Freshwater pearls are real, cultured pearls, grown in lakes, rivers, as well as ponds. Most Freshwater pearls are white and resemble Akoya pearls, but they also produce a variety of pastel shades, including pink, lilac and peach.

Are freshwater pearls worth anything?

Low quality freshwater pearls can be bought for as little as $20, while average quality pearls sell for anywhere between $30 and $50. Fine quality freshwater pearls can fetch between $65 and $5,000, or more in certain cases.

Why are freshwater pearls so cheap?

Price. Freshwater pearls are cheaper for several reasons. First, freshwater mussels are larger and can thus produce more pearls at a time than can saltwater oysters. As a result, freshwater pearls are more abundant.

Are freshwater pearls high quality?

Fine quality Akoya pearls are perfectly round in shape and display excellent luster in both AA+ and AAA qualities. Freshwater pearls have a pretty cool advantage over any other pearl type, and that's the sheer variety of colors, shapes and sizes.

How long do freshwater pearls last?

On average, pearls should be restrung every 24 months depending on the frequency of wear. Real freshwater pearls are a true investment. With the recent pearl trend here to stay, it is important to follow these simple care tips to preserve the quality and colour of this jewellery box essential.

Freshwater Pearls vs Sea Pearls (Akoya Pearls)

Which is better freshwater or saltwater pearls?

Saltwater pearls have a more brilliant shine and luster than freshwater pearls and are more expensive. Pearl facts: After implanting the seed pearl, oysters are tended to by divers as they grow. The color of the pearl depends mainly on the color of the oyster shell itself.

Do fresh water pearls peel?

Freshwater pearl care

Like all pearls, freshwater pearls are soft and delicate. They are not as susceptible to peeling as other cultured pearls because they're about 90 percent nacre, but they may still be at risk for cracking or scratches.

Do freshwater pearls scratch?

Pearls Are Soft: Handle with Care

Pearls are one of the softest materials used in jewelry. Almost all gems are harder than them. For this reason, you should keep in mind that whatever other jewelry material your pearls come in close contact with, they are likely to get scratched.

How can you test if a pearl is real?

Rub the pearls to check surface feel

Both natural and cultured pearls have textured surface due to their layered nacre structure. So when you rub the pearls lightly against each other or on your front teeth, they feel a little gritty. Fake or imitation pearls, however, usually feel smooth or glassy.

Can freshwater pearls go in water?

Unsurprisingly as their name suggests, freshwater pearls grow in bodies of fresh water; rivers, lakes, ponds, etc., but more interesting than this, mollusks living in this kind of environment can produce anywhere up to 50 freshwater pearls in one go!

Are freshwater pearls heavy?

Real pearls are heavy compared to most fakes. They should feel like they have some weight to them, compared to a hollow plastic bead. The surface will feel gritty.

Are freshwater or saltwater pearls more valuable?

Cultured Saltwater pearls are more expensive than cultured freshwater pearls because the saltwater oyster only typically only produces one pearl at a time. Freshwater mussels can produce up to 30 pearls at a time. This -- combined with the higher labor costs in Japan -- creates a more expensive pearl.

Are freshwater pearls rare?

While a perfectly round freshwater pearl is extremely rare, Pearl Paradise deals with the roundest, highest quality freshwater pearls available. Their sizes range from tiny seed pearls measuring 1 or 2 mm in diameter to 15 mm and larger.

What is the cost of 1 pearl?

The value of a pearl can vary dramatically depending on many factors, such as its type, size, color, surface quality, and more. A wild pearl will be worth more than a cultured pearl. However, on average, a pearl's value ranges from $300 to $1500.

What is the price of 1 gram pearl?

The cost of 1 gram A-grade freshwater pearl can be as low as INR 40. The cost of 1-gram highest quality freshwater pearl (AAA) is about INR 250.

What are fake pearls called?

Fake pearls are also called “faux”, “costume” or “imitation”. They can be made of glass, plastic, or fish-scale imitations. For example, "majorica pearls" are a form of fake pearls. There is nothing in them that rightly allow them to be called pearls.

Do pearls get ruined in water?

Do not submerge your pearls in water - no showers, no dishes, no swimming. The chlorine in the water will eat away at the epoxy securing the pearls to their mountings, and soaking the silk your pearls are strung on causes it to stretch out and break early.

What color pearl is the most valuable?

The larger size makes South Sea pearls and black pearls the most valuable type of pearl. On Mikimoto's website, this strand of South Sea cultured pearls is selling for $32,000. The other notable difference between pearl types is the color.

What color are freshwater pearls?

Grown in lakes, ponds and rivers, freshwater pearls generally have a bodycolour of white, cream, yellow, orange, pink or purple. These subtle pastel colours are unique to the freshwater variety.

Can I wear my pearls in the shower?

This being so, a pearl's lustrous surface can easily be affected by any chemicals, oils, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, and alkaline environments. As a strict guideline, you should never shower with your pearls on and always wipe them gently after wearing with a soft cloth.

What is the difference between freshwater and cultured pearls?

The fact of the matter is this: almost all pearls sold today are cultured pearls, including freshwater pearls. In other words, there is no real difference when comparing cultured freshwater pearls vs. freshwater pearls. The real differentiator is the environment in which they are made, either freshwater or saltwater.

Which pearl is best quality?

White South Sea and Golden South Sea pearls are the most sought-after cultured versions of the gems in the world. That's because they are the rarest, and offer the most luster and greatest pearls sizes. Both Golden South Sea and White South Sea pearls are cultivated in saltwater.

How do you tell freshwater pearls from saltwater pearls?

There are a few differences between saltwater and freshwater pearls that affect their appearance. Freshwater pearls have a thicker nacre than saltwater pearls, and therefore may have more depth of shimmer to them. However, this thicker nacre also makes them less lustrous or shiny than saltwater pearls.

What do freshwater pearls symbolize?

Fresh water pearls symbolize purity, harmony and humility. Pearls are organic gems that grow within clams and other mollusks. Fresh water pearls are formed when a foreign object acts as an irritant inside the shell. Pearls are the birthstone for the month of June.