Duchess Classic Collection Genuine Diamond Tahitian Gray Pearl Necklace/Earrings 8-9mm 18K White Gold

The "Duchess Classic Collection," with its clean lines and exquisite pearl luster, pays homage to the timeless elegance of Princess Diana. Crafted with 8-8.5mm natural Tahitian seawater pearls, these pearls possess a natural gray hue with a subtle, ethereal blue-purple iridescence, appearing serene and stable like a faint glow in the mist, exuding a cool, noble aura. Set in 18K gold with stud or small pendant designs, these pieces embody the classic jewelry forms often seen in royal daily wear. Whether as everyday adornments for the modern professional or as a refined accent for formal occasions, they subtly yet confidently reflect the wearer's taste and presence. [As we are a factory that produces our own pearls and manufactures our own jewelry, all pearl sizes are limited editions. Because pearls require time to harvest, certain sizes may become temporarily unavailable due to depletion or factors affecting pearl harvest conditions. Therefore, some styles may be out of stock temporarily. Please inquire about availability before placing an order.] https://youtube.com/shorts/W5UUhRkSJ14?si=9-9eZErXewQ83K-z 👉 Freshwater pearl options in the same design are also available in our store. Feel free to message us for comparisons and styling advice. Our pearls, depending on their variety, are sourced from two major production areas, Japan and China. All processing and manufacturing are carried out by professional jewelry workshops in China, ensuring stable quality and exquisite craftsmanship, perfectly showcasing the pearls' natural luster and charm. 🔹 Japanese Origin | Akoya Seawater Pearls, Tahitian Pearls Akoya pearls are the most iconic type of seawater cultured pearls, translated as "Agoya" in Chinese. They are primarily farmed in regions of Japan such as Mie, Kumamoto, and Ehime, with the Seto Inland Sea coast being particularly renowned. Akoya pearls are cultivated from the **Pinctada fucata** oyster. Due to the oyster's small size, each shell can only yield one pearl, requiring approximately 3 years of meticulous cultivation, making their yield relatively scarce and their quality and price correspondingly high. Akoya pearls are nucleated pearls, known for their exceptional roundness and a cool, brilliant luster, earning them the nickname "little light bulbs" in the pearl world and making them highly favored in the high-end jewelry industry. Their surface often exhibits a natural "orange peel" texture. Opting for specially selected grades (accompanied by a Japanese certificate) results in near-flawless pearls with even more transparent luster. Their colors range from sakura pink, snow white, greenish-pink, cool blue-green, aurora gold, to queenly hues. Additionally, the rare Tahitian color range, a variation of Akoya with a natural pink-purple glow, is highly sought after by collectors. 🔹 Chinese Origin | Freshwater Cultured Pearls China is the world's largest producer of freshwater pearls, with production concentrated in Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangsu, and Anhui regions. Freshwater pearls are primarily cultivated from large mussels like the triangle-lip mussel, where a single mussel can yield tens of pearls simultaneously, resulting in a much higher output than seawater pearls. In the last decade, with significant advancements in cultivation technology and selection standards, high-quality freshwater pearls have achieved levels comparable to Akoya in roundness, nacre tightness, and luster. Although typically un-nucled, top-grade freshwater pearls can achieve near-perfect roundness, possess a warm, translucent luster, and exhibit strong surface glow, all at a more accessible price point. They are an excellent value choice for everyday wear and designer jewelry. Regardless of whether you choose Akoya seawater pearls or Chinese freshwater pearls, all products are completed in our Chinese processing workshops, ensuring that every piece, from raw material to craftsmanship, meets jewelry-grade standards, adding an elegant touch to your daily life. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54586131810_8f2fee49cc_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54585793436_ddd2e63e51_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54585797431_701d282b24_b.jpg Surface Glow Description: Our AKOYA pearls are of medium-strong luster (clearly reflecting shapes of lighting fixtures and lenses). https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54612499788_2b9fe5fd2c_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54612491829_772f02995e_b.jpg Flaw Description: (In the Pearl Grading Guide: items circled can serve as a reference standard for pearls in our store) https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54586035868_cf01f90df0_b.jpg Our AKOYA pearls (including Tahitian) are not of certificate (flawless) grade. Flaw levels range from minor to moderate. Any imperfections are located near the drill hole (close to the earlobe) and are not visible when worn. Example of Flaw: Growth lines (small pits) https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54612591065_01f92023b5_b.jpg AKOYA pearls can have pinkish or whitish tones (as shown in the image): https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54612499748_f6924ee554_b.jpg 💡 Wearing and Care Recommendations ・Avoid exposing pearls to perfumes, alcohol, and chemicals. ・Gently wipe with a soft cloth after each wear. ・Store separately to prevent scratches from contact with hard objects. 📦**Process Description:** After placing your order, we will place an order with our overseas supplier, begin stone setting and production, and ship to Taiwan. As the factory is overseas, production and logistics will take approximately 7 days. 💖 Follow us for the latest gemstone product information. 📌 Latest arrivals on our Pinkoi store. 💌 If you have a specific color or type of gemstone in mind, message us for custom order discussions. Unsure whether to choose Freshwater or Akoya pearls? Here's a comparison: I. Origin & Cultivation Akoya Pearls Akoya pearls are seawater cultured pearls, primarily produced in Japan, but also farmed in Vietnam and China. The Akoya oyster is Pinctada fucata, requiring growth in marine environments with high salinity and complex currents. Typically, one oyster yields only one pearl. The cultivation cycle for Akoya is relatively long, about 3-5 years. Akoya's annual yield is low, accounting for only about 10% of the global pearl production (total seawater pearls). Akoya was the world's first commercially produced seawater cultured pearl, beginning in the early 1900s. Seawater cultured pearls (including Akoya) are usually nucleated, with a spherical bead core inserted into the oyster. Freshwater Pearls Freshwater pearls are cultured in freshwater environments such as lakes and rivers, primarily in the lakes and rivers of China's Yangtze River basin, including Zhejiang, Hunan, and Jiangsu. The primary oyster for freshwater pearl cultivation is the triangle-lip mussel, with stable and controllable water quality. One mussel can produce 10-40 or 30-50 pearls. Most freshwater pearls form naturally within the oyster without a bead nucleus (primarily un-nucleated cultivation), leading to more irregular shapes. The cultivation cycle for freshwater pearls is relatively shorter, about 1-3 years. Freshwater pearls account for the vast majority of global pearl production, approximately 95%. Nucleated freshwater cultured pearls are also known as "Edison" pearls. Natural pearls and un-nucleated cultured pearls are composed almost entirely of nacre. II. Appearance - Shape & Size Shape: Due to the insertion of a round bead core during cultivation and a relatively thin nacre layer that helps maintain roundness, Akoya pearls typically achieve a very round shape with a high rate of perfect roundness. Over 90% of high-quality Akoya pearls are near-perfectly round. The roundness of Akoya pearls accessible to consumers is generally good. Freshwater cultured pearls (mainly un-nucleated) are naturally formed without a bead core, making their shapes more prone to being oval or irregular. Over 80% of freshwater pearls on the market are oval, flattened oval, or baroque shapes, with a lower proportion of perfectly round ones. Due to un-nucleated cultivation, perfectly round freshwater pearls are extremely rare; near-round is considered the highest roundness grade. Nucleated freshwater cultured pearls (Edison pearls) are similar in size to seawater pearls but have lower roundness. Size: Akoya pearls are smaller, with pearls typically ranging from 6-9mm. Commercial production often falls within the 6-8mm or 5-8mm range. 8mm is considered a good size, with the largest Akoya reaching 10-11mm. The larger the size of an Akoya pearl, the more precious it is. Even a difference of 1mm, for example between 7-8mm and 8-9mm Akoya pearls, can result in a significant price difference. Freshwater cultured pearls generally range from 5-12mm in diameter. Nucleated freshwater pearls (Edison pearls) can reach 12-20mm. South Sea pearls are most commonly found between 10-16mm, with those exceeding 16mm being relatively rare and precious. III. Appearance - Color Akoya pearls are primarily white in body color. Common overtones include pink, light greenish-blue, and light yellowish-green, with pink being the most popular. Akoya also come in blue hues (like Tahitian) and yellow hues (like Aurora Queen, Aurora Gold). Seawater pearls (including Akoya) do not have purple colors. Pearl colors originate from minerals or natural pigments secreted by the mother-of-pearl. Freshwater cultured pearls mainly come in white, pink, and light purple. Purple is a unique color of freshwater pearls, derived from carotenoids in the triangle-lip mussel. Nucleated freshwater pearls (Edison pearls) can exhibit deep purple and bronze colors. Freshwater pearls do not have pure black or rich gold colors. Some colors may be bleached or dyed. IV. Appearance - Luster Pearl luster is a crucial factor in determining quality, even its soul. Luster is related to the thickness and quality of the nacre layers. The stronger the luster, the more precious and expensive the pearl. Luster is the most important value factor for pearls. Akoya pearls are renowned for their very high and beautiful luster, often called "little light bulbs of the human world." Their luster is strong, capable of sharp reflections and clear imaging. In comparisons of the highest quality, Akoya's mirror-like luster can surpass that of South Sea pearls. High-quality specimens can reflect a person's face. The luster of freshwater cultured pearls is relatively softer, primarily diffused reflection, smooth like silk. Some high-quality freshwater pearls can achieve good luster, reaching 70%-80% of seawater pearls. Some higher-grade freshwater pearls can achieve "extreme luster." The luster of freshwater pearls is shallower, with weaker refractive effects. GUILD classifies pearl luster into four grades: Very good, Good, Fair, and Poor. V. Appearance - Surface Quality Naturally occurring pearls usually have some surface imperfections. The fewer flaws a pearl has, the better its quality. Absolutely perfect pearls are extremely rare and expensive. Akoya pearls have higher surface smoothness, with imperfections often being small pinpricks. The surface of freshwater pearls may show growth lines such as ripples and depressions. Surface quality is divided into four grades: Very good (near flawless), Good (minor flaws), Fair (moderate flaws), and Poor (many flaws). The degree of imperfection is one of the factors in determining pearl quality. VI. Physical Characteristics - Nacre Thickness & Durability Nacre thickness is an important factor in assessing the quality of nucleated cultured pearls. Nacre thickness affects the beauty and durability of the pearl. Nacre that is too thin can affect luster, and abrasion may cause it to lose luster or even "peel." Akoya pearls have relatively thinner nacre compared to other types of seawater cultured pearls. Typically ranging from 0.15mm to 0.55mm. 0.5mm is considered thick-nacre for Akoya. According to GUILD standards, Akoya with nacre thickness greater than 0.4mm is of better quality. Akoya are most sensitive to nacre thickness. The thinner nacre of Akoya helps maintain their round shape. The nacre of freshwater cultured pearls (primarily un-nucleated) typically ranges from 0.3 to 0.8mm. The internal structure of un-nucleated freshwater pearls is composed almost entirely of nacre. Prolonged wear of freshwater pearls may gradually lead to loss of luster due to friction, resulting in a relatively shorter lifespan. Nucleated freshwater pearls (Edison) have thicker nacre, reaching 0.8-3mm. Overall, seawater pearls have thicker nacre and a longer lifespan. The nacre of seawater pearls (such as South Sea pearls, Tahitian pearls) typically ranges from 0.8-3mm. South Sea pearls can have nacre up to 2mm, which is 60 to 100 times thicker than Akoya. VII. Daily Wear & Suitability Due to their high luster and roundness, as well as their classic white hues, Akoya pearls are a very popular choice for everyday wear. They are suitable for versatile necklace designs that exude elegance, nobility, and classic charm. They are also appropriate for formal occasions, weddings, and business gifts. Freshwater cultured pearls, due to their accessible price point (thanks to China's high production volume and cultivation methods) and diverse colors (especially baroque shapes), are a popular choice for daily commutes and casual wear. High-quality freshwater pearls (with extreme luster, near-round shape, and minimal flaws) are visually indistinguishable from seawater pearls to the naked eye and offer excellent value, making them highly suitable for everyday wear. They are ideal for students, early-career professionals, or lovers of baroque pearls. If you have a limited budget and prioritize daily wear, high-quality freshwater pearls are an excellent option. From a pure usage perspective, there is very little difference in the wearing experience between high-quality freshwater pearls and seawater pearls.