Akoya Pearl Necklaces
Every strand here is Japanese akoya, selected in Kobe against our own standards, then knotted on silk by hand in our Los Angeles studio. Choose by size, grade and price below, and ask us to photograph the exact strand before we finish it.
Choosing an akoya necklace
Four things decide what a strand looks like on you and what it costs.
Size
Most akoya fall between 6.0 and 8.0 mm, and 7.0 to 7.5 mm is the most popular by a wide margin. A pearl is a sphere, so one millimeter is a bigger jump than it sounds.
Grade
Ours run AA+, AAA and hanadama. The letters are our own standard, not an industry one, and what separates them is luster first, then surface and matching.
Length
Most strands are knotted to order in 16, 18 or 22 inch, and we will make any length you ask for. 16 sits at the base of the neck, 18 falls just below the collarbone and is what most people choose, and 22 reads more relaxed and layers well.
Overtone
Akoya are white, but the overtone varies from bright white through soft rose to a warmer cream. Tell us what you want in the notes at checkout, or request photographs of the exact pearls from any product page.
Before you buy
Can I see the exact strand before it ships?
Ask us and we will photograph it for you. Every strand is knotted to order, so the necklace you receive is assembled for you rather than pulled off a shelf. Request photographs or a short video on any product page, at no cost and with no obligation to buy.
Can I order a length that isn't listed?
Yes. Every strand is knotted to order, so the lengths on the page are a starting point rather than a limit. If you want a 17 inch, a 24 inch, or a rope, tell us and we will make it.
Can I choose a different clasp?
Yes. Each necklace lists a set of clasp options, but we keep a much larger collection in both 14K and 18K. Ask us and we will show you what else we have. Everything is solid gold, never gold-plated and never base metal, and any diamonds are natural.
Are your necklaces knotted?
Every one, double-knotted on silk. It stops the pearls rubbing against each other, and if a strand ever breaks you lose one pearl rather than all of them.
Can you match earrings or a bracelet to this necklace?
We already do. If you order earrings, a pendant or a bracelet at the same time as a necklace, we match the pearls to the strand before anything is strung or set. You do not have to ask and there is no charge for it. It is the reason a set bought from us in one order looks like a set rather than pieces that happen to be the same size.
Still deciding?
Our specialists will show you strands on camera and talk you through what you are looking at. Most appointments run about twenty minutes.
