Different Types of Pearls

There are many different types of pearls like Akoya, Freshwater, Tahitian, South Sea... But do you know what do they mean? It is important to know the differences between these type of pearls before making the decision to buy them. Wondering why some are more expensive than others? Here's the list of the different types of Pearls:

South Sea Pearls

These pearls are cultured in the waters of Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The pearls found from the waters of Tahiti and French Polynesia call them Black South Sea Pearls. The distinction between these two types of pearls are the oyster they are cultivated in. The South Sea Pearls are cultured in the silver or gold-lipped pearl oyster and the color of the South Sea Pearls are usually white or silver colored, but they can also come in shades of yellow or blue-gray with pink or green overtones.

According to experts, the best producers of pearls in the world is the gold-lipped pearl oyster. It's called Pinctada maxima - the world's largest pearl mother. The sizes of the pearls produced range in size from 10 to 20 millimeters, though pearls larger than 16 millimeters are rare. Their rarity and exceptional sizes make them highly prized. These are some of the largest and most expensive pearls available.

Tahitian Pearls or Black South Sea Pearls

Sometimes referred to as Black South Sea Pearls, 'Tahitian pearls' are cultured in areas stretching from the Cook Islands, eastward through Tahiti to the Tuamotu Archipelago and the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. The are grown in the black-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) found in the atolls of these areas. The colors produced vary widely from purple, green, black and shades from gray to cream and even white. The rarest and highly sought after color is "peacock green" - the greenish black color of a peacock feather. These pearls are generally smaller than the White South Sea Pearls ranging in size from 7 to 15 millimeters.

Akoya or Japanese Pearls

The most well known name of a pearl type from the Akoya oyster (Pinctada fucata martensil) from Japan. But now, Japanese pearls are also grown in China and India. The akoya pearl oyster measures only six to nine centimeters across - less than half the size of Australia's silver-lipped pearl oyster. Considered the classic amongst cultured pearls, Akoya Pearls are primarily round or oval in shape and are produced in white and cream shades with silver or pink overtones.


Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater Pearls are small, sometimes irregularly shaped pearls that are grown in various species of freshwater mussel. The colors range from pink, gray or black, bronze, lavender, to white. Natural freshwater pearls occur in mussels for the same reason that saltwater pearls occur in oysters. Foreign material, usually a sharp object or parasite, enters a mussel and cannot be expelled. To reduce irritation, the mollusk coats the intruder with the same secretion it uses for shell-building, nacre. The shapes recovered include rounds, pears, eggs, drops, buttons, dome, and baroques. Most cultured freshwater pearls are composed entirely of nacre which leads to their high luster and quality.