"Freshwater" and "akoya" are the two pearl types you'll see most often in jewelry, and while they can look similar at a glance, they come from different processes and have genuinely different characteristics.
How They're Grown
Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls, cultivated in akoya oysters, almost exclusively in Japan and China. Each oyster typically produces just one pearl at a time. Freshwater pearls are grown in mussels in rivers and lakes, mainly in China, and a single mussel can produce dozens of pearls per harvest — which is part of why freshwater pearls are significantly more accessible in price.
Shape and Luster
Akoya pearls are prized for being very round and having an intense, mirror-like luster. Freshwater pearls historically had a reputation for being less round — but modern freshwater pearls, especially baroque (irregular, organic-shaped) varieties, have moved away from trying to imitate akoya roundness altogether. Instead, their natural, sculptural shapes have become desirable in their own right, especially in handmade and contemporary jewelry.
Durability
Because freshwater pearls form almost solid nacre (the material that gives pearls their shine) all the way through, they're actually often more durable day-to-day than akoya pearls, which tend to have a thinner nacre layer around a bead nucleus.
Why We Work Exclusively With Freshwater Pearls
Every pearl in a NÙA piece is a freshwater pearl, chosen specifically for its organic, baroque character rather than mechanical roundness. It's what gives each necklace and bracelet a one-of-a-kind, slightly imperfect shape — no two pieces are ever quite identical — while still being genuinely durable enough for daily wear.
Shop the Difference
If you want to see what baroque freshwater pearls actually look like in finished jewelry, browse our necklace and bracelet collections — each piece is handmade in Bali and finished with a 14kt gold filled or sterling silver clasp.