A few simple tips to make your Akoya earring purchase perfect!

1. When buying Akoya pearls be sure to look for Japanese Tag of Quality. Akoya pearls can originate from many places in the world, including China, however Chinese Akoya are of much lower grade and quality and are at least 70% less valuable than Japanese Akoya. Japanese Akoya are the true original. A classic fifth-avenue luxury gift. At PearlsOnly all of our Akoya pearls are Japanese Akoya.

2. The earring posts enhance the look of the pearls. Look for earring posts that gently hold the pearl and offer a perfect 'nest' for the pearl to rest on. The posts should be of high quality 14K white or yellow gold without any sign of tarnish - tarnish being a sign of lower quality posts.

3. As with all luxury goods, choose quality over quantity. A stunning Japanese Akoya pair of earrings will make a big impact. Human eye can spot quality in a blink - luxury and quality will not go unnoticed. Malcolm Gladwell describes this phenomenon in detail in his book 'Blink' - a very interesting read for connoisseurs of luxury.