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.

The akoya oyster is the smallest pearl-producing oyster used in pearl culture today, so akoya pearls also tend to be small, ranging in size from about 2 to 11 millimeters. They also tend to be the most consistently round and near-round pearls, making them ideal in terms of matching for multi-pearl jewelry such as strands and bracelets.

After the patented production of round pearl culture by Kokichi Mikimoto in 1916, akoyas from Japan became the first whole (not mabe) pearls to be cultured on a large scale. The Japanese succeeded in dominating the industry. They continue producing akoya today, although production of has dramatically declined in recent years, due to water pollution and disease.

In recent years the Chinese have overtaken the Japanese in akoya pearl production. The Chinese began culturing akoya pearls in the 1960's, but had limited success until the late 1980's. While once considered inferior to their Japanese counterparts, China is now producing akoya pearls of qualities that rival that of the Japanese in every quality factor.

Due to the increased pressure of the Chinese competition many Japanese pearl farmers have focused much of their attention on culturing large akoya pearls, as quality akoya pearls larger than 8mm are a rare find in China. In lieu of farming smaller pearls, many Japanese factories now import their smaller akoya requirements from neighboring China. The pearls are treated and strung in Japan so that they may still carry the mark 'Product of Japan'. It has been reported that more than 80% of the pearls 7mm and smaller have come from Chinese farms regardless of whether or not they are sold by Japanese suppliers as Japanese pearls.

AAA+ Perfect Round; Excellent Luster; Thick Nacre ; 95% Inclusion Free Surface or Better; Excellent Matching; Top 1% of a Pearl Farm's Harvest.

AAA Perfect Round; Excellent Luster; Thick Nacre ; 90-95% Inclusion Free Surface; Excellent Matching; Top 5% of a Pearl Farm's Harvest.

AA+ Very Round (less than 5% gradation); Good Luster, Good Nacre ; 80-90% Inclusion Free Surface; Good/Excellent Matching; Top 20% of a Pearl Farm's Harvest.

AA Round to Near-round; Moderate Luster; Medium/Thin Nacre ; 70% Inclusion Free Surface; Good Matching.

A Round to Near-round; Moderate/Low Luster; Thin Nacre ; 60-70% Inclusion Free Surface; Good to Moderate Matching.

Commercial Quality Near-round to Off-round; Moderate/Low Luster; Thin Nacre ; Moderate to Heavy Inclusions; Good to Moderate Matching.

AAA+ 6mm White 16"Akoya Pearl Necklace

So precious! Sixteen (16) inches of luminous, white 6 mm AAA+ grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold clasp. Perfect for a pre-teen or young lady!

Your Price: $500.00

AAA 7.5mm White 18"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Gorgeous! Eighteen (18) inches of luminous, white 7.5 mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k white gold clasp. A beautifully classic look!

Your Price: $650.00

AAA 7mm White 34"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Thirty-Four (34) inches of luminous, white 7 mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold clasp. Can be worn as one long strand, worn doubled for a "two-strand" look, or knotted.

Your Price: $800.00

AAA 9.5mm White Perfect Round Dangle Earrings

Two perfectly matched, perfect round, luminous, white 9.5mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k yellow gold earwires.

Your Price: $395.00

AAA++ 8 mm White Perfect Round Akoya Post Earrings

Two perfectly matched, perfect round, luminous, white 8mm AAA++ grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k yellow gold posts.

Your Price: $195.00

AAA++ 8.5 mm White Button Akoya Post Earrings

Two perfectly matched, luminous, white 8.5mm AAA++ grade Akoya Saltwater Button Pearls on 14k yellow gold over Sterling posts.

Your Price: $100.00

AAA++ 8 mm White Button Akoya Post Earrings

Two perfectly matched, luminous, white 8mm AAA++ grade Akoya Saltwater Button Pearls on 14k yellow gold over Sterling posts.

Your Price: $95.00

AAA+ 7.5mm White Button Akoya Post Earrings

Two perfectly matched, luminous, white7.5mm AAA+ grade Akoya Saltwater Button Pearls on Sterling Silver posts.

Your Price: $65.00

AA++ 9.5-10mm White Akoya Single Strand Bracelet

One strands of perfectly matched, perfect round, luminous, white 9.5-10mm AA++ grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k yellow gold over Sterling clasp - Very elegant! Bracelet is 7.5" long.

Your Price: $450.00

AAA 8.5mm White Akoya Triple-Strand Bracelet

Three strands of perfectly matched, perfect round, luminous, white 8.5mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k yellow gold over Sterling clasp - Very elegant! Bracelet is 7.5" long.

Your Price: $550.00

AAA 8mm Rare Natural Lavendar 18"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Gorgeous! Eighteen (18) inches of luminous, rare, lavendar 8mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp.

Your Price: $950.00

AAA 8mm Rare Natural Lavendar 18"Akoya Pearl Necklace & 8.3mmAAA+ Lavendar 14k Gold Post Earrings

Gorgeous! Eighteen (18) inches of luminous, rare, lavendar 7.5 mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp.

Your Price: $1145.00

AAA++ 8mm Pink Button Akoya Post Earrings

Two perfectly matched, luminous, pink 8mm AAA++ grade Akoya Saltwater button Pearls on 14k yellow gold over Sterling posts.

Your Price: $95.00

AAA 9-10mm Espresso Brown 17"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Amazing! Seventeen (17) inches of 9-10mm Espresso Brown Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold clasp.

Your Price: $1595.00

AAA 7-8 mm Black/Brown 32"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Just gorgeous! Thirty-Two (32) inches of 7 to 8 mm Black/Brown Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp. Can be worn as one long strand, worn doubled for a "two-strand" look, or knotted.

Your Price: $550.00

AAA 7.5mm Black/Brown 18"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Just gorgeous! Eighteen inches of 7.5mm Black/Brown Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp.

Your Price: $395.00

AAA 7.5mm Black/Brown 17" & 18" Double Strand Akoya Pearl Necklace

Double the beauty! Seventeen (17) and Eighteen (18) inches of 7.5mm Black/Brown Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp. Like the pearls above, these pearls will look quite irridescent purple in some light!

Your Price: $650.00

AAA 8mm Peacock Black 18"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Just gorgeous! Eighteen inches of 8mm Peacock Black Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold clasp. These irridescent pearls flash colors of blue, green and purple!

Your Price: $695.00

AA+ 8mm Peacock Black 19"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Really beautiful color at an affordable price! Nineteen (19) inches of 8mm Peacock Black Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp. These irridescent pearls flash colors of blue, green and purple! Shown with button-style post earrings below (Earrings sold separately).

Your Price: $525.00

AA+ 7.5mm Peacock Black 22"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Really beautiful color at an affordable price! Twenty-Two (17) inches of 7.5mm Peacock Black Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp. These irridescent pearls flash colors of blue, green and purple! Shown with button-style post earrings below (Earrings sold separately).

Your Price: $675.00

AA+ 6mm Peacock Black 34"Akoya Pearl Necklace

Really beautiful color at an affordable price! Twenty-two (34) inches of 6mm Peacock Black Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp. These irridescent pearls flash colors of blue, green and purple!

Your Price: $450.00

AAA 7.5mm Black Peacock 17" & 18" Double Strand Akoya Pearl Necklace

Double the beauty! Seventeen (17) and Eighteen (18) inches of 7.5mm Peacock Black Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k gold over Sterling clasp. These irridescent pearls flash colors of blue, green and purple!

Your Price: $850.00

AAA 10-11mm Peacock Black 17"Akoya Tahitian Pearl Necklace

Amazing! Seventeen (17) inches of 10-11mm Peacock Black Akoya Tahitian Pearls with a 14k gold clasp with matching button-style earrings.

Your Price: $2095.00

AAA 6.5mm Peacock Black Akoya Single-Strand Bracelet

You should see how these catch the light! One strand of perfectly matched, perfect round, luminous, Peacock Black 6.5mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a 14k yellow gold clasp - Gorgeous! Bracelet is 7.5" long.

Your Price: $200.00

AAA 8-8.5mm Peacock Black Akoya Single-Strand Bracelet

You should see how these catch the light! One strand of perfectly matched, perfect round, luminous, Peacock Black 8-8.5mm AAA grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls with a Sterling Silver clasp - Gorgeous! Bracelet is 7.5" long.

Your Price: $250.00

AAA 8mm Black/Brown Akoya Post Earrings

Just gorgeous! 8mm Black/Brown Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k white gold over Sterling posts.

Your Price: $95.00

AAA 7mm Peacock Black Akoya Post Earrings

Just gorgeous! 7mm Peacock Black Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k white gold over Sterling posts.

Your Price: $85.00

AAA+ 7.5 mm Peacock Black Button Post Earrings

Two perfectly matched, perfect round, luminous, Peacock Black 7.5mm AAA+ grade Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k yellow gold over Sterling posts.

Your Price: $75.00

AAA+ 9.2 mm Peacock Black Button Post Earrings

Here's a big, beautiful look - Two perfectly matched, luminous, Peacock Black 7.5mm AAA+ grade Akoya Saltwater Button Pearls on 14k yellow gold over Sterling posts.

Your Price: $95.00

AAA++ 9mm Chocolate Brown Akoya Post Earrings

Just gorgeous! Two perfectly matched, rare 9mm Chocolate Brown Akoya Saltwater Pearls on 14k gold posts.

Your Price: $295.00