| Those would be very small South Sea pearls. In that size range the akoya are often more valuable than the South Sea.
Akoya pearls will have a mirror relection and typically exhibit some rose overtone. South Sea pearls don't have the same type of reflection (typically). I have never seen a South Sea strand that could be mistaken for an akoya. I have seen a lot of pearls sold "as" South Sea that are not South Sea.
One question to ask, where overseas did he buy them? This is important because:
If he bought them in the Philippines they are most likely both Chinese freshwater.
If he bought them in China one is probably fresh and the other akoya, or both akoya.
If he bought them in Japan or Hong Kong, chances are they are as claimed. |