Akoya Pearl Earrings

14k White Gold Akoya Pearl Earrings with Diamonds

Akoya pearls are treasured for their perfect shape and reflective shine. They are considered to be the classic pearl used for necklaces and other pearl jewelry. Akoya pearls come from a small oyster known as the Pinctada fucata, or akoya. The saltwater Pinctada fucata oyster lives along the coasts of Japan and China. A bead is surgically implanted into the gonad of the oyster along with a small piece of mantle tissue. The oyster coats the bead with layer upon layer of beautiful nacre. These relatively small pearls range from 2 to 10 mm. Larger ones are really rare.