The difference between Saltwater Pearls and Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater pearls are grown in mussels living in rivers and lakes; most pearls formed in freshwater come from China.
Saltwater pearls are created by oysters in oceans and originate from places such as Thailand, Australia, Indonesia and Tahiti, among others. Akoya pearls, which are grown in Japan as well as China and Vietnam, are among the most popular and high-quality varieties of saltwater pearls, prized for their superior luster and nearly ideal round shape.
Qualities of Saltwater and Freshwater Pearls:
Luster: Because freshwater pearls’ nacre is thicker and differs in composition from that of saltwater pearls, freshwater pearls are less lustrous and not as glossy. However, in recent years, there have been improvements in farming techniques and now there are freshwater pearls whose luster is comparable to that of saltwater ones.
Nacre: Saltwater pearls have a thinner nacre coating, ranging from 0.5mm to 6mm. Freshwater pearls, on the other hand, are made almost entirely of nacre. The reason for this difference is that the core piece (the one around which the nacre forms) inserted in freshwater pearls is a lot smaller than that put in saltwater ones.
Shape and Color: Freshwater pearls come in a greater variety of shapes (round, oval, etc.) and colors. Saltwater pearls are usually only round, which is the shape that is most in demand.
Size: 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.
Price: Freshwater pearls are less expensive than saltwater pearls. Freshwater mussels are larger and can thus produce more pearls at a time than can saltwater oysters. As a result, freshwater pearls are more abundant. It is also worth noting that unlike freshwater pearls, saltwater pearls are mostly round and have better luster – characteristics that are more sought after and therefore command higher prices.
Saltwater pearls are created by oysters in oceans and originate from places such as Thailand, Australia, Indonesia and Tahiti, among others. Akoya pearls, which are grown in Japan as well as China and Vietnam, are among the most popular and high-quality varieties of saltwater pearls, prized for their superior luster and nearly ideal round shape.
Qualities of Saltwater and Freshwater Pearls:
Luster: Because freshwater pearls’ nacre is thicker and differs in composition from that of saltwater pearls, freshwater pearls are less lustrous and not as glossy. However, in recent years, there have been improvements in farming techniques and now there are freshwater pearls whose luster is comparable to that of saltwater ones.
Nacre: Saltwater pearls have a thinner nacre coating, ranging from 0.5mm to 6mm. Freshwater pearls, on the other hand, are made almost entirely of nacre. The reason for this difference is that the core piece (the one around which the nacre forms) inserted in freshwater pearls is a lot smaller than that put in saltwater ones.
Shape and Color: Freshwater pearls come in a greater variety of shapes (round, oval, etc.) and colors. Saltwater pearls are usually only round, which is the shape that is most in demand.
Size: 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.
Price: Freshwater pearls are less expensive than saltwater pearls. Freshwater mussels are larger and can thus produce more pearls at a time than can saltwater oysters. As a result, freshwater pearls are more abundant. It is also worth noting that unlike freshwater pearls, saltwater pearls are mostly round and have better luster – characteristics that are more sought after and therefore command higher prices.
How Pearls Are Cultivated
Most pearls, whether saltwater or freshwater, are cultivated, not natural, which means that a small piece of mollusk tissue or a bead was placed into the mollusk, which covered it with nacre (the material that pearls are actually made of). Pearls created in this method are also called “cultured pearls.” Generally, the longer the growing period for a given pearl, the better the formed nacre is in terms of quality. However, pearls that are cultivated for a longer time are also more expensive. Contrary to what many people think, most saltwater pearls are not natural but cultured. Naturally occurring pearls are very rare, and that’s why they are quite expensive. The same is true for freshwater pearls – they are also predominantly cultured.
Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian Pearls come from the warm waters of the South Seas and are grown in a Black-Lipped oyster. They are the only pearl to achieve a black body color naturally and are typically very large (9mm - 16mm). Tahitian pearls, although mostly dark, can come in a wide range of hues, including black, gray, silver, green, blue and purple.
South Sea Pearls
South Sea pearls are saltwater pearls cultivated from the oyster, found in the South Seas centering on Northern Australia and South-East Asia, including Myanmar and Indonesia. They produce 10-20 mm pearls of silver or gold color, the largest of any cultured pearl. South Sea pearls are also the most expensive pearl on the market due to their rarity and thick nacre.