I'm a fan of akoya pearls and I was in a chain jewelry store and asked if they sold akoya pearls. The woman got all hoity-toity with me and said "Akoyas are a brand name like Mikimoto and no we do not carry them". My understanding is that akoya is a TYPE of pearl, not a brand. I own an 18 inch akoya strand and nowhere on it does it say akoya brand. I know they are akoyas because they's been independently appraised. Who is right me or the SA??
Gosh, what an ignorant SA!
Akoyas are very definitely a type of pearl (not a brand name):
Akoya Pearl - This is probably the most well known type of pearl. Akoya are produced in Japan by saltwater oysters. This fine, spherical pearl is more perfectly round than any other type of pearl, but unfortunately, they rarely exceed 10mm in diameter, and are extremely valuable when they do.
For more information about pearls, my website's information page may be of use:
ETA: If the page appears blank when you click the link, please maximise the window and the page should appear. 
