Akoya pearls are produced in several varieties of saltwater mollusks in Japan and China. They were the first to be cultured in the early 1920s and are the most popular pearls used in strands and earrings. They produce the most consistently round pearls with high luster and very slight imperfections. Their colors range from cream and white to white-rosé. Initially, they look similar to round Freshwater pearls, but compared side-by-side, the difference in luster and color is obvious.