The classic white strand — the sharpest lustre of any pearl type, and the thinnest nacre, which makes care matter.
When people picture a pearl necklace, they are usually picturing Akoya. Cultured in saltwater oysters primarily in Japan and China, these are the pearls that established the modern industry.
Akoya pearls are bead-nucleated and grown in cold water, which slows nacre deposition and produces exceptionally fine, tightly layered crystal structure. The result is a sharp, almost mirror-like reflection — you should be able to see a defined image of a light source in a good Akoya, not a diffuse glow.
That thin, dense nacre is typically only 0.3 to 0.5 mm over the bead. It produces superb lustre but leaves less material to survive wear. Poorly cared-for Akoya can eventually show the bead through the surface, particularly at the drill holes.
Ask about nacre thickness when buying Akoya. Reputable sellers state it. Anything under about 0.3 mm is thin enough to be a genuine durability concern, however good it looks in the shop.
Naturally white to cream, usually with a rose, silver or cream overtone. Most Akoya on the market has been lightly processed to even out colour, which is standard industry practice and generally disclosed as "bleached and pinked".
A 7–7.5 mm strand of good quality runs roughly £400 to £1,200. Larger sizes rise sharply — 8.5–9 mm strands of top quality reach several thousand pounds, because the oysters that produce them are far less common.
Formal jewellery, classic strands, occasion wear and anyone who wants that specific bright reflective quality. Less ideal as a daily-wear piece, precisely because of the nacre thickness.