| tart --> | | | | industry, the rounder the pearl, the more valuable |
| Beautiful. Elegant. Lustrous. These are just three | | | | it is. |
| adjectives normally used when asked to describe | | | | Japanese Akoya pearls is the epitome for the |
| Akoya Pearl Necklaces. A contemporary piece of | | | | classic quality and grace of what pearl necklaces |
| jewelry, each pearl necklace is hand-knotted | | | | should be. Pearliculture in Japan is one of the |
| individually showing a silky luster. Brilliant Japanese | | | | highest paid labor in the world because of the |
| pearls, it is always a pleasure receiving Akoya | | | | tedious procedure of cultivating and getting the |
| pearl necklaces. | | | | pearls from the oysters and mussels. |
| Although something so rare and precious does | | | | But because there are so much competition out |
| come with a price. The average price for an | | | | there, Japanese Akoya pearl industry being |
| Akoya pearl necklace is $4000 dollars. Some | | | | number one just had to come to a halt. It was |
| stores offer a discount especially during the | | | | obvious for the last half-decade but it was only |
| Holidays though. | | | | with the strong supply of Chinese Akoya pearl |
| But if you can afford getting yourself or a | | | | necklaces pouring in did the expected actually |
| significant other one, why not? Akoya pearl | | | | occurred. |
| necklaces assure fine beadwork, awe-inspiring | | | | Regardless, even if it were Japanese of Chinese |
| luster effect and a brilliance that is so stunning | | | | Akoya pearl necklaces, the price remains the |
| that when worn, they seem to be diamonds | | | | same because of the rarity and the precious |
| fresh out from the sea. Akoya pearl necklaces | | | | quality this piece of jewelry represents. The twist |
| have then on become symbols for beauty and | | | | of this whole competing for the best pearl |
| elegance and one of the most popular pearls the | | | | necklace is that Japanese factories are quickly |
| world over. | | | | becoming the largest consumers of the Chinese |
| Akoya pearls are graded using AAA, AA+, AA | | | | Akoya pearl farmers. Pearls from China are |
| and A. | | | | imported into Japan and then later on tagged |
| AAA pearls are those belonging to the Top 1% | | | | "Made in Japan." |
| of the harvest. Their luster is excellent and they | | | | Akoya pearl necklaces today obviously contain |
| are 96% blemish free. Their matching is excellent, | | | | Chinese Akoya pearls. To say that it is Japanese |
| they have a round shape and a thick nacre. | | | | Akoya pearls kinda raises the question if it really |
| The AA+ pearls are those that came from the | | | | is. Is it really the rare spherical black Akoya pearls |
| top 5% of the harvest. Their luster is also | | | | Japan is known for or is it merely made in Japan? |
| excellent and they are 90 to 95% blemish free. | | | | But it is still a consumers right to know whether |
| Their matching is excellent, they have a round | | | | he is paying the right price for the necklace he is |
| shape and a thick nacre. | | | | purchasing. Generally, people believe that if the |
| The AA pearls are those belonging to the Top | | | | Akoya pearl necklaces came from Japan, it is |
| 20% of the harvest. Their luster is very good and | | | | expensive. For them to not feel cheated, they |
| they are 80 to 90% blemish free. Their matching | | | | must not take the "Made in Japan" tag seriously. |
| is very good, their shape is round and their nacre | | | | Studies show that 80% of Akoya pearl necklaces |
| ranges from medium to thick. | | | | are actually Chinese cultured pearls. The strands |
| The A pearls are those belonging to the Top 50% | | | | may be from Japan but the pearls are really from |
| of the harvest. Their luster is very good and their | | | | China. |
| blemishes are moderate when set on the light. | | | | Another question is that what about the |
| They have good matching and a round shape. | | | | manufacturers that gets their Akoya pearl stocks |
| Every pearl necklace retailer know that if there | | | | directly from Japanese farms. The answer is that |
| are two kinds of pearl necklaces competing | | | | Japan pearl farms sell their pearls to factories |
| head-to-head for the demands of the | | | | where the items are bleached, polished, matched |
| jewelry-loving market, it would have to be the | | | | and drilled. Never do they sell directly to the |
| Japanese Akoya Pearls and the Chinese Akoya | | | | retailers. |
| Pearls. The normal public would go, "What's the | | | | Because of the estimated 80% Chinese pearls |
| difference? They're both pearls." Alas, my friend, | | | | and 20% Japanese pearls, it is extremely hard to |
| you think wrong. There is still a difference | | | | figure out the understandable profit when it |
| between the two, therefore the competition. | | | | comes to Akoya pearl necklace-making. |
| When it comes to pearls, Japan has the best and | | | | Regardless, consumers still buy Akoya pearl |
| most precious ones out there. Considering that | | | | necklaces simply because the standard of this fine |
| theirs are the most spherical in shape. In the pearl | | | | piece of jewelry continue to prove true today. |