Not all pearls are equal and I'll die on this hill. Here's my honest take on every type.
There are four main types of pearls and people mix them up constantly.
Quick breakdown:
Freshwater — All-nacre, durable, great value. Luster is soft and diffused. The "everyday" pearl. Mostly from China.
South Sea — The luxury tier. 9–20mm, silky satin glow, grown in Australia and the Philippines.
Tahitian — Dramatic. Dark greens, greys, peacock tones. Makes a statement. If you want to turn heads, this is the one.
Akoya — Saltwater. Japan. And this is where I stop being neutral.
Akoya has the sharpest, most mirror-like luster of any pearl in the world. When the light hits it, it doesn't glow it reflects. Clean. Precise. Almost architectural.
There's a reason Mikimoto chose it. There's a reason it became the global standard for the pearl necklace.
Yes, it's smaller (6–9mm). Yes, the nacre is thinner than South Sea. But the density of that nacre is unmatched. That's what creates the brilliance.
I've seen all four types. I keep coming back to Akoya!