Difference Between Akoya and Freshwater Pearls

Akoya vs Freshwater Pearls

When talking of pearls, you might have come across Akoya and Freshwater pearls. But the problem is that you might have not understood what differentiates one from the other. Let us look at some of the differences between the two pearls.

Akoya is salt water pearl. Both the Akoya and Freshwater pearls differ mainly in their luster. When comparing the luster, the Akoya pearls have a brilliant superficial luster than the Freshwater pearls.

Another difference that can be seen between the two pearls is that the fresh water pearls have thicker nacre than the Akoya pearls.

Akoya is a term that is mainly related to the pearls cultivated in Japan and China. They are mainly grown along the coast. The fresh water pearls are mainly cultivated in lakes and ponds.

Freshwater pearls are known to be mantle-tissue nucleated. This means that a small piece of mantle tissue is directly inserted into the mantle tissue of a mussel. On the other hand, akoya pearls are bead-nucleated. This means that a piece of mantle tissue and a mother-of-pearl bead are inserted into the gonad of akoya oyster.

When comparing the price, the Freshwater pearl is not that much expensive as that of Akoya pearls. Unlike Akoya pearls, the Freshwater pearls comes in various colours. The Akoya pearls come in white colour with overtones of silver, rose and ivory. These pearls also come in blue and yellow colors. The fresh water pealrs come in all pastel colors and the most prominent ones are white, lilac and peach.

The fresh water pearls are also known to be more durable than Akoya pearls.

When the Akoya pearls are round, the Freshwater pearls have an off-round shape. When the Akoya pearls range in size from 2 mm to 10 mm, the Fresh water pearls have a size ranging between 2 mm to 20 mm.

Summary
1. Akoya is salt water pearl.
2. Akoya pearls have a brilliant superficial luster than the Freshwater pearls.
3. The fresh water pearls have thicker nacre than the Akoya pearls.
4. Freshwater pearls are known to be mantle-tissue nucleated. On the other hand, akoya pearls are bead-nucleated.
5. Freshwater pearl is not that much expensive as that of Akoya pearls.
6. The fresh water pearls are also known to be more durable than Akoya pearls.
7. When the Akoya pearls are round, the Freshwater pearls have an off-round shape.
8. Unlike Akoya pearls, the Freshwater pearls comes in various colours.

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