Small size of Akoya Pearls in Shortage

[Bigwellpearls]

Almost farmers in Zhanjiang and Beihai have quit culturing 4-4.5mm, 4.5-5mm, 5-5.5mm and 5.5-6mm Akoya pearls for three years. They don’t think they can realize profits when they cultivate small Akoya pearls.We have only 350 strands of 4.5-5mm Akoya pearls( round, white, cream, overtone rosy, good luster,decent nacre coating, clean surface), and some loose ones available in stock now.

Apparently, we concentrate on culturing 6-6.5mm, 6.5-7mm, 7-7.5mm, 7.5-8mm and 8-8.5mm Akoya pearls.

Our leading farmers reduce quantity of Akoya pearls, some farmers have changed to raise tuna, which is easier and at lower risk. Therefore, output of Akoya pearls has decreased a lot. Prices of buying raw Akoya pearls from farmers increase with the shortage of raw Akoya pearls.

[Kevin Canning]

4-4.5mm, 4.5-5mm, 5-5.5mm and 5.5-6mm

If we never see pearls of in those sizes again I won't be upset, to me nothing looks worse then a grown women in tiny pearls.

[jshepherd]

Hisano wearing a long 5 mm strand of akoya pearls paired with an 8.5-9 mm akoya strand.

It can work

[Kevin Canning]

alright I take it back, with a long rope of smaller pearls the volume of pearls will make up for the lack of size - it looks great on Hisano.

What I was talking about is when you see a 16 or 18" strand of small pearls on a grown women, not a good look IMO.

[newberry]

Hisano is a very lovely woman and everything looks good on her!!

[pattye]

Hisano has a wonderful sense of style, in both large and small pearls!

I do agree with Kevin to a point; a mature woman with just a small pearl strand and small studs looks rather dated. But I am glad to see she has real pearls! A small strand is a perfect for a pearl and/or gemstone enhancer/ clip on! So easily can become a statement piece that way! My feeling is that if someone really prefers a single strand of small pearls, they must choose pearls with top luster to stand out. Just my opinion, of course.

[Pearl Dreams]

A good friend of mine was given a strand of 4mm gem quality Akoyas by her then-future husband for their wedding. She is slender and they still look great on her-- and of course they are a highly sentimental strand.

Proportion is key. Taller and larger women do look better with larger pearls, larger bags etc.

[Caitlin]

If we never see pearls of in those sizes again I won't be upset, to me nothing looks worse then a grown women in tiny pearls.

Unless they are natural---or a couple of ropes. Small pearl long ropes look great, especially in combo. I personally love those small pearls. I am over klonks.

[Bernadette]

Gee kevin,There is no hope for me them, I wear 3mm akoya strand(there is a picture of them on the forum).

[Bigwellpearls]

Practically speaking, small size of Akoya pearl necklaces double to multiple together are popular in South Europe, India etc. It is a pity that few farmers in China intend to culture small size of Akoya pearls.

[Valentina]

Is this still the case? I am after pearl studs in around 5mm for my tiny-non-existent ear lobes. Any help as to where I could some good quality ones would be much appreciated.

[jshepherd]

It is the case in China, but there are producers in Japan that specialize in the smaller sizes. Hisano likes the smallest sizes too. I believe she has a pair of akoya that are between three and four millimeters. We don't buy them often or put them on the site because most people prefer larger pearls, and pearls that small can can cost as much or even more than larger pearls, which can be difficult to understand.

[Pearl Dreams]

My first pair of pierced earrings were 5mm Akoyas and they just came from a regular department store. Do they not sell these any more? They weren't expensive....

[jshepherd]

They used to be produced in abundance in China but not anymore. They aren't popular with producers in Japan either because most of the time pearls are sold by weight. But there are still a few in Japan that specialize in the smallest sizes, and they can actually nucleate with more than one nucleus at a time. I've started seeing them quite a bit more coming out of Japan now that China has stopped production.

[Pearl Dreams]

Interesting!

Valentina, I do see some online if you Google 5mm Akoya earring studs; they are sometimes marketed as children's jewelry. I would not expect top quality.
Here is one such listing:
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wat...2/product.html