Freshwater pearl farming Cultured freshwater pearls are created through human intervention. In breeding, foreign bodies are manually inserted into the freshwater mussel to encourage the formation of a pearl. A freshwater mussel can produce up to 50 cultured freshwater pearls at a time, whereas a saltwater oyster can only produce one. This is how cultured pearls are created.

Colors: White, peach, pink or soft lavender

Size: 1-15 mm

Shape: Organic, irregular

My Jewellery Tip: Did you know that you can tell the difference between a freshwater and a saltwater pearl by their shape? The freshwater pearl often has a more organic, irregular shape, while a saltwater pearl is almost always perfectly round. But be careful: artificial pearls can also be perfectly round.

What are saltwater pearls? The main difference between saltwater and freshwater pearls is their origin. Saltwater pearls come from oysters that live in salty waters such as seas and lagoons. A saltwater oyster only produces a single pearl - and this can take between 6 and 18 months. This makes them significantly rarer and more valuable than cultured freshwater pearls. The three best-known types of saltwater pearls are Tahitian pearls (dark green and shimmering), Akoya pearls (blue or gray) and South Sea pearls (silvery-white or golden).

Colors: silvery-white, dark green, blue, grey, gold-colored

Size: 1-15 mm (need approx. 5 years for a size of around 12 mm)

Shape: Almost perfectly round https://wakelet.com/wake/P3CIwV03-A9HKxzgzyBxU