Recently, I was browsing on Etsy.com, thinking “I wonder if there are any beautiful Akoya pearls somewhere?”
Then I came across a listing for an “Akoya freshwater pearl necklace.” I was confused by the conflicting terms “Akoya” and “freshwater.”
However, since it’s common to encounter misleading product names, I decided to take a closer look at the page. I thought to myself, “They’re really good at getting clicks,” as I carefully read the product description. But sure enough, the pearls were described as “Akoya freshwater pearls.”
I immediately thought, “This is so deceptive!” and decided to contact the seller.
Me: “Are these pearls Akoya, and were they cultured in freshwater?” Seller: “Yes, that’s correct.” Me: “I have experience with Akoya pearl cultivation, and Akoya oysters cannot live in freshwater.” Seller: “Yes, it’s true. There’s a new trend in China where they can cultivate Akoya oysters in freshwater.” Me: “Really? Would it be alright if I share this information with Etsy administrators, experts, and other pearl traders?” Seller: “Thank you! Please feel free to do so!”
These are image and accompanying text of a product labeled Akoya freshwater pearls currently being sold on Etsy.
I contacted the seller sarcastically, but based on the tone of their response, it seems they genuinely believe that Akoya oysters can survive in freshwater.
I shared this story with a pearl trader friend. He had just finished his tax return and was busy preparing for the Hong Kong Jewelry Show. Pearl Trader: “Freshwater Akoya pearls? Yeah, there’s been a lot of those lately.” Me: “So those are basically freshwater pearls that look like Akoya, right?” Pearl Trader: “Exactly. Lately, necklaces with certificates have become too expensive to sell, so many pearl traders are betting on freshwater pearls. In this category, they’re calling some beautiful freshwater pearls ‘Akoya freshwater pearls.'” Me: “This is so confusing!” Pearl Trader: “It really is, it’s frustrating.” Me: “If a general consumer hears about this, they’ll believe it, right?” Pearl Trader: “Yeah, it’s a problem.”
That was our conversation.
In commerce, various unique naming practices are allowed, and this is a common issue.
However, I believe the term “Akoya freshwater pearl” is deceptive.
Akoya oysters cannot survive in freshwater.
For example, when removing parasites like oysters or barnacles from Akoya oysters, there’s a method known as “water treatment,” where the oysters (not akoya) are briefly submerged in fresh water to kill the parasites. The duration of submersion is only about 10 minutes at most. If the akoya oysters stay submerged for more than 10 minutes, they start to weaken and eventually die. Got it? Only 10 minutes.
I understand the intention of sellers who market freshwater pearls as “Akoya-like.”
They want to sell a beautiful pearl at a lower price, but the consumer still desires the quality of an Akoya pearl.
It’s a fraudulent act in my opinion.
Moreover, there are many high-quality freshwater pearls available today. There’s no need to falsely claim that a freshwater pearl is an Akoya pearl.
“Freshwater pearl that looks like Akoya” would likely be fine, although if I saw that product name, I’d think, “Huh?”
In my email exchange with the seller, my impression was that they truly believed Akoya oysters could survive in freshwater.
This is a deeper issue.
Of course, many people would dismiss the idea of “freshwater Akoya pearls” with the belief that it’s impossible. However, many people can’t tell the difference between Akoya pearls and South Sea pearls. Most of my friends aren’t interested in pearls, so they don’t know these facts.
Then, when I searched Etsy again, I found many listings for “Akoya-quality freshwater pearls.” This wording might seem okay, but personally, I think it’s still a misleading expression.
And some people might say, “As long as the pearl is pretty, who cares? You just want to protect the reputation of Akoya pearls.” Well, that’s true.
A few years ago, “gold-filled” jewelry became popular, and now it’s common. A large manufacturer of jewelry fittings in Kofu, Japan, said, “It’s just gold plating, but many sellers advertise it as if it’s solid gold. We’re concerned about that. The real problem is that these orders are so many that we can’t avoid manufacturing them for profit.”
It’s important to get what you want at a lower price.
As long as you understand what you’re buying, there’s no problem.
Akoya pearls are relatively expensive, so pearls sold at a much lower price than the market rate likely have some reason behind it. Most of the pearls circulating in the global market come from pearl traders in Kobe, Japan. Among these traders, transactions are always made at fair prices. If one trader starts selling at a much lower price, that information quickly spreads. That’s because pearl traders in Kobe are all connected.
If you’re okay with imitations, that’s fine. But if you want to buy a genuine Akoya pearl, I recommend purchasing at a fair price based on the market.
When you wear that pearl, it affects how you carry yourself – your posture, confidence, and how you speak. To live a pure, beautiful life, honest selling and buying are important, I think.
This is a bit dramatic, but I truly believe half of it.
So, that’s all for today’s lesson: Akoya oysters cannot live in freshwater!
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