How to Tell The Difference Between Freshwater and Akoya Pearls

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

If you're shopping for pearls or just wondering what type you own, it helps to know the differences between freshwater and Akoya pearls. While these are both beautiful types of cultivated pearls, there are key differences. Keep reading to learn how to tell the difference between freshwater and Akoya pearls by comparing their size, luster, shape, and more!

Things You Should Know

  • Akoya and freshwater pearls are both cultured pearls. Akoya pearls come from saltwater oysters, while freshwater pearls come from mussels in rivers and lakes.
  • Check the size and shape—Akoya pearls are smaller and rounder than freshwater pearls, which tend to be larger and slightly irregular.
  • Purchase Akoya pearls if you're looking for rare jewelry or heirloom pieces. Freshwater pearls are more budget-friendly and they make great gifts.
1

Size

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Most freshwater pearls range from 3 to 14 mm, although they can reach 50 mm long! Akoya pearls develop much slower, so they don't get nearly as big. Akoya pearls range from 2 to 10 mm in size, but they're usually around 7 or 8 mm.
    • Larger pearls don't necessarily mean that the pearls are more valuable. The type and quality of the pearl are also important factors.
    2. Advertisement
2

Shape

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Freshwater pearls might appear oval or egg-shaped. Some collectors enjoy searching for unusually shaped freshwater pearls to create unique pieces of jewelery. [1]
    • Akoya pearls that aren't perfectly round are still valuable, but they won't receive the highest grade.
3

Color

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Most Akoya pearls come in white, cream, or pale neutral tones. Freshwater pearls can come in a wide range of colors like pink, gold, blue-green, peach, purple, gray, white, and cream. [2]
    • You can't go off of color alone to tell the difference between Akoya and freshwater pearls because both types are often bleached to make them whiter. Lab testing can reveal whether or not your pearls have been bleached.
    2. Advertisement
4

Luster

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Luster refers to light reflection off of pearls. Because Akoya pearls are smaller and perfectly round, they reflect light better than freshwater pearls. Freshwater pearls tend to be duller or a little chalky in appearance. [3]
    • Newer freshwater pearls might appear more lustrous since farming techniques are improving.
5

Natural flaws

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Because freshwater and Akoya pearls are cultured instead of created in a lab, they will have imperfections like tiny bumps or wrinkles. If you see tiny dots or minor imperfections, it doesn't mean you have freshwater pearls instead of Akoya or vice versa.
    • Retailers take surface conditions into account in order to grade and price the pearls for sale. The fewer blemishes, the more valuable the pearls are.
    2. Advertisement
6

Nacre

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Nacre is the external layer of the pearl. Freshwater pearls are almost entirely made of nacre, while Akoya pearls have a very thin nacre—usually around 1 mm thick. This makes Akoya pearls more delicate than freshwater pearls.
    • Some Akoya pearls of lesser quality have a nacre that's only 1/2 mm thick.
7

Origin

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Akoya is the name of the small oyster that Japanese saltwater pearls come from. Although China produces some Akoya pearls, it mainly produces freshwater pearls from mussels found in rivers and lakes.
    • The Mississippi river basin in the U.S. also produces some freshwater pearls.
    2. Advertisement
8

Rarity and value

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-the-Difference-Between-Freshwater-and-Akoya-Pearls-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is because Akoya oysters take years to raise rather than months (as freshwater mussels do). Then, it takes another 8 months to 2 years to develop the pearls. Akoya oysters also produce fewer pearls compared to freshwater mussels. Production time, combined with the quality of the pearls, make Akoya pearls much more expensive and valuable.
    • If you want to buy pearls, consider your motivation. If you're looking for heirloom pieces of jewelry, consider investing in Akoya pearls. If you're buying a friend their first piece of pearl jewelry, you might want freshwater pearls so they can learn how to care for them.

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Tell if a Pearl Is Real
      How to
      Identify Pearls in Vintage Jewelry
      How to
      String Pearls
      How to
      Clean Pearls
      How to
      Find Pearls
      How to
      Clean a Pearl Necklace
      How to
      Clean Mother of Pearl (Nacre)
      How Much Are Real Pearls Worth? The Price Behind Pearls Explained
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about identifying gemstones, check out our in-depth interview with Kennon Young .

      References

      1. ↑ https://britishpearlassociation.co.uk/akoya-pearls-vs-freshwater-pearls-big-pearls-debate/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/jZ6AN49GEt0?t=103
      3. ↑ https://www.jewelrynotes.com/freshwater-vs-saltwater-pearls-what-is-the-difference/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 18,152 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement