Freshwater pearls

Generally speaking, freshwater pearls are not as round as saltwater pearls, and they do not have the same sharp luster and shine as akoya pearls. However, they appear in a wide variety of shapes and natural colors, and they tend to be less expensive than saltwater pearls, making them very popular with younger people and designers. As freshwater pearls are solid nacre, they are also quite durable, resisting chipping, wear, and degeneration.


Freshwater pearls differ from other cultured pearls in that the great majority are not bead-nucleated. Freshwater mollusks are nucleated by creating a small incision in the fleshy mantle tissue of a 6 to 12 month old mussel, and inserting a 3mm square piece of mantle tissue from a donor mussel.


The Japanese have a distinguished history of culturing freshwater pearls as well. Lake Biwa was once world renowned for producing high-quality freshwater pearls produced by the Hyriopsis schlegeli (Biwa pearly mussel) mussel. However, in the mid 1970's pearl farming all but came to a halt due to pollution in this lake that was once synonymous with freshwater pearls.

Freshwater pearls cover the widest range of color and shape than any other pearl type. Originally these pearls were marketed as a lower quality, inexpensive alternative to akoya pearls. For this reason, they were typically used by jewelry designers for pieces that favored design over the gems themselves. However, since the 1990s, a class of freshwater pearls(AA-AAA quality) that are round and lustrous have emerged which rival akoya pearls in both quality and value. Freshwater pearls cover the widest range of options for pearl buyers in size, shape and color.

Mother of Pearls , symbolism that represents fertility and rebirth

Pearl is associated by Christian as symbol of love and purity. It also symbolize of tears, to provide love and fertility and to ward off evil.

The colors of pearls also have sometimes been associated with certain qualities: black or gold with wealth, blue with love, pink with success.

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Nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, is the basic substance which is secreted by oysters and mollusks to form the inside of their shells.

Mother of Pearls symbolism represents fertility and rebirth.

Mother-of-pearl is the basic substance which is secreted by oysters and mollusks to form the inside of their shells. It is the same substance which forms pearls.

In the mid-20th century, mother-of-pearl was also used to produce shiny buttons for clothing. South Sea pearls became the area staple, this small town thrived on the Pinctada maxima mother-of-pearl business.

Mother-of-pearl is now used as the nucleus in pearl cultivation. The shell of a mussel is cut into squares and then run through a process which rounds the pieces into beads. These beads are then implanted into the oysters which then secrete nacre upon the mother-of-pearl beads to form the cultured pearl.

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Mother of pearl is a really popular jewelry accessory , and it's very affordable. You'll find it in a online jeweler store that has colors ranging from pastels to brighter and bolder shades, all with that deep glow that mother of pearl is so famous for. Put one or more of these mother of pearl necklaces , bracelets,rings, jewelry pendants on your holiday shopping list.

You may check the pearl jewelry accessories that is available at our site.

10K White Gold Mother of Pearl and Tanzanite Ring