Cultured Freshwater Pearls vs. Natural Freshwater Pearls
Pearls are highly sought after yet rarely understood. They are known to be worn by royalty and are often described as timeless or elegant pieces of jewelry. There are a variety of pearl types, including freshwater, saltwater, Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, cultured, and natural. For the purpose of this article, we are going to discuss freshwater pearls, specifically Cultured Freshwater Pearls vs. Natural Freshwater Pearls.
Freshwater pearls are one of many cultured pearls and are created with the help of human intercession by using freshwater mussels in lakes, rivers, and ponds within a restricted environment. Natural Freshwater Pearls are formed naturally or unintentionally and without any human intercession. Both cultured and natural pearls are made up of organic material, the main difference is its formation process.
Natural freshwater pearls are extremely rare and found in wild natural habitats. If you were to find one of these for sale today it should be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a high price tag to match.
Generally speaking, all freshwater pearls you are able to purchase today are cultured. Cultured freshwater pearls come from what are called cultured pearl farms. These pearl farms can be found mainly in China, however there are some in areas of the United States, Japan, and other parts of Asia.
Freshwater pearls go through a grading process just as saltwater pearls do, regardless of if the pearls are natural or cultured. The grading process of the pearls is similar to that of any gem and its overall quality grade is based on the 7 quality factors of size, color, shape, surface quality, nacre, luster, and matching. Although there is no standardized grading system for pearls like there is for diamonds, the A- to AAA grading system is one that has been adopted by many jewelers.
Cultured pearls come with a wider range of options and can vary in color, size, and shape. Cultured pearls are usually smaller, less durable, and far less expensive. It is because of their pocketbook friendly price tag that cultured freshwater pearls are the popular choice for everyday jewelry.
Many people mistakenly think that a freshwater pearl is a ‘fake’ pearl, but this is only a common misconception. After having read this article on Cultured Freshwater Pearls vs. Natural Freshwater Pearls hopefully you now have a better understanding of what they are and how they are formed.
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Sources:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-freshwater-pearls-jewelry
https://www.pearlsofjoy.com/pages/freshwater-vs-cultured
https://jewelrytalk.com/gemstones/freshwater-pearls/