There are two main types of pearls: saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls.
Seawater Pearls
Seawater pearls are produced in shells that live in seawater. In Japan, Akoya pearls are famous for their mother shell, the Akoya oyster.
Seawater pearls are produced by inserting a round nucleus into the mother shell, which produces a round pearl that is wound around the nucleus. However, only one pearl can be produced from one shell.
In addition to the Akoya pearl oyster, black-lipped pearl oysters and white-lipped pearl oysters are used as mother shells. The color, fineness of texture, and size of the pearls vary depending on which shell they are produced in.
Black butterfly shells produce pearls with deep colors such as black, silver, green, and brown. Black butterfly pearls have a stronger luster and a unique presence than white pearls.
The white-lipped pearl oyster is the largest of all pearl oysters and produces large pearls. Because of the long period of time required for the formation of pearls, it is possible to collect pearls that are tightly wound and massive. There are two types of white butterfly pearls, silver and gold, depending on the color of the inside of the shell.
Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater pearls are produced by shellfish living in freshwater such as rivers and lakes. In Japan, freshwater pearls are cultivated in Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture.
Freshwater pearls can be produced either with or without a nucleus, with the nucleus-less type being the most common these days. Pearls are made with only the nacreous layer from the outside to the core, resulting in thick, sturdy pearls.
10 to 40 pearls can be harvested from a single mother oyster, but beautiful true circles like those of saltwater pearls are hard to find. However, irregularly shaped pearls are called "baroque pearls" and are popular as unique and fashionable items.
Higher quality & higher prices for Seawater pearls
As mentioned above, seawater pearls have higher quality in terms of shape, color, and fineness of texture, and therefore tend to be more expensive in general.
Akoya Pearls in Japan
Among seawater pearls, Akoya pearls, which are loved around the world, are particularly attractive for their elegant and deep luster and round shape.
In the late 1800s, Japan invented the world's first Akoya pearl cultivation technology, and since then, Akoya pearls have been carefully nurtured by Japanese technology and abundant nature.
Akoya Pearls at Lucky Japan
Lucky Japan purchases Akoya pearls directly from jewelry manufacturers, which allows us to sell our Akoya pearl products at lower prices than the general public.
Whether you are looking for a simple single pearl necklace, an elegant yet impressive strand necklace, or a bracelet combined with a power stone, Lucky Japan's Akoya pearl products are filled with lucky power, and we hope you will find them at a great price.
