Pearls have been known as the queen of gemstones since antiquity. They are one of the most precious gems ever discovered, and are believed to have been revered and traded as long as 6,000 years ago. Coming in all shapes, sizes, and colors, Pearls have several types of pearls and from all over the world. Here we will provide detailed information to let you know where the main places to produce pearls.
---China
China is the world's leading producer of freshwater pearl production now, including natural pearls and cultured pearls. In recent years, most of the freshwater pearls are cultured, which can be divided into Edison Pearls, Freshwater AK Pearls and normal Freshwater Pearls. Cultured in sweet-water mollusks, freshwater pearls are irregularly shaped because they are not bead-nucleated but formed between layers of tissue. Its freshwater pearl production accounts for 95% of the global freshwater pearl production and 75% of the global pearl production. Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangxi, Anhui, and Hubei are the main producing areas of China. Zhuji county in Zhejiang province even gets the fame of "The Town of Pearls in China".
---Japan
Despite having been overtaken by China, Japan is still a major pearl producer. It's famous for Akoya pearls. And they invented pearl culturing. Nowadays, the main producing areas in Japan are Sanchong County, Kumamoto County, Ehime County, etc.
---South Pacific coastal countries
Northwestern Sea of Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, India, and other countries along the South Pacific coast mainly produce South Sea pearls.
---French Polynesia
Seawater pearls started to expand rapidly in French Polynesia since the late 1960s, the Tahitian Black Pearls mainly from the coral atolls of French Polynesia.
