CULTURED FRESHWATER PEARLS

Cultured freshwater pearls have been extremely popular the past few years and that won’t change anytime soon. Freshwater pearls are often seen on fashion shows and since a few years, they have become indispensable in today’s streetstyle. But now that we’re here, what are cultured freshwater pearls? Cultured freshwater pearls are farmed using freshwater mussels. Freshwater pearls are mainly cultured in China. Cultured freshwater pearls can be graded by a system that values luster, surface, shape and colour.

Natural pearls are being formed when a small irritant or a parasite enters and lodges in the tissue of a mussel. In response to this irritant, the mussel will build up a substance called nacre. This will eventually develop into a pearl. With cultured freshwater pearls, the irritant will be inserted by a pearl farmer. Cultured pearls are real pearls, but they were not formed by accident. Freshwater pearls are nowadays very popular for jewelry designers, because of the low cost, high availability and the improved quality.

So what’s the difference between freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls? They obviously grow in a different environment, in freshwater (lakes) and in saltwater (sea). Freshwater pearls can grow into multiple shapes, while saltwater pearls are round. Saltwater pearls have a more metallic finish, but its hard to see for the untrained eye. Freshwater pearls grow with many in one mussel, whereas a saltwater pearl is just on its own. This obviously makes saltwater pearls much more expensive.

If you’re looking to buy your first pearl necklace and you don’t mind about an investment, it’s best to get a cultured freshwater pearl piece, because it’s so much more affordable and looks really good too.