What is the difference between Freshwater cultured pearls and Akoya cultured pearls?

Freshwater pearls are all nacre; they are 'seeded' with a small piece of donor mantle tissue from another mollusk. This dissolves over time as the pearl is cultured. Some Freshwater pearls are cultured with shell beads, like the Akoya, and this would remain as it does with the Akoya pearl. Comparably, the Akoya cultured pearls have very thin nacre which covers the shell bead used to culture it. For example a 7.5mm Akoya pearl was most likely seeded with a shell bead about 6.5mm in size. The best quality Akoya pearls will not achieve more than a 2.0mm nacre thickness, which is rare.

Because of the different culturing processes - mantle tissue versus shell bead - the resulting shape of the Freshwater cultured pearl is off-round or 'visibly-round', whereas the Akoya cultured pearl is perfectly round; a reflection of the round shell bead used in the culturing process.

The Akoya cultured pearl is rarer than the Freshwater cultured pearl; there are about 100 tons of Akoya pearls farmed each year compared to estimates of 1000 to 1500 tons of Freshwater pearls.

Is it worth the extra cost to pay for AAA quality Freshwater pearls?

Yes. AAA quality Freshwater pearls have far cleaner and smooth surfaces as well as a 'rounder' shape and a sharper luster. They are visibly a nicer pearl.

What sizes are available in Freshwater pearls?

Freshwater pearls are cultured from seed pearl size, 1mm, and up to the largest 12mm Freshwater cultured pearl.

What colours do Freshwater pearls naturally come in - are the black Freshwater pearls dyed?

Freshwater pearls naturally occur in white, pink and lavender - with an infinite variation of intensities and hues of these colours. Black Freshwater pearls are not naturally occurring and have been dyed to make them black. Tahitian and Cortez pearls are the only naturally occurring black pearls.