Akoyas Not Exclusive to Japan

I just learned something new: Chinese pearl farmers are growing akoyas. Akoya pearls are the small, round white pearls you typically see in pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Traditionally produced by Japanese pearl farmers, they have been cultured by Chinese pearl farmers since 1960.

A recent article in The Loupe says, "The size and quality of the Chinese akoya harvest varies with the immediate economic needs of the estimated 2,000 farmers who grow them. Many switch from culturing akoyas if shrimp farming or other aquaculture looks more lucrative."

As with freshwater pearls, quality concerns plague Chinese pearl farmers. "If they need fast cash, they might shorten the akoya pearl growth period, thereby producing many cultured pearls with thin, poor-quality nacre...Given a longer pearl growth period, comparable growing conditions and the same sophisticated processing and sorting techniques, Chinese and Japanese akoya cultured pearl quality are comparable."