| Natural pearl collection has all but ceased in most of the world. There are some areas where natural pearls are still considered the only "real" pearls. But a lot of people do not realize that those areas are where a large portion of current cultured pearl byproduct goes (keshi pearls).
What the merchant was probably referring to when describing the effect of Chinese production on the akoya market was the effect of the Chinese freshwater. The quality of freshwater has gotten so good that it has in effect displaced the need for anything but the highest quality akoya pearls. Freshwater pearls can be as round as akoya, can easily be as lustrous as common akoya, and can even surpass some of the finest akoya in beauty.
The Chinese production of akoya pearls has both hurt and helped the Japanese industry. In the beginning it only helped the industry as all Chinese akoya production was sold through Japan as "Japanese akoya pearls". The bulk of Chinese akoya is still sold through Japan and sold as Japanese akoya, but a lot is now making its way onto the market bypassing Japan. People that are "in the know" buy akoya for quality, not origin. They know that you can buy Chinese akoya that are superb in every way to Japanese akoya for a lot less. This does not mean that Chinese akoya are better than Japanese - they are not. But they are the same pearl and quality for quality akoya from China are the better deal. Especially considering most Japanese strands under 8 mm have Chinese akoya mixed in with them - as much as 80% according to many in the industry. |