FRESHWATER PEARLS
Freshwater pearls originated in China. Today, China produces 95% of the freshwater pearls sold in the global market.
Cultured freshwater pearls are farmed in freshwater mussels Hyriopsis cumingi (characterised by their triangle shell) and Hyriopsis schlegeli (also known as the Biwa shell) that live in lakes and riverbeds.
Their unique shapes and wide range of colors, combined with their attractive prices and charming character, have made them a favorite among jewelry designers, shoppers and pearl connoisseurs alike.
How do they compare to other types of pearls?
Freshwater pearls have 3 colours: white, pink and purple. Freshwater pearls are never naturally black or golden while South Sea pearls are popular for their golden and black colour due to their expensive and mysterious images respectively.
Freshwater pearls have a wide range of shapes -- from baroque to near-round, including potato-shaped and stick pearls, rice-shaped and button pearls, coin-shaped and drop pearls, off-round and round pearls. On the other hand, saltwater pearls are usually near round or round-shaped.
Freshwater pearl mussels are capable of producing an average of 24 - 32 pearls at a time, whereas South Sea pearl oysters can only produce one pearl at a time.
The fine quality of freshwater pearls from Pearly Lustre render them indistinguishable from Akoya pearls in their shape, surface and lustre.
How rare and valuable are they?
Freshwater pearls are often used in fanciful designer jewelry because they are dazzling in their rich, bright luster, and their unique charm.
Pearly Lustre’s freshwater pearls are farmed for a minimum of 2 to 3 years. The mussels deposit layer upon layer of nacre around the growing gems, producing more than two dozen pearls clustered on the inside of each shell.
After harvest, millions of pearls are sorted carefully and matched for size, shape, color, and quality. Once the sorting is complete, loose pearls are available for sales individually.
With our exclusive network and in-depth expertise, Pearly Lustre is able to provide the best genuine pearls with ideal combinations of price and quality thanks to our pearl farmers who reserve the first pick for us every harvest season.
If you are looking for the most valuable pearls and jewellery customizations, feel free to contact us at +65 8938 9301. Our in-house experts will gladly provide any assistance and lend their expertise to answer any questions you might have regarding our pearls.