Pearls

Additionally, there are quite a variety of pearls. Some of the more popular types of pearls include:

Freshwater Cultured Pearls
These types of pearls originate from mussels in the freshwater lakes and rivers of China, and can also be found in the United States. These pearls are mostly white in color, but are sometimes tinted a lovely pink, peach or lavender color. They are less symmetrical than other types of pearls, but they tend to be more affordable.

Akoya Cultured Pearls
These types of pearls are found in the salty waters of China and Japan. Ranging in size from 6 to 8.5 mm, they are highly symmetrical pearls with few imperfections. Akoya Pearls range in color from cream to pink, and do have a relatively average price point. Akoya Cultured Pearls are the ones we commonly see in necklaces and other jewelry.

Tahitian Cultured Pearls
These pearls originate in Tahiti, and are farmed on reefs and volcanic atolls. Tahitian Cultured Pearls come in black to purple to greyish-green colors, and are known for their high luster. Ranging in size from 11 to 13 mm, Tahitian Cultured Pearls are mainly spherical in shape. Due to the fact that these pearls are quite are quite rare, these type of pearls command premium prices.

South Sea Cultured Pearls
South Sea Cultured Pearls are farmed in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia. They can range in color from black to white, and can range in size from slightly symmetrical to perfectly spherical in shape. The South Sea cultured pearls are quite large as well (up to 13 mm). They can also be costly, but their price is dependent upon the luster: the greater the luster, the greater the price.