What Are Cultured Freshwater Pearls?
Cultured freshwater pearls are pearls that are farmed and created using freshwater mussels. These pearls are produced in Japan and the United States on a limited scale, but are now almost exclusively produced in China.
Although freshwater pearls are the most commonly produced pearls, their unique shapes and wide range of colors combined with their attractive prices and charming character, have made them a favorite among jewelry designers, shoppers and pearl connoisseurs alike.
Advantages of Cultured Freshwater Pearls
The growth process creates an incredibly durable pearl that will withstand the tests of time, wear and tiny hands.
Rather than a glossy shine, a Freshwater pearl possesses an elegant glow that slowly reveals itself under the steady gaze of the wearer ... Silky, touchable and radiant, cultured freshwater pearls can look just as beautiful as any saltwater pearl.
Their natural shades of Pink/Peach, Lavender and White are untreated by any chemical or dye process, and will never discolor or fade if cared for properly.
New, intense colors and metallic overtones are becoming available, making cultured Freshwater pearls one of the most colorful pearl types on the market today!
How do freshwater cultured pearls compare to other types of pearls?
Best known for their whimsical shapes and wide variety of sizes and colors, the character of a freshwater pearl is found in its distinctive surface texture and the warmth of its luster. The nacre of a high-quality freshwater pearl does not typically have the glossy, metallic finish found in Akoya pearls, and they are evaluated on separate quality scales.
What colors, shapes, and sizes are available?
Because they offer a wider diversity of colors, shapes, and sizes than any other type of pearl, freshwater pearls are often used in designer jewelry.
In addition to the traditional white body color, these pearls come in a rainbow of natural pastel colors such as lavender, pink, and every shade in between.
Freshwater pearl shapes include potato-shaped and stick pearls, rice-shaped and button pearls, coin-shaped and drop pearls, off-round and round pearls
How valuable are freshwater cultured pearls?
While freshwater pearls as a variety are the most common type of pearl, very round and lustrous freshwater pearls are very difficult to find.
Top-of-the-line freshwater pearls command a high retail value. They are dazzling in their rich, bright luster, and their unique charm will last you a lifetime.
Where do freshwater cultured pearls come from?
Freshwater pearls are produced from mussels commercially in China, and other bivalve mussels that live in lakes, riverbeds and creek bottoms in Japan, as well the United States (Mississippi River Basin).
At freshwater pearl farms, each mussel is surgically implanted with 24 to 32 tiny pieces of mantle tissue, a process known as nucleation.
Once the tissue has been inserted, a sac forms and cells begin secreting nacre, forming a calcium-carbonate compound - a pearl.
Over the course of 2 to 7 years, the mussels deposit layer upon layer of nacre around the growing gems, generally producing more than two dozen pearls clustered on the inside of each shell.
After harvest, pearls are sorted and matched for size, shape, color, and quality.
Once the sorting is complete, loose pearls are available for sale individually and strands of matched pearls are sold together.