How Freshwater Pearls Vary from Sea Pearls

By Jenny Rayes

Other than diamonds that have been long popular to dazzlingly graze every woman, pearl bracelets have also made its reputation as a fine element of unparalleled sets of jewelry. From fashionable earrings, to magnificently glowing necklaces, pearls have set their own signature as one of nature's greatest wonders.

Generally, there are two basic types of pearls- freshwater pearls and sea pearls. Obviously, freshwater pearls are grown in lakes, ponds, and rivers while a sea pearl on the other hand are harvested from lagoons, ocean waters, and volcanic atolls. Fresh water pearls are grown inside freshwater mollusks from which each can is capable of creating 50 pearls at a time.

These pearls are started by simply inserting tiny pieces of mantle tissue into the mollusk. These are called pearl starters which are then covered with natural coating called nacre by the mollusk through time. Usually, it takes between 4 to 6 years to have a fresh water pearl fully grown for harvest. Sea pearls on the other hand only produce one pearl per oyster. This type of pearls is categorized into three groups namely, South Sea, Tahitian, and Akoya pearls. Of the three, South Sea pearls take the longest period in nurturing a pearl that lasts up to 6 years. Smaller types of South Sea pearls on the other hand can be harvested after a two year cycle.

When it comes to longevity, sea pearls are given the gift of preservation making them last their beauty for generations. Unfortunately, freshwater pearls can only showcase their beauty in a relatively short time. Their luster quickly fades eventually becoming chalky or milky. This basic property of freshwater pearls gave them the title of "the pearls to enjoy now." Due to the fact that sea pearls are more genuine both in quality and appearance, they usually cost a lot more expensive compared to freshwater pearls. A single strand of sea pearls can range from $3,000 to $100,000 while freshwater strands range from $300 to $1,500.

Generally, South Sea pearls are similarly colored unlike freshwater ones that have various appearances. When it comes to the quality of their nacre, South Sea pearls are notable with their prominent halo and have more depth with regards to iridescence.

Usually, freshwater pearls are white but with weak overtones of certain colors such as pink, silver, and rainbow. In very rare cases, saltwater pearls produce an orient which is defined with the perfect match of nacre quality and thickness.

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