Akoya vs South Sea Pearls: What's the Difference?

Short answerAkoya and South Sea pearls are both saltwater cultured pearls grown around a shell bead, but in very different oysters. The small Akoya oyster, farmed mostly in Japan, grows white or cream pearls typically 6 to 8 mm across, with a mirror-like shine. Pinctada maxima, the largest pearl oyster, grows white to golden South Sea pearls, typically 9 to 16 mm, with much thicker nacre. South Sea pearls cost significantly more.

Key facts

Akoya cultured pearls are typically 6 to 8 mm, and South Sea cultured pearls typically 9 to 16 mm.^{1 2}
An adult Akoya oyster is typically 7 to 10 cm across, and an adult Pinctada maxima 20 to 30 cm.²
In one X-ray image GIA published, a 6.85 mm Akoya had about 0.34 mm of nacre and an 11.15 mm South Sea pearl about 1.92 mm.³
Akoya oysters are typically left in the water for 10 to 14 months after the bead goes in, while Pinctada maxima generally needs at least two years.^{1 4}
GIA's journal describes South Sea pearls as much larger than Akoya, routinely over 10 mm, and significantly more costly.⁵
Enhancement is routine for Akoya, while South Sea pearls are generally only washed and polished in their countries of origin.⁶

On this page

The key differences between Akoya and South Sea pearls
Why South Sea pearls are bigger and thicker
Treatments
Price
Choosing between Akoya and South Sea pearls

Akoya and South Sea cultured pearls are both saltwater cultured pearls grown around a shell bead, one at a time in the oyster’s gonad.⁶ Almost everything else about them differs. The table compares them using the Learn About Pearls dataset.

Akoya cultured pearl vs South Sea cultured pearl at a glance
Feature	Akoya cultured pearl	South Sea cultured pearl
Mollusk	Pinctada fucata (Akoya pearl oyster)^{7 8}	Pinctada maxima (silver-lipped pearl oyster and gold-lipped pearl oyster)^{4 7}
Water	saltwater^{8 9}	saltwater^{9 10}
Main producing regions	Japan, China and Vietnam^{2 8 11}	Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar^{4 7 10 11}
Typical size	6–8 mm^{1 2 9 11 12}	9–16 mm^{2 9 11}
Shapes	round, near-round, semi-baroque and baroque^{1 2}	round, oval, button, drop, circled and baroque^{2 9}
Natural colors	white and cream^{2 8 9 12}	white, silver, cream, champagne and golden^{2 10 13 14 15}
Growing time	6–36 months (typically 10 to 14 months)^{1 2 11}	1–3 years (two to three years in Australia and the Philippines)^{2 4}
Nacre	Bead-cultured, so the nacre covers a shell bead. Akoya nacre is generally thinner than that of South Sea and Tahitian cultured pearls, because the growing period is shorter and the water cooler.^{3 7 16}	Bead-cultured, with the thickest nacre of the bead-cultured types, typically 1.5–3.0 mm.^{4 17}
Relative price	Generally more expensive than freshwater cultured pearls of similar size and quality (GIA)⁸	Not recorded

The key differences between Akoya and South Sea pearls#

Akoya and South Sea cultured pearls differ in their oyster, their size, their nacre and their look.

Oyster. An adult Akoya oyster, Pinctada fucata, is typically 7 to 10 cm across, and an adult Pinctada maxima 20 to 30 cm, the largest of all pearl oysters.²
Where. Japan grows most Akoya, with smaller amounts from China and Vietnam.¹¹ South Sea pearls come mainly from Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar.⁷
Size. Akoya are typically 6–8 mm¹, and South Sea pearls typically 9–16 mm².
Color. Akoya are white and cream⁸. South Sea pearls are white, silver, cream, champagne and golden².
Luster. GIA describes Akoya as famed for a mirror-like shine,⁸ and South Sea pearls as often having a satiny luster.¹⁸
Growing time. Akoya oysters are typically left in the water for 10 to 14 months after the bead goes in,¹ while P. maxima generally needs at least two years.⁴

Why South Sea pearls are bigger and thicker#

The oyster sets the limit. GIA notes that the oyster that produces South Sea cultured pearls is larger than the one that produces Japanese saltwater cultured pearls, which gives it the potential for larger pearls.¹⁸ GIA’s journal describes South Sea pearls as much larger than Akoya, routinely over 10 mm in diameter.⁵

Time adds the nacre. Nacre thickness is closely related to how long a cultured pearl was grown.⁷ Akoya nacre is generally thinner than South Sea or Tahitian nacre,¹⁶ while South Sea pearls have the thickest nacre of any bead-cultured pearl.⁴ In one X-ray image GIA published, a 6.85 mm Akoya had about 0.34 mm of nacre and an 11.15 mm South Sea pearl about 1.92 mm.³

Treatments#

Akoya are treated far more often. Enhancement is routine for Akoya pearls, while South Sea pearls are generally not treated in their countries of origin beyond washing and polishing.⁶ CIBJO notes that many Akoya are routinely treated for luster and an even color, and that bleaching is common.² Golden South Sea color can be natural or produced by heat or dye.^{14 15}

Price#

South Sea pearls cost more. GIA’s journal describes them as significantly more costly than Akoya.⁵ CIBJO puts the retail value of the world’s Akoya production at about US$130 million a year, against about US$300 million for Australia’s South Sea pearls alone.²

Choosing between Akoya and South Sea pearls#

Choose Akoya cultured pearls if you want the classic white strand in moderate sizes, with a sharp, mirror-like shine.^{8 10}

Choose South Sea cultured pearls if you want large pearls with thick nacre and a satiny luster, in white or golden colors, and are prepared to pay more.^{10 18}

Questions people ask#

Which are more expensive, Akoya or South Sea pearls?

South Sea pearls. GIA's journal describes them as significantly more costly than Akoya, and GIA attributes their value to their size, thick nacre and the limited conditions they need to grow.^{5 10}

Why are South Sea pearls bigger than Akoya?

Because the oyster is bigger, and the pearls grow for longer. GIA notes that the oyster that produces South Sea cultured pearls is larger than the one that produces Japanese saltwater cultured pearls, which gives it the potential for larger pearls, and Pinctada maxima generally needs at least two years to grow them.^{4 18}

Which have thicker nacre?

South Sea pearls. Their nacre is the thickest of any bead-cultured pearl, typically 1.5 to 3.0 mm, while Akoya nacre is generally thinner than South Sea or Tahitian nacre.^{4 16 17}

Are Akoya or South Sea pearls more often treated?

Akoya. Enhancement such as bleaching is routine for Akoya, while South Sea pearls are generally only washed and polished in their countries of origin, and fine-quality Australian ones need no treatment.^{2 6}

References#

Areeya Manustrong (2018). Very Small Akoya Cultured Pearls. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
CIBJO Pearl Commission (2025). CIBJO Guides Describing and Classifying Natural and Cultured Pearls, the Producing Molluscs & Responsible Pearling. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Chunhui Zhou and W. Henry Towbin (2024). Applications of X-Ray Radiography and X-Ray Computed Microtomography in Gemology. Source · DOI 10.5741/GEMS.60.4.582 · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Artitaya Homkrajae, Nanthaporn Nilpetploy, Areeya Manustrong, Nicholas Sturman, Kwanreun Lawanwong and Promlikit Kessrapong (2021). Internal Structures of Known Pinctada maxima Pearls: Cultured Pearls from Operated Marine Mollusks. Source · DOI 10.5741/GEMS.57.3.186 · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Russell Shor (2007). From Single Source to Global Free Market: The Transformation of the Cultured Pearl Industry. Source · DOI 10.5741/GEMS.43.3.200 · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Changbo Zhu, Paul C. Southgate and Ting Li (2019). Production of Pearls. Source · DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-96776-9_5 · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, Pearl Commission (2026). The CIBJO Pearl Book (Pearl Blue Book) 2026. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Phoebe Shang (2026). Freshwater Akoyas – A Trending Misnomer for Certain Freshwater Pearls. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Gemological Institute of America (GIA), FAQ. What are the main types of cultured pearls and what are their distinctive characteristics?. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Gem Encyclopedia. Pearl Description. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Fisheries Agency of Japan (水産庁) (2026). 真珠養殖をめぐる情勢について (On the situation of pearl culture). Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Artitaya Homkrajae (2024). Remarkably Large Akoya Bead Cultured Pearls. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. South Sea Pearl Ring (NMNH G10639). Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Shane Elen (2001). Spectral Reflectance and Fluorescence Characteristics of Natural-Color and Heat-Treated "Golden" South Sea Cultured Pearls. Source · DOI 10.5741/GEMS.37.2.114 · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Chunhui Zhou, Artitaya Homkrajae, Joyce Wing Yan Ho, Akira Hyatt and Nicholas Sturman (2012). Update on the Identification of Dye Treatment in Yellow or "Golden" Cultured Pearls. Source · DOI 10.5741/GEMS.48.4.284 · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Kwanreun Lawanwong, Ravenya Atchalak and Emiko Yazawa (2025). Exceptional Nacre Thickness of Hybrid Akoya Bead Cultured Pearls. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Nanthaporn Nilpetploy, Kwanreun Lawanwong, Promlikit Kessrapong, Areeya Manustrong and Nicholas Sturman (2021). A study on improving the surface appearance of low-quality Pinctada maxima bead cultured pearls. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)
Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Gem Encyclopedia. Pearl Quality Factors. Source · Archived copy (accessed 2026-10-25)

Written by: Learn About Pearls editors
Fact-checked: Learn About Pearls editors, October 26, 2026
Reviewed by: Simon, October 26, 2026
First published: November 4, 2026
Publisher: Unique Pearl, a pearl jeweler

Revision history

November 4, 2026: First published. First published

How to cite this page

APA: Learn About Pearls editors. (2026). Akoya vs South Sea Pearls: What's the Difference? Learn About Pearls. https://learnaboutpearls.com/compare/akoya-vs-south-sea-pearls/
MLA: “Akoya vs South Sea Pearls: What's the Difference?” Learn About Pearls, Unique Pearl, November 4, 2026, learnaboutpearls.com/compare/akoya-vs-south-sea-pearls/.
Chicago: Learn About Pearls editors. “Akoya vs South Sea Pearls: What's the Difference?” Learn About Pearls. Unique Pearl. Last modified November 4, 2026. https://learnaboutpearls.com/compare/akoya-vs-south-sea-pearls/.
BibTeX: @misc{lap-compare-akoya-vs-south-sea-pearls, title = {Akoya vs South Sea Pearls: What's the Difference?}, author = {{Learn About Pearls editors}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://learnaboutpearls.com/compare/akoya-vs-south-sea-pearls/}}, note = {Learn About Pearls, published by Unique Pearl}}

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