Pearl Talk - the right pearl for you

Let’s get one thing straight — not all pearls are created equal. Some are shy and softly glowing, some flaunt their curves in full-blown glamour, and some have been known to stop conversations entirely. I’ve hunted down the world’s finest — Akoya, Freshwater, South Sea, and Tahitian — and I’m here to spill the saltwater tea on which one belongs draped around your décolletage on as ear candy. 

Akoya Pearls — The Classic Beauty

Think Audrey Hepburn sipping champagne on the Riviera. Akoya pearls are the OG of elegance — round, refined, and radiant.

• Origin: Mostly grown in Japan’s cool, calm waters.
• Size: Around 6 – 9 mm — petite but powerful.
• Lustre: Mirror-bright, with that sharp, crisp reflection that whispers old-money chic.
• Colour: Creamy white with a hint of rose or silver overtone.
• Value: Pricier per millimetre because of their perfection — a true classic investment piece.
• sange  Says: If you want timeless, corporate-queen energy — these are your pearls. Perfect for women who prefer their luxury subtle but unmistakable.

Freshwater Pearls — The Cool Girl of the Pearl World

Modern, playful, and budget-friendly, Freshwaters are the “I’m not trying too hard, but I still sparkle” pearls.

• Origin: Freshwater mussels (mostly China).
• Size: From delicate 2 mm minis up to 12 mm statement pearls.
• Lustre: Softer glow — think candlelight rather than spotlight.
• Colour: Whites, pinks, lavenders, and peaches — each one with its own personality.
• Value: Most affordable of the four — perfect for layering, stacking, or remixing into your daily diamonds.

Sange Says: Don’t underestimate the Freshwater. She’s that girl who shows up to brunch in linen and gold hoops and still steals the show.

South Sea Pearls — The Goddess

Now we’re talking Leskes territory. South Sea pearls are the queens — born in the warm, turquoise waters off Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

• Origin: Pinctada maxima oysters — the largest pearl-producing species.
• Size: A glorious 9 – 20 mm.
• Lustre: Dreamy and satiny — that soft, liquid gold glow that screams wealth.
• Colour: White, silver, or gold tones (that champagne-gold… divine).
• Value: Among the most valuable pearls on Earth — because size, rarity, and glow are everything.

Sange Says: If diamonds are the queen’s crown, South Sea pearls are her throne. They look their best set in high-carat gold — and yes, darling, they belong on you.

Tahitian Pearls — The Rebel

The moody, mysterious, “I’ve just come from a yacht in Bora Bora” pearls.

• Origin: Grown in French Polynesia from black-lipped oysters.
• Size: Usually 8 – 16 mm — big enough to make a statement.
• Lustre: Metallic and bold — often showing peacock greens, blues, purples, or gunmetal hues.
• Colour: Naturally dark — no dye needed. Every one is different.
• Value: Pricier than Akoya and Freshwater, but less than South Sea — incredible value for visual impact.

Sange Says: These pearls are not for the faint of heart. They’re for the women who walk into a room and own it — the unapologetic ones who like their luxury with a little edge.

Fun Pearl Facts

• Pearls are the only gemstones born from a living creature — talk about nature’s alchemy.
• No two pearls are ever the same — their irregularities are part of their beauty.
• South Sea pearls can take up to five years to form — the longest of any type.
• The bigger the pearl, the older (and wiser) the oyster.
• Pearls are measured in millimetres, not carats — because we like them round, not faceted.

Final Word

When it comes to pearls, it’s not about the size or the price tag — it’s about the feeling. The right pearl connects to your energy, your story, your sparkle. Whether it’s a golden South Sea dripping in quiet luxury or a wild Tahitian that catches every eye in the room — at Leskes, we’ll help you find your pearl personality.

So, which are you?

The Classic Akoya, The Cool Freshwater, The Queen South Sea, or The Rebel Tahitian?

Come in, try them all, and let us read your lustre. ✨