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.