A thorough explanation of how to distinguish between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls! We also introduce how to tell if they are fake and how they differ from other pearls.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls are both popular pearls with beautiful lustre. Each has its own characteristics, so knowing how to tell them apart will help you find the pearl jewelry that's perfect for you.

In this article, we will explain in detail everything from basic information to how to tell the difference between the two.

What you'll learn in this article:

• Characteristics and differences between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls
• Six points to distinguish between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls
• How to check for fake freshwater and Akoya pearls to avoid them

By the time you finish reading this article, you will be confident in your pearl selection. If you are considering purchasing freshwater pearls or Akoya pearls, be sure to read it through to the end.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶

Before you learn how to tell the difference! Basic information about freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls

Before you know how to tell the difference, there are two basic pieces of information you need to know:

• What are freshwater pearls?
• What are Akoya pearls?

There are many different types of pearls. Among them, the most popular are "freshwater pearls" and "Akoya pearls."

Each has different characteristics, and the way to choose one will depend on your purpose and preferences. To understand how to tell them apart, let's first get a basic understanding of the different types.

Freshwater pearls are relatively easy to come by and are often used in casual jewelry, while Akoya pearls are known as luxury jewelry and are often seen in formal settings.

Now let's take a closer look at the characteristics of each.

What are freshwater pearls?

Freshwater pearls are cultured in freshwater areas such as lakes and rivers. They are made from the ichthys mussel and are mainly produced in China.

A major feature of these pearls is that they are cultivated without a nucleus, so they are formed almost entirely from the nacre . This means that they come in a variety of shapes, including not only round ones, but also oval, teardrop, and baroque (irregular) shapes.

They also come in a wide variety of colors, including white, pink, orange, lavender, etc. They are affordable and easy to obtain, making them popular as daily jewelry.

What are Akoya pearls?

Akoya pearls are high-quality pearls cultivated in seawater. They are mainly produced in Japan (Nagasaki, Ehime, Mie, etc.) and are made from Akoya oysters.

Akoya pearls are characterized by their beautiful luster. Because they are cultured with a nucleus, many of them are nearly perfectly round, giving them a luxurious feel.

The basic colors are white and cream, but those with interference colors such as pink and green are also popular. They are suitable for formal occasions and ceremonial occasions, and are often chosen as jewelry to last a lifetime.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶

How to distinguish between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls? 6 points explained

There are six ways to distinguish between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls:

• shape
• Size
• color
• Shine (brightness)
• Nacre (thickness of nacre)
• price

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls look similar, but there are clear differences when you look closely. By knowing the key points, it is easy to tell them apart.

The choice of which one to choose will depend on your needs and budget. Let's take a closer look at the differences between them.

shape

Freshwater pearls come in a variety of shapes, and Akoya pearls tend to be nearly perfectly round. This is due to differences in the cultivation methods.

Freshwater pearls are grown without a nucleus, so they are generally oval or baroque (irregularly shaped), whereas Akoya pearls are cultivated with a nucleus, so they are almost perfectly round.

Freshwater pearls come in a variety of shapes, including rice-shaped, potato-shaped, and button-shaped, and each pearl is different. Akoya pearls are often used in high-end jewelry, and the closer to a perfect circle they are, the more valuable they are.

Perfectly round Akoya pearls are preferred for formal occasions, while baroque-shaped freshwater pearls are a good choice for those wanting a unique design.

Size

Freshwater pearls generally tend to grow larger. This is influenced by the size of the mother oyster, which produces freshwater pearls, and these oysters are relatively large.

On the other hand, Akoya pearls, the mother shell of Akoya pearls, are small, so pearls with a diameter of 10 mm or more are rare.

Freshwater pearls tend to be around 6mm to 12mm, with larger ones exceeding 15mm. Akoya pearls are generally 7mm to 8mm in size, with those over 10mm being considered luxury items.

If you are looking for large pearls, we recommend freshwater pearls, and if you prefer small, elegant pearls, we recommend Akoya pearls.

color

Freshwater pearls come in a wide variety of colors, while Akoya pearls are mostly natural white. This difference is due to the structure of the nacre and the characteristics of the mother oyster.

In addition to white, freshwater pearls often come in hues such as pink, lavender, and orange, and an even wider range of colors can be enjoyed through dyeing processes.

On the other hand, Akoya pearls are basically white with slight pink or blue interference colors. White Akoya pearls are the standard for formal occasions, while colorful freshwater pearls are more suitable for those who want to enjoy unique accessories.

If you are looking for a simple and elegant impression, we recommend Akoya pearls, and if you want to enjoy unique colors, we recommend freshwater pearls.

Shine (brightness)

Akoya pearls have a stronger shine and a more luxurious feel. This is due to the difference between saltwater and freshwater.

Akoya pearls, which grow in saltwater, have a well-ordered crystal structure in their nacre and have a sharp shine. In contrast, freshwater pearls have a slightly coarser nacre, giving them a softer luster.

For example, Akoya pearls, which are used in luxury brand jewelry, have a beautiful mirror-like reflection, while freshwater pearls have a natural shine and are easy to match with casual fashion.

Choose Akoya pearls if you want a strong shine, or freshwater pearls if you want to enjoy a gentle luster, depending on the occasion.

Nacre (thickness of nacre)

Freshwater pearls are made entirely of nacre, while Akoya pearls are valued for the thickness of their luster.

Akoya pearls have a structure in which the nacre is wound around a nucleus, and the thicker the nacre, the stronger the luster and the more durable the pearls are. Freshwater pearls do not have a nucleus and are formed only by the nacre, so they are thick overall, but the quality of their luster is different.

The thickness of the luster of Akoya pearls is about 0.3mm to 0.6mm, and the thicker the luster, the higher the quality. On the other hand, freshwater pearls are all nacre, so they are thicker than Akoya pearls, but the texture is different.

If you want to choose something that you can enjoy for a long time, the key is to choose Akoya pearls with thick luster.

price

Freshwater pearls are more affordable, while Akoya pearls tend to be more expensive.

Freshwater pearls can be mass-produced and are reasonably priced because they vary in shape and color, whereas Akoya pearls are more expensive because they take longer to cultivate and have stricter quality standards.

Freshwater pearl necklaces can be purchased for a few thousand yen to tens of thousands of yen, while Akoya pearl necklaces typically cost tens of thousands of yen to hundreds of thousands of yen.

Freshwater pearls are suitable for everyday wear, while Akoya pearls are suitable for luxury jewelry.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶

Beware of fake freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls! How to tell them apart from the real thing

Here are five ways to distinguish genuine from fake freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls.

• Rub the pearls together
• Touching the pearls to check their temperature and weight
• Illuminate with black light
• Check the cross section of the hole
• Consult a pearl professional
  

There are many fake pearls on the market that look identical to the real thing , so it's important to know how to tell the difference.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls are attractive because of their natural luster and texture, but they can also be mixed in with imitations made from resin or glass, or coated fake pearls.

It may be difficult to judge by appearance alone, so be sure to combine multiple methods to check carefully.

Rub the pearls together

Real pearls will feel friction when rubbed , due to the natural build-up of nacre.

The fake one has a surface that is too smooth, so there is very little friction.

If you rub two real freshwater or Akoya pearls together, they will feel slightly rough, but plastic or glass imitation pearls will be smooth.

It's a simple yet effective method that you can try right away.

Touching the pearls to check their temperature and weight

Real pearls have a cool feel, while fake ones are closer to room temperature.

Pearls have a low thermal conductivity due to their natural mineral content and feel cool to the touch, whereas plastic or glass imitations feel slightly warm.

Also, real freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls feel heavy, but fakes are characterized by their light weight.

If you pay attention to the differences in temperature and weight, you will be able to intuitively tell the difference.

Illuminate with black light

Real pearls emit a distinctive bluish-white light when illuminated with a black light because the nacre absorbs ultraviolet light and reflects some wavelengths.

Many fakes have artificial coatings that cause different reactions.

Freshwater and Akoya pearls will fluoresce faintly when exposed to a black light, while plastic or glass fake pearls react poorly to UV light and may emit an unnatural white light.

This requires special tools, but is one surefire way to tell.

Check the cross section of the hole

Real pearls have overlapping nacre around the hole.

Cultured pearls have a layer of nacre that forms around a nucleus, so when you look inside the hole you can see different layers, but fake pearls are made of a single material, so their internal structure is uniform.

If you look through the hole in a pearl with a magnifying glass, you can often see the layered structure of the nacre in real pearls, whereas fakes made of resin or glass may have noticeable peeling coating and no difference in the layers.

This is an easy method to try, so be sure to check it out before you buy.

Consult a pearl professional

The best way to be sure is to have it checked by a professional appraiser or jewellery shop.

It can be difficult to judge on your own, so it is best to consult a trusted expert. When purchasing expensive pearls, it is also important to choose ones that come with an appraisal certificate.

High-end jewelry shops and pearl specialty stores will use appraisal equipment to determine the authenticity of the pearl, and if you have an appraisal certificate you can also check detailed information such as the pearl's quality and place of origin.

The surest way to determine authenticity is to get the opinion of a professional.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶

How to distinguish freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls, from other pearls? A list of the differences

We have compiled a list of the differences between freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls, and other pearls (South Sea pearls).

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶

When buying pearl jewelry, which is better: freshwater pearls or Akoya pearls?

When choosing pearl jewelry, it is recommended to choose between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls depending on your purpose and budget.

Each has its own appeal: freshwater pearls are affordable and easy to match with casual outfits, while Akoya pearls are luxurious and perfect for formal occasions.

For example, freshwater pearls are relatively inexpensive and come in a wide variety of colors, making them a good choice for everyday accessories. For special occasions such as weddings and school entrance ceremonies , Akoya pearls are often chosen for their elegant shine.

When choosing pearl jewelry, choose the appropriate type according to the occasion and your preferences, and find something that you can enjoy for a long time.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶

4 Frequently Asked Questions About How to Tell the Difference Between Freshwater and Akoya Pearls

Below are four frequently asked questions about how to distinguish between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls.

• Is there a way to tell if a pearl is real?
• Do freshwater pearls look cheap?
• What is the difference between freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls, and real pearls?
• Why are freshwater pearls so cheap?

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls look similar, so many people don't know the difference. Many people also have questions about the value of pearls and how to choose them.

We will answer frequently asked questions such as how to tell if they are real or not, what freshwater pearls look like, how they differ from real pearls, and why they cost more.

Is there a way to tell if a pearl is real?

Genuine pearls have distinctive texture and luster, and can be identified in a number of ways.

Real pearls are made of natural ingredients and have a unique texture compared to fakes. For example, if you rub two pearls together lightly, they will feel rough, while fake pearls will feel smooth.

Also, when you shine a black light on it, the real thing will barely emit any light, but the fake one may glow white.

Do freshwater pearls look cheap?

Freshwater pearls will never look cheap as long as you choose the right design and quality.

It is true that freshwater pearls are priced lower on the market than Akoya pearls, so that impression may be given, but the quality of freshwater pearls has improved in recent years, and there are more and more with beautiful luster and regular shapes.

In addition, by combining it with a delicate gold chain or jewelry with a simple design, it will have a luxurious finish. Depending on how you choose , even freshwater pearls can create an elegant and sophisticated impression.

What is the difference between freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls, and real pearls?

Both freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls are genuine pearls , but they grow in different environments and have different characteristics.

Genuine pearls refer to all pearls, whether natural or cultured. Among them, freshwater pearls are cultivated in lakes and rivers, while Akoya pearls are grown in the sea.

Generally, Akoya pearls tend to have a strong luster and a perfectly formed shape, whereas freshwater pearls come in a wide variety of colors and shapes and have a more natural texture.

Both are genuine pearls and each has its own unique appeal, so it is best to choose one based on your purpose.

Why are freshwater pearls so cheap?

Freshwater pearls are cheap because many can be harvested from one oyster, which keeps costs down.

Generally, only one Akoya pearl can be harvested from one oyster, but 10 to 20 freshwater pearls can be harvested from one oyster, so production is high and the price is relatively reasonable.

In addition, the cultivation period is short, which keeps distribution costs low. However, prices vary depending on the quality, and there are high-quality freshwater pearls available.

Freshwater pearls are cost-effective and perfect for those who want to enjoy pearl jewelry easily.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶

Summary: Learn how to distinguish between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls and tell the difference

By understanding the differences between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls, you can choose the pearl jewelry that's right for you.

Freshwater pearls are attractive because they come in a wide variety of shapes and colors and are reasonably priced, but Akoya pearls have a strong luster and a luxurious feel.

Also, by learning how to distinguish between real and fake pearls, you will have the criteria for choosing high-quality pearls. It is important to understand the characteristics and value of each, and choose according to the occasion and budget.

Use the points introduced here to find the pearl jewelry that's perfect for you.

Freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls can be purchased online here ▶