Why Jewelry Featuring Akoya Pearls Is A Gift To Treasure

Some people adore oysters; others enjoy that little bit more in the form of a pearl. A long time ago a pearl was the possession of extremely wealthy people. Pearls were so rare, so beautiful, so natural and so expensive that only these people could afford them. It was the Japanese who first discovered now to produce exquisite cultured pearls which meant they were suddenly available to many more people all over the world.

The Mise-Nishikawa method of farming oysters for their pearls produced perfectly round ones and their discovery was patented back in 1916. They became famous the world over. Akoya pearls today are directly linked to the very beginnings of the story of Mikimoto and Mise and their first ever cultured pearls.

The exquisitely perfect Akoya pearl and its origins

The exquisiteness and perfection of Akoya Pearls were the very first cultured pearls to be seen by the rest of the world. The perfect roundness of them, the lustre, the gleam and the sheer quality of the colour are still considered today as the most beautiful of all cultured pearls to be found in the world. These salt water pearls come from Japan and China and can range in size from minute seed pearls to the very desirable and extremely rare size of 10mm.

Judging the quality of a pearl

When looking for the best quality in any cultured pearl, you must look for the perfect reflective lustre; they must be superbly matching and symmetrical in shape. Smooth to the touch with immaculate unblemished surfaces. They must have a warm look and feel to them that begs you to touch their exquisiteness.

Why do so many people all over the world treasure Akoya pearls

The sheer beauty of the Akoya pearl has for centuries entranced everyone who sees them, which is why so many people today have realised that not only are they objects to treasure but they are also a great investment for the future. Superbly matched Akoya pearls strung as a necklace is as precious as any gem stone chain you will ever see. Women all over the world adore possessing such a necklace, either to proudly wear on a special occasion or just to give her the total ‘feel good' factor when she needs it. The beauty of an Akoya Pearl Necklace is that it looks stunning no matter what you wear.

Taking care of your precious pearls

The best quality Akoya Pearl Necklace are not only stunning beautiful but they are hardy as well. Nevertheless, proper care of these gorgeous objects is necessary in order to keep them looking as good as the day they are purchased. Below is a list of tips on how to do just this:

* Before putting your pearls away after wearing them, you should wipe them over with a very soft clean cloth which will remove all the body oils or dirt they may have collected on them.

* Always store your precious pearls apart from other jewellery which may scratch the immaculate surface of them. A good idea is to wrap them in linen, a soft cloth or place them in a pouch of their own.

* Pearls need moisture so never store them in any sort of airtight container or bag. This is because if the air is to dry the pearls may crack. If you are storing your precious pearls in a safety deposit box or somewhere like a hot environment, make sure you leave a damp cloth close by to them.

* Pearls should never come into contact with chlorine bleach, vinegar, ammonia, hairspray, perfume or cosmetics because all of these will damage their delicate nacre surfaces. Always make sure that the last thing you put on before going out, are your precious pearls.

* If you wear a string of pearls constantly, make sure you remember to get them restrung at least once a year and preferably with silk thread with tiny knots in between each of the exquisite Akoya pearls as this will prevent them from rubbing against each other.