The fact of the matter is this: almost all pearls sold today are cultured pearls, including freshwater pearls. In other words, there is no real difference when comparing cultured freshwater pearls vs. freshwater pearls. The real differentiator is the environment in which they are made, either freshwater or saltwater.
Cultured freshwater pearls are less expensive than natural freshwater pearls. Natural freshwater pearls are more rare and valuable than cultured freshwater pearls.
A natural pearl may show growth lines where concentric layers of nacre have been added. Cultured pearls on the other hand will appear to have a perfectly rounded nucleus that's surrounded by a halo of conchiolin and finally a thin outer layer.
Freshwater pearls are known for being durable, colorful, off-round in shape and budget friendly. They are an excellent option for inexpensive pearl jewelry gifts and for artisans looking to add unique pops of color to their jewelry designs without adding too much overhead to their designs.
Cultured pearls are considered real pearls – but they aren't formed without human intervention. Most pearls available on the market today are cultured. Natural pearls are much rarer and, therefore, much more valuable.
Akoya pearls are the preeminent cultured pearls. They are the pearls that the Mikimoto brand popularized. Prized by royalty and pearl connoisseurs for centuries, Akoya pearls have long been coveted for their perfectly round shape, richness, and deep luster.
Pearl jewelry can be damaged by many chemicals and all acids. This includes perfume, cosmetics, hair spray, and even perspiration. Your freshwater pearl jewelry should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. Do not wear your pearl jewelry when exercising, showering, to the pool or to the beach.
Pearls that begin to yellow indicate that they are organic and subject to change. What kind of pearls are prone to yellowing? Fresh water pearls and pearl of white colors are more susceptible to yellowing because their colors tend to lean toward white.
Wetting pearls is never a good idea, as it begins to destroy the jewel. Pearl necklaces are damaged when they get wet, because the water damages both the thread and the pearl . When wet, the thread that holds the beads together begins to stretch and lengthen, so it quickly loses the desired shape.
The difference lies in how the irritant is induced. For natural pearls, the irritant enters the mollusks naturally, while for cultured, pearl engineers put a pearl nucleus to trigger the process. A perfectly-round natural pearl is hard to come by, usually, 1 in 10,000 mollusks produce a saleable pearl.
Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are much less in price, ranging from just US$50 to over US$165,000. Despite their huge price difference, both cultured and natural pearls are real pearls. They are grown from pearl-bearing oysters in either saltwater or freshwater.
You'll receive less than you think. Unfortunately, pearls are the category of jewelry that is least in demand on the resale market today. As a result, used strands of pearls sell for very little. That may change in the future so you may decide instead to enjoy them now rather than cashing in when the value is low.
Freshwater pearls are cheaper because they are easier to extract, making sea pearls more valued. Why? Sea pearls are larger, more beautiful in shape, luster, smoother surface and, of course, much more expensive than freshwater pearls.
Worn often and properly cared for, pearls can look as good in 50 years as they did the day they left the store. Pearls are not the most durable of gems. Most everyday items at home and in the office are tougher than pearls, so careless contact can cause damage them over time.
These durable and dependable gemstones will last a lifetime if you take good care of them. Like all precious jewelry, it's best to protect your freshwater pearls from water, sweat, harsh chemicals, and rough materials. You can clean them with a damp or dry microfiber cloth.
Although blue pearls are found in almost every pearl type - Tahitian, Freshwater, South Sea, & Akoya - the chances of you running into a blue pearl in any of these pearl types is extremely, extremely rare. Blue Akoya pearls used to be outcasts in the pearl industry but have recently taken over as a valuable tycoon.
While pearls may appear hard and shiny, the surface of a pearl is actually quite porous, and will absorb the natural oils from your body. If pearls are not worn every four months or so, they can dry out and become dull and yellowed.
Astrology says that the people whose zodiac signs lords are Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Rahu should never wear pearls. Pearls harm the natives of these zodiac signs. This means that people of Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Capricorn and Aquarius ascendant should not wear pearls.
Is it OK to wear pearls everyday? Absolutely. Pearl jewelry should be worn and enjoyed frequently, so avoid leaving your pearls in a security box for long periods of time. But as many jewelry, pearls are beautiful, but they are delicate and should be worn with care.
Never get pearls hot. Heat can destroy pearls and their settings. Always protect your pearls from scratching. Even a soft toothbrush can scratch the delicate nacre of a pearl.
Pearls with particular brand names will also retain (and even increase) their value over the years; vintage Mikimoto Akoya pearls that still have their original clasp, box and papers to establish provenance are very highly sought after today and continue to fetch premium resale values.
It's often assumed that because something's old it must be valuable. That's rarely true and certainly not for pearls. Advances in technology and culturing techniques mean you can buy a much better set of pearls for far less money than in grandma's time.
Recommended Pairings: The Silver overtone is really versatile, and looks beautiful with both white gold and yellow gold accents. White gold will generally enhance the pearl's “cool” undertones, helping them appear brighter and whiter. Yellow gold creates a nice, elegant contrast – a very classic pearl look.