How can I tell if my Akoya pearls are real?

One of the simplest and easiest ways to tell if your Akoya pearl is real or not is to do something called “the tooth test”. All you have to do is softly rub the pearl against your tooth. If the pearl is natural or cultured, the texture you will feel will be gritty and rough.

Are Akoya pearls good quality?

The highest quality Akoya Pearls grow in the ocean up to about two years to allow sufficient time for the pearl to form with thick nacre and wonderful luster. … The Akoya pearl is known for its superb luster and its perfectly round shape.

How do I know if my pearls are worth anything?

The qualities that determine the overall value of a natural or cultured pearl or a piece of pearl jewelry are size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and—for jewelry with two or more pearls—matching.

What are high quality Akoya pearls called?

Hanadama pearls
Hanadama pearls are widely considered the “ferrari of pearls”. A top quality Hanadama pearl necklace is about as good as it gets. The typical size range of Akoya pearls ranges from 6mm – 9.5mm, with 7.5-8.0mm being the most popular pearl sizes.

Are Akoya pearls from China Real?

Until recently, all Akoya pearls originated from Japan as no other country could produce the equivalent quality. Today, Chinese pearl farmers have bred their oyster with the Akoya oyster and are now producing Akoya cultured pearls from China. Fine-quality Chinese pearls are primarily only available in smaller sizes.

How long do Akoya pearls last?

In the case of Japanese Akoya oysters, this care period lasts up to six weeks, as much as three months for a large Tahitian and South Sea oyster, but for Freshwater pearl mussels this care period can be as short as about two weeks.

Are blue Akoya pearls dyed?

For many decades in Japan, it was a law that blue akoya pearls had to be “stabilized” (generally with dye) before export, as these colors were known to fade. … Recently, it has become possible to find akoya pearls dyed every color of the rainbow.

Which color pearl is the most valuable?

South Sea pearls
Which color pearl is the most valuable? The most valuable and expensive pearls on the market today are the South Sea pearls, which naturally occur in shades of white and gold.

Are Akoya pearls bleached?

Unfortunately, the pearls called “Natural White Akoya” are too much bleached than other normal (tinted) pearls to make them sparkling white. This means the nacres (pearl layers) are damaged by hydrogen peroxide water. So those pearls are easy to discolor than normal pearls.

What does the name Akoya mean?

The Japanese term for natural or cultured pearls that come from the akoya-gai mollusk.

Do Akoya pearls peel?

Surface Quality Effect on a Pearl’s Value

If an Akoya pearl has many blemishes, it will be worth less than one with few to no blemishes. This is because blemishes can affect the durability of a pearl. Serious blemishes, such as breaks or chips can cause a pearl to peel or break.

Which is more expensive Akoya or South Sea pearl?

The average nacre of an Akoya pearl is between 0.35mm to 0.7mm, whereas the nacre of a South Sea pearl measures 2mm to 6mm. … All these factors, along with a long cultivation time (2 to 4 years), make South Sea pearls one of the most expensive varieties of cultured pearls available today.

Are black Akoya pearls dyed?

Traditionally the most sought after(expensive) Tahitian pearls will have a dark green body color and peacock(think oil slick) overtones. *It’s important to note that Tahitian pearls are the only naturally “black” pearls. Black Akoya and black freshwater pearls are dyed.

What is the highest quality pearl?

This grading system ranks pearls from AAA to A, with AAA being the highest.
  • AAA: Nearly flawless pearls with a high luster and a surface that’s 95 percent free of defects.
  • AA: High luster with a surface that’s 75 percent free of defects.
  • A: Lower luster and defects on more than 25 percent of the surface.

How much is a pearl out of an oyster worth?

The value of a pearl can vary dramatically depending on many factors, such as its type, size, color, surface quality, and more. A wild pearl will be worth more than a cultured pearl. However, on average, a pearl’s value ranges from $300 to $1500.

How do you tell if a pearl has been dyed?

Check the drill holes of the pearl and observe how the color looks around there. If the pearl is natural, the color of the pearl will go all the way through, but if you notice that the nacre inside is white, while the surface of the pearl is another color, then it’s likely been dyed.

Which Colour pearl is best?

white
The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.

Are lavender pearls real?

Lavender pearls come from freshwater mussels and are similar to pink pearls. These natural pearls have a beautiful rich hue and often feature overtones of green, blue-green and sometimes rose and gold.