EVERYTHING Need to Know About Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls are colorful, interesting and always evolving. These lovely pearls are also the most affordable pearls available in jewelry markets today.

  • Tissue nucleated pearls: 

This type of pearl has satiny luster that appears to glow from within (similar with white south sea pearl). This comes from the fact that pearls composed of 100% solid crystalline nacre. Light rays will penetrate the various crystalline layers and return to our eyes. As the rays break up on their return trip, they will create a softer, more diffuse "glowing" effect for the pearl. This is what gives Tissue Freshwater pearls their trademark soft, satin luster.
  • Bead nucleated freshwater pearl:


A pearl that is cultured by implanting the nucleus of the pearl into a freshwater mother-of-pearl, modeled after the culturing method of saltwater pearls. This type of pearl has the glossy, metallic finish found in akoya pearls(That's why we also call it "freshwater akoya"). A single freshwater pearl mussel is capable of producing up to 50 pearls at a time.
  • Edison pearls (Bead nucleated pearl):

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A rare "Collector's Item" that have been making large waves in the pearl world.
These are bead-nucleated Freshwater pearls that reach sizes of 15-16mm!
Chinese pearl farmers cultivate Edison pearls in order to produce large, perfectly round, affordable pearls rival to South Sea pearls.

Colors:

Freshwater pearls come in naturally occurring shades of White, Pink, Peach and Lavender.

 

1. White

Known for being a classic, essential pearl color.
White Freshwater pearls are amongst the most versatile colors of all pearls with Ivory and Rose Overtones. The Silver Overtone is the most rare.

OVERTONES INCLUDE:

    • Rose (hint of pink)
    • Silver (bright green)
    • Cream/ (hint of Vanilla)

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    2. Pink color

    Range from very pale Baby Pinks to darker, more saturated Bubble-Gum Pink colors.
     
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    OVERTONES INCLUDE:

    • Rose (hint of pink)
    • Silver (bluish-white sheen)
    • Gold
    • Aquamarine

    3. Peach/Orange color

    Range from pale Peach hues to darker and Orangey Apricot. 

    OVERTONES INCLUDE:

      • Rose (hint of pink)
      • Silver (bluish-white sheen)
      • Gold
      • Green
      • Aquamarine

      4. Lavender color

      Range from Mauve / Dusty Rose to Lilac and deep Lavender in color.

      OVERTONES INCLUDE:

      • Aquamarine
      • Blue
      • Green
      • Rose
      • Gold

      5. Multi-colors

      Have all the pearl colors mixed together in artistic and unique layouts. No two Multi-Color Freshwater strands are the exact same!

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      6. Fancy colors

      STUNNING color-shifting Metallic pearls. These pearls feature unique combinations of Pink, Peach, Copper and Lavender body colors, with a mix of Gold, Silver, Rose, Green and Purple-Violet flashes.

      Color-shifting, Metallic and Edison pearls are newcomers to the Freshwater pearl market. They often feature some unique, stunning colors found nowhere else in the jewelry industry. From deep Purples to Magenta, Coppers and more, these colors are in a class of their own. Still very much a rarity in the pearl markets overall

       

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      7. Black/Brown color

      It’s important to note, however, freshwater pearls with lower quality are often dyed in intensive colors. Colors such as black and chocolate brown shades in freshwater pearls are not natural and are the result of color-treated.

       

       

      SIZE:

      Size ranges for Freshwater pearls range from 2.0-3.0mm through 16.0-17.0mm and larger.

      The pearls ranging from 6.5-7.0mm through 10.5-11.0mm sizes are the most popular pearl sizes to buy

       

      Don`t know how to choose the diamater? Please click here

       

      Value:

      Growth times average around 3-5 years(Tissue nucleated pearls) and 6months-1.5years(Bead nucleated pearls) before the pearls are harvested. The pearls are washed and scrubbed to remove organic material after harvest. The pearls are then sent to processing factories for further sorting, grading and treatments before being sold

      The "standard" for a pearl of high value is a perfectly round pearl. Perfectly round pearls will fetch the highest prices for everyone from farmer to retail vendors. Unfortunately, Perfectly Round pearls also represent the smallest percentage of annual harvests.

      Tissue Nucleated pearls do not have a round nucleus to provide a round template for the pearl shellfish to form the nacre, so the majority of Freshwater pearl harvests contain semi-baroque and baroque pearls

      Below is a breakdown of annual pearl production by shape::
      • Round pearls are less than 0.05% of each yearly harvest on average
      • Near-Round Freshwater pearls account for 3% of each yearly harvest (approximately).
      • Symmetrical Drop-Shapes and Potato pearls are about 10-20% of each pearl harvest.
      • Baroques and Rice Crispy pearls make up the rest of the yearly yield, around 80-90% 

      How can i choose pearls?

      Uncommon pearls uses the ‘A-AAAA’ Grading System for our pearl jewelry.

      With A-AAAA Grading Systems, ‘A’ represents the lowest, commercial grade pearls. ‘AAAA’ denotes the finest pearl quality of each yearly harvest.

      Get more in-depth on Freshwater pearl grading, please click

      We has a firm “AAAA Quality Minimum” policy for pearl earrings, pendants and rings which can guarantees you’ll always receive only the highest quality pearl jewelry with every purchase.

      While shopping for a pearl necklace, keep in mind that pearls are the result of the natural, biological secretory action of living animals. As such, pearls can never be completely, flawlessly perfect.

      Swarovski Crystal Pearls are made for those who are looking for perfectly flawless round pearls. With fine pearls, we aim to bring you precious gemstones that sparkle with character and personality. Pearls that will become yours, and yours alone.

      We always recommend finding pearls with Luster and Colors. Then consider other factors like Size or Surface Quality.

      If you'd like help finding the perfect pearl for you, feel free to Contact Us anytime, our pearl experts are always happy to help.