SIZE OF AKOYA PEARLS

Akoya pearls range from 2 to 10 millimeters, with 7 millimeters being the average size. A strand of Japanese Akoya Cultured pearls can be either (1) uniform or (2) graduated. Typically, most consumers searching for Akoya cultured pearl strands always choose uniform necklaces whose range of graduation is half a millimeter. For example, as shown in the chart below, the first strand is called a 5.5mm x 6mm strand as all the pearls on the necklace start at 5.5mm on either end and slowly graduate to 6mm in the center of the strand. The last strand in the chart below is called 9.5mm x 10mm as all the pearls on this necklace start at 9mm on either end and slowly graduate to 10mm in the center. This chart below shows the whole family of readily available cultured pearl size categories that one would find in a finer jewelry store such as Tiffany or Mikimoto starting from 5.5mm x 6mm, 6mm x 6.5mm, 6.5mm x 7mm, 7mm x 7.5mm, 7.5mm x 8mm, 8mm x 8.5mm, 8.5mm x 9mm, 9mm x 9.5mm and 9.5 x 10mm.