Freshwater Pearl

Pearl is derived from the Latin Pernulo. Another name of pearl is Margarite, which is derived from ancient Persian Sanskrit, meaning “son of the sea”. Pearl is an ancient organic gem, mainly produced in Pearl shellfish and Pearl mother shellfish mollusks. In a broad sense, pearls can be considered as hard lumps with calcium carbonate as the main component secreted by animals to protect themselves.

Pearls not only look very beautiful, they also symbolize wisdom and are thought to help in attracting wealth and luck, which have been deeply loved by people since ancient time. Moreover, in a beautiful Hindu story of Vishnu, pearl is a symbol of love, union and purity.

Actually, Pearls have long been associated with weddings, they are the traditional present for a 30th wedding anniversary. The gift of pearl shows how much your love has grown. Why? It because they take many years to grow inside the mollusk. They form by adding layers over time, growing stronger and more durable. Like the pearl, a marriage grows and becomes stronger and more durable over time. The pearl also represents the beauty and elegance of the marriage. More Details.

Freshwater pearls are created by freshwater mussels in lakes, rivers and ponds. Today, most freshwater pearls on the market come from rivers and lakes in China, although USA and Japan have a small fraction of the market. A freshwater mussel produce up to 50 pearls at a time (compared to the two to five pearls that saltwater oysters can contain).

All freshwater pearls in the market you can see have been cultured, meaning they were grown in pearl farms using science and technology rather than in nature by accident. The current scientific cultivation technique involves trained technicians implanting stimulants in the mussels to stimulate pearl formation. Unlike the nuclei commonly used in Akoya and other saltwater pearl cultures, the nuclei of freshwater pearls are usually tissue from donated mussels.

The fresh water pearls cultured by the above cultivation techniques do not contain nacreous nuclei, but are entirely composed of nacreous layers. The advantage of a thick layer of nacre is that pearls are more durable and beautiful. More Details.

Pearls have been cherished for centuries for their purity and elegance. They’ve been associated with wealth and good fortune throughout the generations, and are often passed down as family heirlooms from mother to daughter. A truly remarkable quality of these gems is that they are just as popular now as they were a hundred years ago. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge who we absolutely adore, and other celebs like Katy Perry, Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley and Sarah Jessica Parker all rock pearl earrings, necklaces and other accessories at major events. In recent years, leading brands have been working to reinvent the pearl and use it to replace another jewelry staple- the diamond. Natural pearls are also becoming more rare, a fact which increases their value and makes them even more popular among collectors.
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Jean Ghika, an expert from Bonhams, an auction house specializing in Jewelry, explained: “Pearls were once seen as a bit dated – perhaps the preserve of an older generation, but we’ve seen a complete change in how they are viewed. A younger fashion set is now completely at home wearing classic pearl earrings, and you’re as likely to see them in nightclubs and premieres as you are at Ascot or the Epsom Derby.”
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“Pearls are a classic addition to any jewelry collection because they embody sophisticated elegance,” Emily Barber, also from Bonhams, added. “They are also immensely flattering to one’s complexion. Quite simply, pearls never go out of style, so it’s not surprising to see celebrities and the younger generation taking a shine to them.” More Details.

Growing Environment of Freshwater Pearls vs Freshwater AK Pearls vs Akoya Pearls


Freshwater Pearls

Most freshwater pearls in the market are "tissue-nucleated" cultured pearls from China. By using the technology that implants stimulants in the freshwater mussels to stimulate pearl information, freshwater pearls now can be cultivated in the lakes, rivers, and ponds very well. And the quality of the freshwater pearls is getting better and better, it depends on luster, shape, colors, etc. You may always find high-quality Edison Pearl and Freshwater AK pearl for the most popular freshwater pearls.

Freshwater AK Pearl

Unlike the normal freshwater cultured pearls, freshwater AK pearls are bead-nucleated cultured pearls, which are the same as AKOYA pearls. And the big difference between freshwater pearl and Akoya pearl is that the former one is cultivated in freshwater oysters and the other one is cultivated in saltwater oysters.

Akoya Pearl

Akoya pearl is a bead-nucleated cultured pearl cultivated from Akoya oysters that growing in the saltwater. Most of Akoya Pearl. Over 95% of Akoya pearls are from Japan. It takes about 10-18 months for the cultured Akoya pearl size to be large enough for harvesting with typical Akoya oysters. During this time, pearl farmers carefully monitor living conditions, who adjust water, food, and nutrients accordingly. More details.

Freshwater pearls range in size from as small as 5 mm to as large as 13 mm. New technic nuclear cultured freshwater pearl reaching 11-16 mm. Pearls below 7 mm in size are considered to be on the smaller side, while 7-8 mm and 8-9 mm are among the more popular sizes selected for necklaces in Freshwater pearls. Anything sized from 9-10 mm and above is considered to be above average in size, and such pearls are more rare and valuable.

Japanese Akoya pearls range in size from as small as 2 mm to as large as 9 mm. Pearls below 6.0 mm in size are considered to be on the smaller side, while anything between 6.0 mm and 8.0 mm are common sizes selected for pearl jewelry items on The Pearl Source. Akoya pearls sized above 8.0 mm are considered to be above average in size, and such pearls are more rare and valuable.

Tahitian pearls range in size from as small as 8 mm to as large as 20 mm in rare cases! The smallest size Tahitian pearls offered on The Pearl Source are 8-9 mm in size, with more common sizes including 9-10 mm and 10-11 mm. Generally, any sizes from 11-12 mm and above are considered to be above average. Such pearls are very rare and valuable, especially in higher qualities. More Details.

Pearls come in a variety of colors. The common freshwater pearls are gold, purple, pink, blue and cream. Saltwater pearls have fewer colors, generally silver-white, gold, blue and black. In addition to the size and roundness of pearls, the main reason for evaluating the quality of pearls is color. The color of the pearl is related to the trace elements contained in the pearl. The yellow series such as gold and cream mainly contain more copper and silver elements, while the pink pearl contains more trace elements of sodium and zinc.

White Pearl - From the iconic Akoya pearl to the fascinating South Sea pearl, the white pearl has been known as the “it pearl” for centuries. Due to the subtle elegance and versatility of white pearls, both men and women like to wear and enjoy white pearls. Check More.

Black Pearl - Black and exotic black pearls have captured the imaginations of men and women around the world for centuries.Black pearls are a hundred times rarer than white pearls and are endowed with a variety of mystical attributes and legends. Check More.

Tahitian pearls are one of only two naturally-colored black pearls in the world. Tahitian pearls are cultured in the Pinctada margaritifera saltwater pearl oyster in French Polynesia, and range in size from 8.0-9.0mm through 14.0-15.0mm and larger. The pearls feature primary body colors ranging from pale dove grey to dark charcoal grey to near jet black hues. More Details.

When buying pearls for her, traditionally, certain sizes are more appropriate for certain age groups. But, one of the hottest fashion trends of today is being non-traditional. Use this pearl sizing chart to help you pick out the right pearl size for your special someone. So, these “right pearl size” tips are just suggestions. You can look good in just about any size pearl, at just about any age, for pearl earrings, pearl necklaces, pearl bracelets, pearl pendants and other pearl jewelry.

5-6mm – It is usually bought for young teens. This is because it’s quite small and dainty. Pearls of this size are also cool for very petite women or ladies who simply adore small gems. It gives a gracious, innocent and feminine impression, which suits their appearance. These size pearls make great gifts for young teens for birthdays, Christmas, academic achievements and coming-of-age celebrations, like bat mitzvahs, confirmations, sweet 16 parties and quinceanera celebrations.

6-7mm – This is the traditionally appropriate size for young ladies between the ages of 16 to 25, and will most often be fresh water pearls as well as Akoya. These pearls are still small enough for a younger aged lady. Yet, they are large enough for an older teen, getting up there in height.

7-8 mm – Generally, women over 30 wear these size pearls. It’s a great size for a young woman looking for a starter pearl necklace. They make you look professional. So, they’re just right for job interviews and as business attire accessories. They make any career woman carry an air of importance. This is basically "The Classic Pearl Necklace", you really can't go wrong here. This size is very elegant and looks great whether you're at the office, shopping at the store, going out to dinner, special occasions, basically this size goes anywhere and everywhere. The nature of the gems here can be any of Akoya, fresh water, Tahitian or South Sea pearls, with the first 2 types being most often found since the later 2 are hard to find in such small sizes. More Details.