Freshwater
Pearl Jewelry
(Grown in Japan, China, and The United States)

Freshwater pearls can be found in bays and rivers throughout the world. They are easily cultivated from freshwater mollusks in China, Japan and the United States. Many are less lustrous than salt water cultured pearls but their low price, unique shapes and colors have made them popular jewelry items in recent years.

Unlike saltwater cultured pearls, freshwater pearls are nucleated only with a piece of mantel. No round bead is inserted into the shell so the level of nacre is greater and a much broader range of shapes are formed. The differences between saltwater and freshwater cultured pearl production mean that each freshwater mollusk will produce more pearls making them more plentiful and less expensive.

Freshwater pearls are more irregular in shape and more varied in color than natural pearls found in saltwater oysters. Natural freshwater pearls are found around the world but their availability has declined due to overfishing, pollution, flooding and other issues. Most freshwater pearls are produced through cultivation in China, Japan or the United States.

Click here to learn about:
   Caring for Pearl Jewelry
   Pearl Necklace Terminology
   Converting Sizes From mm to inches

What Determines
Freshwater Pearl Prices?

The value of freshwater pearls is determined by several factors:

* Luster (surface reflectivity)

Pearls with the highest luster levels have the greatest value.

* Smoother pearl surfaces have greater value.

* Size and weight contribute to pearl value but size is less important than luster and shape.

* Pearl shape influences value, but round is not the only option

Usually pearls that are closer to round have the greatest value but good symmetry and flatter shapes such as coin, butterfly, Biwa (or stick) and other geometric shapes are often very valuable, particularly if the pearls have a high luster level.

Baroque shapes are often the least expensive pearls but larger and higher luster baroque shapes can command high prices and are prized for their unusual shapes and luster.

* Nacre thickness is not as important in freshwater pearls as it is in cultured saltwater pearls because they do not have a shell nucleus.

* Pearl color influences price

Freshwater pearls come in a variety of natural colors (white, pink, lavender, gray, yellow, orange) and some are even bi-colored. Pearls with natural pink or silver overtones are more highly valued.

Some pearls are dyed or irradiated (black) to achieve color. Naturally colored pearls are more valuable than dyed pearls.