After the read of Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl article, you will know what are the 9 differences Between Akoya pearls and South Sea pearls.
Akoya pearls vs. South Sea pearls
Pearls as other precious stones, and pearls of different origins have their own characteristics, Japanese Akoya pearls and South Sea pearls are in the international pearl market and are more popular categories.
What is the difference between Japanese Akoya pearls and South Seas pearls? And what is their commonality?
Literally, Japanese Akoya pearls and South Sea pearls are the difference in the origin of pearls. Japan is a country, while the South Sea means the South Sea Pacific Ocean.
There are seven common factors that are key to classifying the quality of a pearl: luster, surface quality, size, shape, color, nacre thickness, and the degree to which these factors affect the quality and value of a pearl becomes a complex issue when evaluating a pearl.
To distinguish between Japanese Akoya pearls and South Sea pearls, you can judge from a combination of these factors.
The 9 differences between Japanese Akoya pearls and South Sea pearls are listed as follows.
1. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the mother-of-pearl shell difference
The mother of pearl is different from the mother of pearl. The mother of Japanese Akoya pearls is mostly the marsupial shell, which has been cultivated for about 3 to 4 years, while the mother of South Sea pearls is the golden-lipped shell, white mother-of-pearl shell, and black-lipped shell.
These three kinds of shells are much larger than the Marsupial shells, so their breeding time is also longer than the Marsupial shells, needing to be 5 to 6 years period.
2. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the luster difference
Lustre is the quantity and quality of light reflected from the surface of the pearl. It is the most important factor affecting the quality of a pearl.
Akoya pearls have a strong surface luster, this is because the water is relatively cold and can reflect light from the layers of the pearl. Some traders consider Akoya pearls to have the best luster of all cultured pearls. It is not just the thickness of the nacre that gives a pearl a higher luster.
3. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the shape difference
The most precious shape of pearls is round because it is the rarest.
Akoyas should be round because they have round bead-shaped nuclei and the nacre layer is relatively thin.
Akoya pearls also come in round, subround, oval, drop, button, semi-baroque, baroque and more.
Chinese freshwater pearls include shapes such as corn or potato, while South Sea pearls and Tahitian pearls also include ring pearls. There are other shapes with other names.
South Sea pearls also belong to the saltwater cultured pearls, because most of the Japanese saltwater pearls and South Sea pearls are more round, luster stronger than freshwater pearls, and more popular with the consumer market.
4. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the size difference
Size (in millimeters) affects the value because larger pearls are rarer.
The size of a pearl is affected by the size of the oyster, which determines the size of the shell bead that the producer can implant in the mollusk, and the time spent in the water, which determines the thickness of the nacre layer or the size of the freshwater pearl.
While Japanese Akoya pearls are known for their small size and delicacy, South Sea pearls are known as the queen of the pearl world, not only for their large diameter but also for their noble color and smooth textured appearance.
Traditionally, Japanese Akoya pearls rarely exceed 7mm. Japanese saltwater pearls are smaller in size, and the general range of Japanese pearls is between seven and nine millimeters in diameter.
South Sea pearls are over nine millimeters in diameter, and Tahitian and South Sea pearls are rarely under 12 to 14 millimeters. Rare types of South Sea pearls also reach 13 millimeters or more, and often the larger the South Sea pearl, the higher its value.
Due to the difference in size and specifications, Japanese seawater pearls are generally more popular as pearl necklace design, due to their cultivation environment and technology, high-quality Japanese seawater pearls look hydrated, match any lady’s body, and is bright for the eyes.
South Sea pearls, which are regarded as the queen of jewelry, are larger in diameter and therefore are generally used as the actual pearl pendants, earrings, and rings in jewelry.
5. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the color difference
In addition to size, the difference between Japanese pearls and South Pacific pearls is also different in color, Japanese pearls are generally white and commonly have a translucent pink halo hue, such as light pink.
South Sea pearls in addition to the holy and elegant white, are rich in noble breath of gold, and the mysterious charm of the black system (Tahitian pearls). The value of South Sea pearls is also much higher than that of Japanese Akoya pearls.
In addition to the high value of the white pearls, the most special wind in the world is the golden South Sea pearls and Tahitian black pearls.
6. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the epidermis difference
Japanese seawater pearl Akoya pearl surface has some growth texture imperfections (very few surfaces without imperfections).
South Sea pearls of good quality surface are relatively smooth, with very slight flaws or hardly see any flaws.
7. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the nacre thickness difference
The thickness or quality of the nacre layer has an impact on the value of the pearl, as nacre pearls have an extremely thin nacre layer, especially around the drill hole. The thickness of the nacre layer is measured in millimeters – usually in fractions of a millimeter.
Akoyas from Japan used to stay in the water for up to three and a half years to get the pearls to 1.5 mm thick. But as water quality declined and market pressures increased, Japanese producers shortened the time the oysters stayed in the water to six months. This resulted in some very poor-quality pearls.
South Pacific pearls almost always belong to the South Pacific region of the seawater pearls, artificial cultivation is difficult, naturally occurring South Pacific pearls are more, South Pacific pearl pearl pearl layer thickness or quality will be better.
8. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the origin difference
South Pacific pearls are almost all saltwater pearls, The South Pacific region, including Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, French Polynesia, and other places, are produced South Pacific pearls.
In addition to the high value of the white pearls of the South Pacific Ocean, the most special wind case of the world’s golden South Pacific pearls and Tahitian pearls (also known as Tahitian black pearls or black South Pacific pearls).
Japan’s freshwater pearls and freshwater pearls are known as Biwa pearls, China has become a major producer of freshwater pearls, and Japan also imports a large number of freshwater pearls from China.
Japanese saltwater pearl Akoya pearls, the origin is mainly in Japan Mie, Yumoto, and Ehime Prefecture around the Seto Inland Sea.
9. Akoya vs. South Sea Pearl, the value difference
Correctly speaking, Japanese pearls are not the same as Japanese Akoya pearls, Japanese pearls in fact, there are freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls, but only Japanese saltwater pearls are called AKOYA pearls (Japanese Akoya Pearls).
In addition to the high value of the white pearls of the South Seas, the most unique and popular around the world are the gold pearls of the South Seas and Tahitian pearls (also known as black pearls or black South Seas pearls).
Due to the difference in the cultivation of saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls, most Japanese saltwater pearls and South Sea pearls are round, rounder, and more valuable than freshwater pearls, catering to the high-end jewelry consumer market.
Which is better, Akoya pearl or South Sea pearl?
South Sea pearls are better than Akoya pearls, South Sea pearls are nurtured by the white butterfly shell, large, bright color, and rounded shape, the species is also more abundant, there are white, black, gold, and so on.
Japanese Akoya pearls are dominated by semicircular mabe pearls, with small, hydrated grains, mainly white, but also a few other colors.
South Sea pearls are better
Compared with Japanese Akoya pearls, South Sea pearls are better. South Sea pearls are nurtured by the world’s largest and finest pearl shell, the white butterfly shell, with a large head, bright color, round shape, and other characteristics, the quality of which is incomparable to other pearls.
Most of the Japanese Akoya pearls are artificially cultured, to the semicircular mabe pearls, Pearl beads are not as large as the South Seas pearls, but because the Japanese Akoya pearls have a strong sense of hydration, wear on the body can make a person’s eyes bright, so more for jewelry design aspects.
In addition, the variety of South Sea pearls is very rich, more classic white, black, gold, etc., rarely pink, red, blue, and other colors.
Japanese pearls, on the other hand, are more monotonous, with white as the main color and a few other colors, so there are not many Japanese Akoya pearls for people to choose from.
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