Freshwater pearls

Freshwater pearls are the kind of pearls that comes out of freshwater mussels, which live in lakes, river, ponds and other freshwater bodies. They are mostly produced in China. They are also referred as freshwater cultured pearls.

Freshwater pearls jewelry is classic, stunning and is always a perfect gift. It doesn’t matter if you are buying these pearl jewelry for yourself or for your loved one, you will never go wrong. Pearl earrings are timeless, classic, sophisticated and very beautiful. These charming pearl earrings are adored for centuries. Japanese freshwater pearl ceased to exist as it was unable to hold special historic value being a first country who cultivated the freshwater pearls.

Today China is the only commercial producer of freshwater pearls, which is producing 1500 tons per year. Chinese freshwater pearls are embedded up to 50 times per shell. In early days the mussel produced a high volume of low quality pearls which were of no use.

The crafting process of freshwater pearls starts by choosing a suitable mussel, cutting a strip of mantle tissue in 3mm squares, and then took over to the technician, who craft small incisions on the upper side of the valve and inserts the tissue piece. This procedure is performed once again on the other side of the valve.

Their harvests are purchased while still in bed and are delivered for cleaning and sorted by size and shape and then considered for treatment. They are bleached, drilled, followed by polishing and then matched into hanks and are then considered as "wholesale ready".

These pearls are seldom perfectly round and are noted for their wide range of colors. The most desirable are the pastel pinks, roses and purples, which depend on the genetics, water quality, and the location of the tissue graft inside the shell. However, because of the technological advance, they are getting better and better.

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