Japanese Cultured Akoya Pearls
2010s British Contemporary Drop Earrings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Ruby, White Gold
2010s American Drop Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Dangle Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary More Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Silver
2010s British Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Pearl
2010s American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Pearl
20th Century Japanese Modern Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Contemporary Rope Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Japanese Contemporary Brooches
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Fashion Rings
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Drop Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s British Modern Stud Earrings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Cuff Bracelets
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yel...
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Charm Bracelets
1990s Japanese Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Brooches
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Romantic Multi-Strand Necklaces
Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century More Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Brooches
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Contemporary Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Japanese Modern Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Silver
Vintage 1950s Retro Beaded Bracelets
Cultured Pearl, Moonstone, Diamond, Pearl, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century North American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s North American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s British Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Modern Cluster Rings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Cultured Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold...
Mid-20th Century Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Silver
Early 20th Century Brooches
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 2000s French Contemporary Fashion Rings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1950s American Artisan Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Beaded Bracelets
Pearl, 18k Gold
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Japanese Cultured Akoya Pearls For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Japanese Cultured Akoya Pearls?
The Legacy of Pearl in Jewelry Design
The pearl has been synonymous with ladylike elegance since the Tudor period — learn what to look for when shopping for vintage and antique pearl jewelry as well as how to tell the origin of a pearl with our handy primer.
Every woman at some point in her life desires a simple strand of pearls. They are elegant, timeless, versatile — just ask Coco Chanel or Jacqueline Kennedy — and valuable. In 1917, Pierre Cartier famously traded a double-strand of natural pearls for a Fifth Avenue mansion, the Cartier brand’s flagship store ever since. And if you were born in the beginning of summer, pearl is the June birthstone.
It is possible to tell where a pearl originated from its appearance. Akoyas are usually round and white — the classic pearl, if you will. South Sea pearls are normally larger and vary in color; orangey yellow ones are not uncommon. Tahitian pearls are mostly black but can also be gray or brown, and between the Akoya and the South Sea varieties in size. Freshwater pearls, or Orientals, run the gamut in terms of color and size, but in shape, they tend to resemble Rice Krispies. Another important distinction is a round pearl versus a baroque pearl. A round pearl is self-explanatory, but there are two types of baroque pearls: symmetrical and asymmetrical. In general, the symmetrical variation commands a higher valuation. Within a strand of pearls, uniformity is prized — the more the individual pearls resemble one another, the more valuable the strand.
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the earliest recorded mention of a pearl was in 2206 BC by a Chinese historian. Centuries later, Christopher Columbus made it a point to visit pearl fisheries during his 15th-century exploration of the Caribbean. Since the late-19th century, the Japanese have been at the forefront of cultivating pearls, when jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto successfully cultured the world’s first pearl in 1893.
On 1stDibs, find vintage and antique pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and other accessories.
- What are Akoya cultured pearls?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Akoya cultured pearls are pearls that come from Pinctada fucata martensii oysters. These molluscs are commonly referred to as Akoya oysters, accounting for the name of the pearls. The word “cultured” means that the pearls are real but were produced by oysters with the help of human intervention. Cultured pearls are very common, as naturally occurring pearls are extremely rare. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of pearl jewelry.