Freshwater pearls are one of the most common and popular types of pearl sold today. Their durability, beauty, and affordability make them a definite favorite.

Freshwater cultured pearls are primarily produced in China by the Hyriopsis Cumingi and the Hyriopsis Schlegeli mollusks. Other regions, including Japan and the United States, also produce Freshwater pearls but no where near the quantities of China.

To create a cultured Freshwater pearl the mollusk is nucleated with a small piece of mantle tissue, up to 32 pieces at a time, which encourages the mollusk to produce the nacre that wraps around the piece of mantle tissue to form a pearl. Nacre is also referred to as Mother of Pearl and is the same shiny substance that you find lining the inside of the shell. The mantle tissue that is used to encourage the formation of a pearl dissolves over time as the pearl grows in size, which means a cultured Freshwater pearl is all nacre, making them a very hardwearing and durable pearl. A cultured Freshwater pearl is grown for two to seven years.

Because a cultured Freshwater pearl is nucleated with an irregular shaped piece of mantle tissue this influences the final shape of the pearls when they are harvested. Very round Freshwater pearls, like those sold by Select Pearls, are much rarer than common Freshwater pearls.

Freshwater pearls are available in a wide variety of shapes; such as near-round, off-round, rice, baroque, coin, button, and drop, and in beautiful naturally occurring colours; such as white, pink, and lavender. Black Freshwater pearls are dyed; the only naturally occurring black pearls are Tahitians. Freshwater pearls typically range in size from 1.0mm - 14.0mm.

Freshwater Cultured Pearl Sizes