There is an unexplained fascination over the oriental culture as well as its beautiful treasures that are nestled between rocks and under the seas. When it comes to precious gems, Japanese akoya pearls are considered as some of the most beautiful cultured pearls on the eastern hemisphere. It bears a very rich history and you will be fascinated how Japan became the foremost producer of akoya pearls in the world.
The pearliculture of akoya pearls began some hundred years ago and the technique used was of a man named Kokichi Mikimoto. Akoya pearls were only introduced in the jewellery market in the 1920’s but since then, people from all over the world flock to Japan to purchase these gems. There was a debate amongst jewellers whether they were real pearls or not but through the years they have realized that cultured pearls are just as real as natural pearls, except that they have been perfected through human ingenuity and modern technological methodologies.
It takes about ten to eighteen months before akoya pearls can be harvested. The harvesting process is also very costly, not to mention painstaking and there are only about 5% of all the harvested pearls are considered high quality. This is the reason why these pearls are pricey, not to mention hard to come by.
When buying Japanese akoya pearls, make sure that you inspect its surface first. They have to be free of heavy blemishes and smooth to the touch. This is how you can be sure that you are buying authentic akoya pearls. They come in a wide and fascinating array of colours, from white to black and every conceivable colour in between.
