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Freshwater Pearls

Once upon a time, freshwater pearls were considered to be substandard. If people wanted pearls, they tried to get Akoya pearls. Pearls that came from freshwater mollusks were sold as a cheaper alternative to saltwater pearls.

Now, freshwater pearls are highly recognized and sought after. This is because once these pearls began to be cultured, it became apparent that they offered a wide range of shapes and colors. Many of the most interesting colors available come from freshwater mollusks, along with unusual shapes such as medallions.

While the US and Japan do produce some freshwater pearls, most of them come from China. Just like other pearls, they are sorted according to their color, size, and luster. This makes it easy for valuable sets of pearls to be made from them.

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