Freshwater Pearls Vs Cultured Pearls

Cultured pearls have a solid center with no concentric rings.

Freshwater pearls vs cultured pearls. Where it gets confusing is some traditional jewelers will refer to freshwater pearls as cultured pearls and akoya pearls as saltwater pearls or real pearls. Freshwater pearls in contrast are cultivated by using a piece of tissue to create a nucleus. The federal trade commission establishes guidelines to help consumes understand what they are buying. With freshwater pearls the only nucleus needed is a 1 0mm square piece of donor mantle tissue inserted into the soft body of the mussel so it s an easier process again with a lot more insertions equaling a higher amount of pearls per harvest.

Freshwater pearls can also be cultured. In the world of authentic pearls there are two primary types often compared to one another. The man made lakes and ponds used to culture the pearls are less subject to ph balance disruptions temperature fluctuations algae blooms and pollution run off from the coast. Freshwater pearls used to be cultivated over shorter periods less than 2 years and as a result they were smaller in size and had an inferior shape and nacre coating.

In recent years however many producers started to grow freshwater pearls for a longer time three to six years and the resulting pearls are bigger 8 15mm and are of quality comparable to that of good saltwater pearls. Here s how they differ. The fact of the matter is this. Almost all pearls sold today are cultured pearls including freshwater pearls.

Although akoya pearls are cultured pearls the process of nucleating them is the saltwater process and much different than freshwater cultured pearls. In other words there is no real difference when comparing cultured freshwater pearls vs. However these pearls can be found in white pink champagne or black. Natural pearls vs cultured pearls fact is both types are real gemstones but it s the way they are formed that makes them different.

Cultured freshwater pearls that are mistaken for akoya gemstones to the untrained eye have a white body color. This is revealed by x rays only. It s a confusing to say the least. Either they don t know any better or they re trying to push you to the more expensive pearl.

Freshwater pearls are cultured pearls but they are not akoya the reason so many buyers distinguish cultured pearls from freshwater pearls is because cultured pearls is a trade term still used by many today to describe akoya pearls. This question cannot have a definitive answer because freshwater pearls are in fact cultured pearls. Designed to help consumers get accurate information when they are shopping for gemstones and their laboratory. They are clearly cultured pearls and any other designation is misleading and inaccurate.

The real differentiator is the environment in which they are made either freshwater or saltwater. Cultured pearls are pearls that come from a mollusk whether saltwater or freshwater varieties. One notable difference between natural freshwater pearls and cultured pearls is that while natural pearls have growth of concentric rings there is no such growth in cultured pearls.