What is the difference in freshwater and cultured pearls?

Answer 1

Nearly 100% of the pearls found for sale today are cultured pearls, whether they are Freshwater pearls or Saltwater pearls.

Cultured Pearls are grown inside a mollusk when a foreign item has been surgically implanted by human means. Cultured pearls are grown on pearl farms where several thousand mollusks can be implanted and cared for over the 2-5 years required for a pearl to develop. Cultured pearls were generally thought of as expensive, high-end pearls, and the word is still used widely with that higher value in mind. But in a sense, all pearls grown on pearl farms are cultured – the word simply refers to those grown with human intervention rather than occurring randomly in nature.

Natural Pearls are formed more or less randomly in nature when some sort of irritant becomes lodged in the tissue of an oyster or mollusk. In response to the irritation, the oyster secretes nacre, which gradually builds up in layers around the irritant. Over a period of several years, this build-up of nacre forms a pearl. Very few Natural Pearls are harvested each year and even fewer ever make it into the jewelry markets outside of the local area where they are found.

SALTWATER PEARLS are pearls that come from mollusks that live in saltwater, the most well-known of which are oysters. Traditionally, pearls in past generations were almost all saltwater pearls. But these days, the majority of pearls are freshwater pearls. Saltwater pearls tend to be rounder and have richer tones, and thus still fetch a much higher price. The best pearls in upscale jewelry shops are usually saltwater pearls.

FRESHWATER PEARLS are pearls that come from freshwater mollusks (not oysters, which are in salt water only) and cultivated in lakes and rivers, not in the ocean. They are often somewhat less lustrous than their saltwater counterparts. However, they appear in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and they tend to be less expensive than saltwater pearls, making them quite popular. Freshwater pearls are also quite durable, resisting chipping, wear, and degeneration. A single mollusk can produce up to 50 pearls. The quality of freshwater pearls is improving each year, and it is getting more difficult to tell the difference between them and their saltwater cousins.

Answer 2

the extensive-unfold pearl is made by using an oyster contained in the sea with none exterior interferance. perhaps one million in 10 has a pearl. an aesthetic pearl is made by using somewhat inflammation, many times somewhat the interior of an oyster shell, being put in the muscle, the oyster then being put in a bag and hung contained in the sea for various years, accrued and shrink open. approximately 9 of 10 have a pearl. lots extra uniform in colour and length than "organic" pearls. A freshwater pearl is one grown in a freshwater oyster, much less difficulty-loose and maximum are distorted from a around shape, extra like a pebble. in addition for freshwater cultured.

Answer 3

freshwater pearls grow naturally in clams which live in lakes and streams. Cultured pearls are pearls which grow on plastic beads which are seeded into salt water oysters. Chemically, they are the same.

Answer 4

There is a big difference, pearls are found in the salted oceans, and fresh water contains no salt.