Japanese Akoya pearl necklaces are the classic white strand of pearls that range in size from small 5.5mm through moderate 7.5mm and large 10.5mm sizes at their largest. Our Akoya pearl strand collection features AA+, AAA and certified Hanadama pearls, all double-knotted on matching silk by hand, and finished with solid 14kt gold clasps of your choice.
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Akoya pearl necklace price ranges run from $330 for a 5.5mm dyed black Akoya strand to $14,000+ for our largest and rarest 10.0-10.5mm white AAA quality strands. Size makes a surprisingly big difference in how much Akoya pearl necklaces cost: a 6.5-7.0mm AAA Akoya pearl necklace starts at $1,910, while 7.0-7.5mm runs around $2,190 and 8.0-8.5mm reaches $3,590, because even half a millimeter adds noticeable volume to the overall appearance of a pearl necklace. A pearl's grade affects real pearl necklace price through differences in luster, surface quality, and overall appearance, with AA+ and AAA evaluated on our A-AAA quality grading scale along with Hanadama pearls, which are accompanied by independent Japanese laboratory certification. Length matters too: a 16-inch choker uses fewer pearls than an 18-inch princess strand, while a 36-inch Akoya pearl necklace requires twice as many pearls and will cost twice as much, depending on its specifications. Matching is the final factor in the pearl necklace price range, since selecting pearls with consistent size, color, luster, and surface quality across an entire strand takes additional sorting. Every strand is made by hand to order, double-knotted on fine silk with a solid 14kt gold clasp in our Los Angeles workshop, never stored in a warehouse on a pallet.
Read More: How Much Do Pearls Cost?
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Our Akoya pearl strand necklaces come in four layouts. A graduated Akoya pearl necklace is a classically created layout of pearls that grow from smaller pearls at the clasp, gradually increasing in size towards the center. A double strand Akoya pearl necklace creates a fuller, layered look that features two perfectly matched strands of pearls, usually nested within each other and measuring 17 and 18 inches in length. For more play and versatility, our 36-inch Akoya pearl strands can be worn long or doubled around the neck, which makes them a playful and elegant alternative to a classic single strand Akoya pearl necklace. The Akoya pearls we buy are grown for two full seasons in Japan, a cultivation practice known as koshimono, which allows more time for nacre development and can contribute to long-lasting beauty with proper care. Each strand is hand-selected, hand-knotted on silk, and finished with your choice of solid 14kt gold clasp. Whether you're choosing a classic strand or a layered opera length style, these are timeless pearl necklace styles for buyers searching for a pearl necklace women can wear for years to come.
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Akoya pearl necklaces feature pearls ranging from 5.5-10.5mm, with 7.0-8.0mm and 8.0-9.0mm being the most popular sizes. Smaller 5.5-6.5mm Akoya pearls offer delicate refinement and are an ideal choice as "first pearls" gifts for younger ladies and women with petite frames.
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Akoya pearl necklaces come in various lengths including 16-inch chokers, 18-inch princess length (the most popular) that falls just below the collarbone for versatile everyday sophistication, 20 to 24-inch matinee lengths and 36-inch opera length for dramatic formal elegance. The choice of length depends on your body type, neckline preferences, and styling intentions, but we can create any pearl necklace length you require.
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Hanadama Akoya pearl necklaces are the finest top-grade Akoya pearls with near-perfect quality, exceptional luster, and certification from the Pearl Science Laboratory of Japan. Traditional Akoya pearl necklaces have a broader quality range that have more surface imperfections or slightly lower luster grades, and are rated on the A-AAA quality grading scale.
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Care for Akoya pearl necklaces by wiping them gently with a soft, damp cloth after each wearing to remove oils, makeup, and perfume residue that can dull the exceptional mirror-like luster. Have them professionally restrung every 1-2 years if worn frequently to maintain the integrity of the strand.
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The difference between AA+ and AAA quality Akoya pearl necklaces is subtle for most observers; AA+ Akoya will feature very high luster and 10% surface blemishing, while AAA pearl necklaces will feature excellent luster and less than 5% blemishing. For the same budget, AA+ buys a slightly larger pearl; AAA buys a slightly smaller pearl with sharper luster and a cleaner surface. Buy Hanadama pearls when you want the very best Akoya pearls you can buy; these pearls have mirror-like luster, visible iridescence and between 1-5% blemishing for very clean surfaces.
Read More: Akoya Pearl Grading
Graduated Akoya pearl necklaces feature the smallest pearls at the clasp, gradually getting larger throughout the strand with the largest pearls in the center. We offer many different graduated Akoya necklaces to choose from; our 5.0-7.0mm graduated Akoya necklace starts at $700, we offer a more steeply graduated Akoya necklace that measures 6.0-9.0mm for $1,200 and a larger 8.0-10.0mm graduated Akoya strand for $4,910.
Yes, all of our Akoya pearl necklaces are real pearl necklaces; they are farmed in Japan over a two-season period called "koshimono" which gives these cultured Akoya pearls from Japan their famous mirror-like luster and thick nacre layers. Every Japanese Akoya pearl necklace we offer is graded on the A-AAA grading scale with certified Hanadama pearls for those looking for the very best Akoya pearls on offer.
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