What is Freshwater Pearl?

Freshwater pearls are formed by mussels in lakes, rivers, and ponds. While the majority of today’s freshwater pearls originate from rivers and lakes in China, the USA and Japan also contribute a small portion to the market. Unlike saltwater oysters, which typically produce two to five pearls, a freshwater mussel can yield up to 50 pearls at once.

All freshwater pearls on the market are cultured, meaning they are grown in pearl farms using advanced scientific techniques rather than occurring naturally by chance. In the current cultivation process, trained technicians implant stimulants into the mussels to encourage pearl formation. Instead of the hard nuclei used in Akoya and other saltwater pearl cultures, freshwater pearls are typically nucleated with tissue from donor mussels.

These cultured freshwater pearls are entirely composed of nacreous layers without any hard nuclei. This results in a thick layer of nacre, making the pearls more durable and enhancing their beauty.

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