Found while hunting for Freshwater Soufflé pearls at the Hong Kong Jewellery Show, these white Soufflé pearls display positively electric luster - about 220 volts worth!
When shopping for white cultured pearl jewelry, we field a LOT of questions about what are the differences between each pearl type, what distinguishes each from the other, and what makes one pearl type more desirable over the others.
So we decided to put together the quick White Pearl Guide so you can tell at a glance which pearls are which, and which pearl type you should buy. There are 3 main white pearl types which are Japanese Akoya, Freshwater pearls from China and White South Sea pearls from Australia.
There are 4 major areas you should be evaluating when deciding which pearl type you've got. They are:
So let's dive in and examine the various white pearl types! First up:
Akoya pearls are known for their mirror-like, "ball-bearing" luster. These little gems are highly reflective, and objects viewed in their surfaces are highly to very highly detailed ... you should be able to recognize your entire face!
Lower qualities like AA+ and below have less distinct levels of reflectivity, but that's when other quality factors come into play when determining whether a pearl is an Akoya or not. Hanadama Quality Akoya pearls will appear like the pearls pictured above - with very crisp, nicely detailed reflections and little to no blurring of reflected light sources.
In the pearl world, Akoya pearls are known as "Eight Way Rollers" meaning that they're so PERFECTLY round that they roll evenly in all eight directions when placed on a flat surface. Baroque Akoya pearls exist too of course, but the vast, vast majority of Akoya pearls you'll encounter today are perfectly round and excellently matched.
Akoya pearl blemishes are extremely distinct and easily recognizable once you know what to look for. We found this strand online and is for example purposes only - note that Pearls of Joy does not sell pearls of this quality.
Akoya pearl blemishes include:
Freshwater pearls have distinctly softer, more "satiny" luster than that of the saltwater Akoya pearl. You'll notice that objects reflected in the pearl's surfaces are pretty blurry and difficult to recognize (unless we're talking AAAA/Gem Grade Freshwater pearls! Those get really close to Akoya pearl luster.). Instead of crisp, sharp edges of reflected light sources, you'll notice softly blurring edges and an overall softer, more subtle glow to these pearls versus the Akoya's bright, glossy shine.
Freshwater pearls have a wide range of shapes, from heavily free-form baroque pearls to pretty drop shapes to nearly perfectly round, which are becoming more prevalent in the jewelry world as cultivation techniques continue to improve.
That said, the vast majority of Freshwater pearls that you'll come across today are going to appear slightly off-round to distinctly ovalish and egg-shaped ... these shapes are very easy to spot, and are very common to the Freshwater pearl type.
Freshwater pearls have fairly distinct blemish types which makes these pearls easy to recognize - especially when you combine this attribute with shape and luster! Freshwater pearl inclusions will usually include:
Like Freshwater pearls, White South Sea pearls often display what people call "satiny" luster. It's best described as soft, subtly glowing, with fair to near-excellent rate of reflectivity ... you should be able to see the shape of your face and some of the more prominent features of your face reflected in the surfaces, but fine details not so much.
Reflected light sources will not be very sharp, but slightly blurred around the edges and you'll notice the light spots diffusing on the edges.
White South Sea pearls can be true round (most rare), drop-shaped or barrel-shaped, baroque (most prevalent), circled baroque and free-form baroque shapes.
Often, baroque-shaped White South Sea pearls have pronounced levels of luster and rainbow orient, which is that iridescent soap-bubble effect that appears to float on the surface.
When using shape to determine if a pearl type is a White South Sea pearl, take into account the pearl's SIZE.
White South Sea pearls are one of the largest pearl types in the world, and generally measure anywhere from 8-9 mm up through 15-16 mm, and sometimes larger. Akoya and Freshwater pearls are usually smaller, ranging in size from 5-6 mm up through 9-10 mm or so; so if the pearls you are evaluating are larger than 9 mm (combined with other attributes), it's a very good chance that they are White South Sea!
White South Sea pearls often feature its own distinct blemish types, but do share some similarities with Freshwater and Akoya pearls ... namely tiny pin pricks and occasionally some whitish chalky spots. Other blemishes to note are:
When it comes to baroque pearls, Australian White South Sea pearls are the most unique by far. Treasured for their natural look, Australian baroque pearls are the rarest of the baroque pearls in the South Sea, this 9-11mm pearl necklace is no exception.
A gorgeous and exquisite strand compiled of brilliant white South Sea pearls, all baroque shaped with gorgeous luster. The necklace comes affixed with an elegant 18K white gold ball clasp. Premium clasps are also available at checkout. Included with this item is a complementary pearl care kit, giving you the ability to maintain this necklace's elegant beauty for years to come.
