Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Gemsveritas Also, I just did some reading on Akoyas on this site, and that started me wondering if the early (and poor quality) Chinese akoyas were sometimes tagged Atocha for tourists? |
Actually the early Chinese Akoya were of the highest quality, produced to early Mikimoto standards. When the world became aware of Chinese Akoya (25 years later), the Japanese argued the quality to be low to protect their own interests, and sold the highest grade Chinese as Japanese. They still do that today.
Also, they were never called 'Atocha'. I agree with Zeide that it appears to be a butchering of 'Akoya'.