Everything You Need To Know About Akoya Pearls

Everything You Need To Know About Akoya Pearls
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Key Takeaways

  • Akoya pearls come from the Pinctada fucata (Akoya oyster), cultivated in colder waters.
  • Our Akoya pearls are grown at our Broken Bay Pearl Farm, the only working pearl farm in New South Wales.
  • Akoya pearls typically range from 4mm to 8mm in diameter, with remarkable lustre.
  • Their colours may vary depending on the oyster's environment, with common hues including white, cream, blue, and pink.
  • They are cultured by using a nucleus and mantle tissue, and overtime the pearl shell coats this nucleus with nacre.

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At Pearls of Australia we farm two types of pearls, the Pinctada maxima (Australian South Sea Pearl), and the Pinctada fucata (Akoya Pearl) which form part of the Akoya oyster complex. While the Akoya may be smaller than its Australian South Sea cousin, it still holds its own when it comes to the beautiful jewellery that these pearls are set into. In this article, we take a closer look at Akoya pearls and explain the difference between them and their generally larger counterparts.

where are akoya pearls found?

An Akoya pearl is a type of saltwater pearl that comes from the Akoya oyster. These oysters are mainly found in the colder waters off the coast of Japan, as well as Vietnam, Korea and Australia. China was a large producer of this pearl type, however, due to several factors, this is no longer the case.

One of the main reasons that so many of the world’s Akoya pearls come from Japan is because it was the Japanese son of a noodle store owner, Kokichi Mikimoto, (perhaps you recognise the surname?) who first learned how to consistently culture pearls. Mikimoto was then instrumental in creating the global cultured pearl industry, a remarkable story and one that we will cover in a future article. While their freshwater cousins average a whopping 20-50 pearls in a single culturing cycle, it would be a rare occasion where an Akoya pearl oyster would produce more than two.

Learn more about our Broken Bay Pearl Farm
  • A farm cruise on the lower Hawkesbury River at our Broken Bay Pearl Farm in NSW.

how are akoya pearls formed?

Akoya pearls are formed when a bead composed of shell and a small piece of mantle tissue is nucleated inside of an oyster. This bead becomes the nucleus of the pearl and is the reason that Akoya pearls are more often perfectly round. The oyster will coat the bead with nacre, a secretion produced by the oyster, to protect itself from irritation. Over time, the nacre will build up and form a pearl.

what size are akoya pearls?

As the Akoya oyster is much smaller than the Pinctada maxima and is actually the smallest of all of the pearl-producing molluscs, this is one of the reasons Akoya pearls are generally smaller than South Sea pearls, with most Akoya pearls measuring between two and ten millimetres in diameter, compared to eight and twenty millimetres for South Sea pearls.

how expensive are akoya parls?

Regarding where Akoya pearls sit compared to the different pearl price points, they are neither the cheapest nor the most expensive pearl type. While you are likely to find them to be considerably more expensive than freshwater pearls, they do tend to be the least expensive of the saltwater varieties, so you should find them to be slightly less expensive than Tahitian pearls and considerably less expensive than South Sea and Australian South Sea varieties.

what colours do akoya pearls come in?

The colour of Akoya pearls can vary from oyster to oyster, so while most people think of white pearls when they think of Akoya pearls, there are many other colours to choose from. This is because the colour of an Akoya pearl is determined by the environment and the diet of the oyster. Some of the different colours that Akoya pearls can include are white, cream, blue, and pink. 

These different colours can suit a variety of other jewellery and clothing. For example, blue Akoya pearls can be worn with silver jewellery to create a dramatic look. White Akoya pearls can be worn with gold jewellery to create a classic look. And pink Akoya pearls can be worn with complementary colours to create a stylish look.

Do Akoya pearls have more lustre than other pearls?

The lustre of a pearl is one of the most important factors in determining its quality. Akoya pearls generally have more lustre than any other pearl type and their high level of shine is one of their main selling points. Lustre is defined as the amount of light that is reflected from the surface of a material. The higher the lustre, the more light is reflected, and the more brilliant the object appears. Lustre is important when choosing a pearl because it can make a big difference in how the pearl looks. Pearls with a high lustre will have brighter and sharper reflections than pearls with a low lustre. This means that high lustre pearls will often look more vibrant and beautiful than low lustre pearls.

While not all people may agree on what constitutes a “good” or “bad” lustre, most people would agree that a higher lustre is generally more desirable. This is because it makes the pearl look more natural and luminous, which can enhance its beauty. When choosing a pearl, it is important to consider the reflection, to make sure you are getting the best possible lustre.

What shapes do Akoya pearls come in?

The most common shape for Akoya pearls is round, but they can also be found in shapes such as button, drop, oval and baroque. Round pearls are the most popular because they are the most versatile and look good with any outfit. Drop pearls are long and elegant and look great on a necklace. Baroque pearls are more irregular in shape and have more personality than round or drop pearls. They can be used to create unique jewellery designs. Circle baroque pearls are like baroque pearls, but they have a round shape. They are also versatile and can be worn in any way you want.

How to style your Akoya pearls?

When it comes to styling your Akoya pearls, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, consider the colour of your pearls. If you have pink pearls, you’ll want to wear them with outfits that have pink accents. And if you have silver pearls, you can wear them with pretty much anything!

Another thing to think about is the neckline of your outfit. If you’re wearing a high neckline, pair your pearls with dangle pearl earrings or a simple pearl necklace. If you’re wearing a scoop neckline, try pairing your pearls with a statement necklace or bracelet.

No matter how you choose to style your Akoya pearls, they will always look elegant and sophisticated. We have a wide range of Akoya pearl earrings, Akoya pearl necklaces, Akoya bracelets, Akoya rings and Akoya pearl pendants to choose from, so feel free to browse our collection of Akoya pearls today.

Learn more
  • A woman wears her stunning Australian Akoya pearl pendant on a gold chain. This pendant is part of our Seagrass Collection, and features the seagrass motif set on top of our naturally lustrous Akoya pearls.
  • A unique Akoya Pearl Ring featured Broken Bay (NSW) grown Australian Akoya pearls set in gold.
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Pearls of Australia Akoya Pearl Jewellery Selection

Akoya Pearl pendants & necklaces

Our Akoya pearl pendants & necklaces offer timeless and elegant pieces of jewellery. With a range of unique options in sterling silver or yellow, white and rose gold featuring diamonds, we have options to suits any style.

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Akoya Pearl Earrings

No matter what your style, Pearls of Australia’s range of Akoya pearl earrings has something for everyone. From classic pearl studs to delicate pearl drops, our pearl earrings are perfect for any occasion. 

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Akoya Pearl rings

Our range of Akoya pearl rings are crafted with the finest quality Broken Bay (NSW) grown pearls, paired with beautiful silver, gold, or diamonds bands. Whether you’re looking for a pearl ring for everyday wear or a special piece for a special occasion, you’re sure to find the perfect ring to suit your needs.

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All Akoya Pearl Jewellery

Our Akoya pearls Pinctada fucata are cultured at our Broken Bay Pearl Farm on the mouth of the Hawkesbury River just north of Sydney. This range features elegant options of pearl earrings, rings, necklaces and more. With high lustre these pearls are the perfect choice for a more vibrant and beautiful look.

 

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Why Choose Pearls of Australia for your Akoya Pearl Jewellery?

Discover the difference of Pearls of Australia’s Australian Akoya pearl jewellery, where craftmanship meets ethical sourcing of our locally grown, Australian pearls. Uncover our unique aspects that set us apart in the world of fine jewellery. 

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A pair of stunning Australian Akoya pearls set on a pair of hook earrings, alongside a row of sparkling white diamonds.

Find the Perfect Akoya Pearl Jewellery for you!

Prefer to talk to one of our Jewellery and Pearl experts before purchasing one of our Australian Akoya pearl pieces? They would love to help you in any way, please contact them either by sending an email to hello@pearlsofaustralia.com.au or call (08) 6478 6886.

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Akoya Pearls FAQs

What are Akoya pearls?

Akoya pearls are Saltwater pearls produced by the Pinctada fucata or Akoya pearl shell. They are best known for their high lustre, variety of colours and more consistent shapes, making them a classic choice for pearl earrings, necklaces and rings.

They are smaller than South Sea pearls but valued for their brightness and symmetry. Akoya pearls are widely used in fine jewellery and considered one of the benchmark pearl types alongside South Sea pearls.

Pearls of Australia includes Akoya pearls direct from our Broken Bay Pearl Farm within our jewellery collections, each coming with a Certificate of Authenticity to support grading and provenance.

Are Akoya pearls real?

Yes, Akoya pearls are real pearls. They are genuine cultured pearls formed inside the Pinctada fucata pearl shell. The term "cultured" means the pearl forms via human intervention, but cultured pearls are still real pearls.

Pearls of Australia only sells genuine pearls, including Akoya pearls.

Where can I buy high-quality Akoya pearl necklaces online in Australia?

You can buy high-quality Akoya pearl necklaces online in Australian through specialist Akoya pearl retailers that provide grading transparency, pearl origin details and pearl type disclosure. Look for brands that focus specifically on pearls rather than general fashion jewellery.

Pearls of Australia offers Akoya pearl necklaces sourced directly from our Broken Bay Pearl Farm in NSW, Australia. All our pearl jewellery comes with detailed information on pearl size, surface quality and setting materials. Buying from a pearl specialist like Pearls of Australia ensures you receive genuine cultured Akoya pearls rather than imitation or mislabelled jewellery.

When buying Akoya pearl necklaces online, check for:

  • Pearl type clearly listed as Akoya
  • Origin and sourcing information, Broken Bay Pearl Farm is the only operating Australian Akoya pearl farm in Australia
  • Solid gold or precious metal clasps and settings
  • Grading notes
  • Educational buying guides and care advice
  • Certificates of Authenticity ensuring traceability

Pearls of Australia proudly offers all the above for all Akoya pearl jewellery purchases.

What are the top-rated Akoya pearl jewellery brands available in Australia?

The top-rated Akoya pearl jewellery brands in Australia are typically pearl specialists and farm-connected retailers known for authenticity, professional grading standards, and sustainable sourcing. These brands focus on pearl quality rather than mass-market production.

Pearls of Australia is recognised for its curated Akoya pearl collections, transparent grading, and direct pearl industry connections. Specialist pearl brands generally rate more highly than chain jewellery stores because they are able to provide deeper product details and provenance assurance.

How do Akoya pearls compare to Freshwater pearls in terms of quality and price?

Akoya pearls, like other saltwater pearls, differ from freshwater pearls in lustre, shape, rarity and price.

Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls known for their sharp, mirror-like lustre and variety of natural colours and overtones. They are typically more valuable due to stricter cultivation conditions and lower yield per pearl shell (only one at a time).

Freshwater pearls are usually more affordable and come in a wider variety of shapes and sizes, but often have a softer lustre compared to Akoya pearls.

Here are the key differences between the two:

  • Lustre: Akoya = sharper and brigher. Freshwater = typically chemically enhanced, and not as deep.
  • Shape: Akoya = more consistent in shapes. Freshwater = more varied.
  • Price: Akoya = higher average price due to rarity. Freshwater = more budget accessible and less rare.
  • Farming: Akoya = Saltwater pearl shell. Freshwater = Freshwater molluscs.

Pearls of Australia only offers pearls that we grow, so we offer Australian Akoya pearls grown at our Broken Bay Pearl Farm in NSW and do not offer freshwater pearls.

Which Australian stores specialise in authentic Akoya pearl earrings?

Australian stores that specialise in authentic Akoya pearl earrings are primarily pearl focused retailers and farm-linked jewellery brands rather than general jewellery chains.

Pearls of Australia specialises in Akoya pearl earrings, like pearl studs and pearl hooks, providing details around pearl type, grading characteristics, and disclosed sourcing from our Broken Bay Pearl Farm in New South Wales. We stock Akoya pearl earrings at all our locations, which include:

We recommend looking for stores that provide explicit Akoya pearl identification, pearl grading details, origin or farm information, care guides and Certificates of Authenticity. Pearls of Australia proudly provides all of the above.

Can I customise Akoya pearl rings with local jewellers in Australia?

Yes, many specialist jewellers and pearl retailers in Australia offer custom Akoya pearl ring design services. Customisation allows you to choose pearl size, colour tone, setting style and metal type.

Pearls of Australia offers made to order pearl jewellery options using selected loose pearls, including Akoya pearls, set in precious metals by experienced jewellers.

Our Made to Order Akoya pearl ring options include:

What colours do Akoya pearls come in?

Akoya pearls most commonly appear in white, cream, blue, silver and pink tones, often with subtle overtones.

Akoya pearls are typically not black, this is associated with Tahitian pearls. Pearls of Australia describes all characteristics of our Akoya pearls in the product listing to help you make an informed decision.

Discover the variety of colours our pearls come in, each natural in colour and lustre and never chemically treated.