By far the most popular, white Akoya have been the standard pearls that belong in every woman's jewelry wardrobe.

White Akoya pearls, as a color category, encompass light creamy pearls as well as those with an overtone. The overtone of a pearl is the color a pearl reflects that lies just above the pearl body color it self. In the white color family, overtones range from pink to a creamy, ivory, or silver.

Pearl color and overtone can vary slightly under different lighting sources and ambient colors, as a result of the pearl's makeup. For example, Florescent light, an overcast sky and shaded light tends to intensify blues. Regular incandescent light bulbs as well as a rising or setting sun tend to intensify reds and yellows. For the truest color, choose natural sunlight about midday.

Most importantly, the pearls themselves will best reflect and radiate the ambient light from the wearer. Her skin tones, her coloring and clothing will subtly effect the color of the pearls' shine.