THE VARIETY OF CULTURED PEARLS

Because the oyster is relatively small, its pearls generally grow from 2 millimeters to 9 millimeters, or very rarely, 10 millimeters.
Today, the majority of Akoya pearls are cultivated in Japan, and China.
The term Akoya refers to nucleated saltwater pearls cultivated in the Akoya oyster.
Tahiti cultured pearls are cultivated using the local species of the black lipped pearl oyster Pinctada Margaritifera (ranging in sizes between 12 to 15 centimeters).
The more common sizes of the pearls are 9 to 13 millimeters.
The exuberant colors of these pearls range from gold through green to aubergine or purple, to dark hues including jet black.
Generally, the darker the pearl, the more valuable it is.
True peacock black pearls are quite rare and expensive.
Only a limited quantity of Tahiti cultured pearls develop as a round or a perfect drop.

Freshwater cultured pearls are cultivated in several species of pearl mussel.
Freshwater mussels are common throughout the world, but those used for pearl cultivation are mainly found in freshwater rivers, lakes and ponds.
Colors come in white, champagne, cream orange, pink, purple, lilac, mauve, dark blue and brown.
However, the bewildering array of attractive colors in which these pearls are presently being marketed strongly suggests that color treatments are being performed on these pearls.

Mabe is a term commonly used in the pearl trade to describe a cultured half-pearl that is grown on the inside of a shell.
Depending on the form of the nucleus the farmer inserts into the oyster, several shapes can be produced, including round, oval, cushion, drop and heart.

Keshi pearls are naturally formed in the soft tissue of most cultured pearl bearing oysters.
However, these pearls are the by-product of a culturing procedure, and must be recognized as such.
Keshi pearls from both white and black South Sea pearl oysters can reach any size from 4 to 10 millimeters above.
The fact that it is the only pearl resulting from seawater cultivation without a man-made nucleus makes the Keshi pearl special and appreciated by true pearl lovers worldwide.