All About Freshwater Pearls

July 06, 2020

Strands of Freshwater Pearls in my hand. I used them to make my Freshwater Pearl Jewelry Collection with consists of a variety of Freshwater Pearl Necklaces, Pearl Bracelets and Freshwater Pearl Earrings.

 

What are freshwater Pearls?
Cultured freshwater pearls are farmed pearls created using oysters. They are primarily produced in China, with smaller-scale production in the United States and Japan.

What is the difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl? 
Natural pearls form without human intervention, whereas cultured pearls require a bit of help. Both types of pearls have the same properties, but cultured pearls are created by inserting a small shell bead into the oyster to irritate it. This prompts the formation of nacre. Nacre is the shiny, iridescent substance that makes up the inner layer of mollusk shells. It is composed of alternating layers of organic materials and aragonite platelets.

Growing freshwater pearls
The process of growing freshwater pearls can take several months to a couple of years. The longer they develop in the oyster, the fewer imperfections they are likely to have. Freshwater pearls are usually cultivated in man-made reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. Often, each oyster produces multiple pearls. Freshwater pearls are the most commonly produced type of pearl. They are known for their variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Freshwater Pearl Necklace with a Pearl Pendant and Pearl Drop Earrings. These are from the Freshwater Pearls Collection at creativejewelrybymarcia.com

The circular shape of some pearls led many cultures to associate this gemstone  with the moon. In ancient Chinese civilizations, they believed they would be protected from dragons and fire if they wore pearls. In Europe, pearls symbolized purity, modesty, and chastity.

Pearls are treasures from the Earth’s lakes, ponds, lakes, oceans, and seas. They have always embodied the power, mystery, and life-sustaining nature of water.

One of the most-loved gemstones of all time are pearls. Both the natural and cultured pearls occur in many colors. The most common colors are white and cream. Silver, black and gray are also pretty common. The range of pearl colors extends to every hue. The main color is often modified by additional colors called overtones, which are usually pink, purple, green, or blue.

The freshwater pearls can be used in a variety of ways when making pearl jewelry. I use them to make a limited collection of different styles of pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and pearl bracelets.

 

 Button - Click this button to shop the limited Freshwater Pearl Jewelry Collection at creativejewelrybymarcia.com. This collection has a variety of real pearl earrings, freshwater pearl necklaces and pearl bracelets.

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