| There are wide varieties of pearls in the market today | | | | Lake Biwa Pearls |
| with the advent of the cultured pearl technology. Pearls | | | | These are fresh water gems and are from the lake |
| we see in the market today are of different shapes, | | | | Biwa in Japan. Biwa is a place in Japan where pearl |
| sizes and colors. In addition to the famous fresh water | | | | farming is done at huge scale. But due to water and |
| and salt water cultured pearls of China, there are few | | | | air pollution in that place, the production of Lake Biwa |
| other cultured gems like Lake Biwa and Akoya which | | | | pearls has almost come to halt. Today, it is very |
| are famous. | | | | difficult to find an original Lake Biwa gem in the market. |
| These are mainly cultured in the regions of China, | | | | Akoya Pearls |
| Japan and US. The Chinese pearls are exported to all | | | | These are very popular cultured sea water pearls and |
| the major countries of the world whereas the US | | | | are obtained from the Akoya oyster. These are also |
| produces pearls primarily for its domestic market. The | | | | called the Japan pearls as they are cultivated in Japan |
| use of pearls has tremendously grown in the recent | | | | mostly. In recent times, China has also started |
| times in USA. So, there are no significant exports of | | | | producing Akoya Pearls and turned out to be a major |
| these gem stones from the US. Till a decade ago, | | | | producer of these gem stones under the 7mm |
| Japan used to produce quality pearls than China. But | | | | diameter pearls. Japan produces these gems of bigger |
| Chinese also grew technologically at a pace that now, | | | | sizes which are generally of the size above 7mm. |
| Japan imports 'raw' pearls and later market them as | | | | Typically, these pearls are near round in shape and |
| Japanese pearls. Today, the Chinese pearl stones also | | | | come in white and cream shades of color with silver |
| come with almost 100% round in shape which proves | | | | or pink overtones. |
| the quality they attained over years. | | | | |