Akoya pearls, so called the saltwater ones were largely came from Japan ever since Mikimoto made the cultured pearls very popular all around the world but now China lately has surpassed Japan in both quantity and quality. China is the largest producer of Freshwater pearls & akoya ones.
Pearls are known for their unparalleled natural beauty and white color brilliance. Around the world, from royal princess to regular folks, everybody loves to wear gorgeous looking pearl jewelry. Since they come in wide array of attractive colors, designs and price range, it is important to know few things before you buy them.
The kind of pearls woman wears defines her persona and desire to look elegant and beautiful. Quality is the king. Better the quality higher the price but necessarily does not mean that one can not get high quality jewelry at discounted prices. The online stores now are the best source to compare and buy at very competitive prices. They have much more control on the overheads than regular jewelry boutiques or departmental stores.
1. How pearls are formed and where they come from:
Mikimoto of Japan had invented and patented the culturing techniques of producing these beautiful natural gems in the saltwater coastal area of Japan. A small mental piece or irritant is placed inside the oyster or mollusks As a result, the mollusk secretes a crystalline substance called nacre which builds up in layers upon layers, surrounding the irritant thus forming the pearl overtime. It normally takes 2 to 5 years depending upon oyster types, water and climatic conditions.
Round pearls with clean surface with no blemishes on the surface and high lustrous quality are most sought after and typically command higher prices. White color is synonymous with the pearls but they do come in other attractive colors such as black, gray, pink, cream and golden colors.
South Sea pearls come from Australia and some from Indonesian regions whereas Tahitian pearls are harvested from the pristine seawater of French Polynesian areas near Hawaii.
2. How pearls are graded:
Depending upon quality, pearls typically are graded from A to triple A by all international jewelers around the world. Highest-grade ones are those with the high luster and reflective mirror-like quality. Many jewelers often sell triple A+ or higher to command higher prices to sound having superior quality but in fact you may be paying more for the compromising quality.
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