Akoya Pearls

The first cultured pearls came from Japan, where the techniques of growing pearls were developed about 100 years ago.

The pearl oyster species used in Japan to produce Akoya pearls is Pinctada fucata. These Akoya oysters, which are no bigger than the palm of a hand, yield mostly round lustrous Akoya pearls from 3 up to 9 mm in diameter.

Similar oyster species are found in China and Vietnam, where Akoya pearls are also cultivated nowadays.