Cultured Pearl Jewelry

Cultured pearl jewelry can be made with two types of pearls:  either cultured freshwater pearls or cultured saltwater pearls.  Freshwater pearls take 2 to 6 years to grow and come from mollusks that live in freshwater lakes and rivers.  Freshwater pearls are nucleated with mussel tissue in the mollusk, whereas saltwater pearls are nucleated with beads.  The growth of the freshwater pearl is considered to be the closest replication to a true natural pearl because the pearls grow without the pre-molded shape of a bead used in saltwater pearls.  Although the production of very round freshwater pearls is quite limited, their durability, resulting high luster, and more natural growth process make them for some consumers a better cultured pearl.

Generally, freshwater pearls are not normally as round as their saltwater Akoya counterparts; however, advanced pearl cultivation techniques have created limited quantities of superior high quality (AAA), round freshwater pearls with very high luster that compete strongly with Akoyas.  Moreover, cultured freshwater pearls have the thickest nacre of any pearls grown, which makes them the most durable and often more lustrous.  Because they are produced more abundantly, they are also less expensive than saltwater Akoya pearls.  Cultured saltwater pearls are grown in oysters in the seas and oceans.  The types of saltwater pearls are Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea, which are typically more naturally round, less abundant and more expensive.

The size, shape, color, luster and surface quality determine the value of cultured pearls with luster being the most important attribute.  If all factors are equal when comparing cultured pearls, the larger the pearl size, the greater the value and cost.  The quality and quantity of cultured pearls used to make jewelry will of course influence pearl jewelry cost.

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