a process called irradiation. 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.

What Are Akoya Pearls?
Akoya pearls are cultured in the Pinctada fucata martensii, also known as the akoya oyster. This mollusk is found and farmed primarily in Japan and China. Renowned for their luster, akoya are considered the classic pearl. They are generally white or cream colored, with overtone colors of rose, silver, or cream.

Throughout history, pearls have always been highly cherished as symbols of perfection, purity, beauty and elegance.

Akoya pearls are the classic round white pearl made famous by the most elegant women of our times. In addition, Akoya are the first round pearls to be successfully cultured.

Akoya Basic