Cultured in the Akoya oyster and primarily found in Japan, Akoya pearls are lustrous and are generally white or cream coloured. South Sea pearls come from the white-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster.This oyster is much larger than the oysters that produce Akoya and Freshwater pearls, so the pearl is much larger as well. Australia produces the best south sea pearls in the world. Freshwater pearls are real pearl that are farmed and created using freshwater mussels.