Pearls have been prized throughout history as symbols of purity, elegance, and harmony. Being the only organic gems in the world, pearls are natural beauties since the late 1800s that have been cultivated in controlled environments. The very first round pearls that were successfully cultured were the Akoya pearls.
The Akoya pearls are the classic round white pearls that were made popular all over the world by countless elegant women. But while the white Akoya remains to be known as the classic pearl, recent culturing methods have seen the rise of darker-colored Akoya pearls, such as the black pearls from Pearls Only. The value of an Akoya pearl, however, depends not only on its color and overtones, but also several other factors.
Luster
The luster or shine of an Akoya pearl is its most important evaluating factor. This is determined by how well a pearl reflects. Luster provides the shine that comes from a good pear, and procures a sharp image reflection. An exceptional luster makes a small pearl look larger and rounder, as well as makes blemishes less noticeable.
Body
As pearls are organic gems that are formed naturally, some minor blemishes can be found on their surfaces. This is, in fact, an acceptable occurrence. Nevertheless, the cleanliness of the surface or the body of the pearl does affect its value. The cleaner the body, the more valuable the Akoya pearl becomes.
Size
The size of the Akoya pearl is another factor to consider when determining its value. A larger pearl will come out more valuable than a smaller pearl that has similar value factors. It is well worth noting that there is a size range that determines how much a pearl’s value increases exponentially.
On average, Akoya pearls range from 6mm to 7mm, which means that pearls within or just under that size range are readily available in the market. Pearls that fall within the 7mm to 8mm size range, and subsequently the 8mm to 9mm, and 9mm-above size ranges are assessed at a dramatically increased value than those of average sizes. This is because Akoya pearls of above-average sizes are considered hard to find, or even rare.
Shape
Round beads are used to nucleate cultured Akoya pearls and are the very foundation of the famed round pearl. The rounder the Akoya, the more valuable it is – although there are certainly pearls with symmetrical shapes that also fetch high values.
Nacre
This is the substance that actually coats the bead nucleated in the pearl, resulting in layers that become the very pearl itself. A thicker and tighter nacre formation results to a more lustrous pearl, making the nacre thickness and quality very important in determining the value of an Akoya pearl.
Origin and Certification
The first successful cultivation of cultured Akoya pearls was done by Japan, and this is why Japanese-cultured Akoya pearls the more valued standard. Nevertheless, the Chinese Akoya pearl also presents its own advantages, particularly in price. The accelerated growth and processing of Chinese Akoya pearls lends it more affordable than its Japanese counterpart.
Matching
A jewelry piece consisting of Akoya pearls should be well matched both in size and color, with no obvious blemishes or anomalies. This matching further determines the value of the jewelry piece as a whole.
Akoya pearls come in different sizes and colors, and can be valued quite highly depending on the factors discussed above. These celebrated pearls have the highest luster among all pearl types, and have thus cemented their reputation among the world’s best jewelry pieces.
