Difference Between Freshwater Pearls and Saltwater Pearls

Pearl have been a much-loved symbol of beauty and purity for centuries, and always used by fashion designers to create class and gorgeous accessories like: pearl bracelets, necklace, earrings, decoration of hand bags or shoes. Pearls are available in many fashion styles, if you want to collect pearls to your jewelry box, it is good start to know some difference between freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls.

1.What is Freshwater Pearls

Most Freshwater pearls is one kind of cultivated pearls which created by putting mollusk tissue or a bead into the mollusk and farming in rivers and lakes. Most freshwater pearls are cultured pearls from China.

The natural freshwater pearls are very rare, the world largest naturally occurring freshwater pearls “sleeping lion pearl” will on auction 30th may in Netherlands which is formed in ancient time of China.

2.What is Saltwater Pearls

Saltwater pearls is formed just like the freshwater by putting a seed pearl in oyster and been put in the ocean. Half of the the oyster will not produce pearls for the unpredictable factors like the water temperature and pollution.

3.What is the Difference Between Freshwater Pearls and Saltwater Pearls

(1) Output

A mollusk can produce up to 50 pearls at one time but oyster can only produce one or none saltwater pearls.

(2) Nacre and Luster

Freshwater pearls have thicker nacre than saltwater pearls for its mother-of-pearl bead is smaller, saltwater pearls will be more lustrous and as glossy for its’ thinner nacre coating. You may know that saltwater pearls durability is not so good, it is vulnerable to wear and also more prone to chipping because its thinner nacre. So you should consider the durability when you choose the pearls.

(3) Size and shape

Saltwater pearls always end up with only perfect round and lager shape, but freshwater pearls have different shapes, colors with smaller size.

(4) Price

Due to the low output and high quality in shape and luster, saltwater price is much higher than freshwater pearls.

Synthetic pearls is also a good economy alternative for you with it's cheaper price, bold and diverse designs.