Home Marc'Harit Pearls Fair Trade Teachings & Events News Gallery Contact

Pearl Types Pearl Culture  Classification Value Pearl Care ... << back

Freshwater Pearls
Already three thousand years ago the Chinese were aware of the oyster´s ability to create mother-of-pearl. The first freshwater pearls were known as Biwa-pearls, as they were cultured in the lake Biwa in Japan. These pearls are characterized by being small, grains of rice like and in whitish colours. Today most of the world´s freshwater pearls are cultured in China. Culturing methods and care can vary; hence we see an important fluctuation in qualities. Culturing methods and qualities are important factors which create the value difference between freshwater and saltwater pearls. However, the resent years has seen a fast refinement of the culturing methods whereby a smaller amount of high quality freshwater pearls are now available.
In general the shape is more oval or “potato shaped”, but at times the shape can be round or perfect drop shaped.
The natural colours are whitish, rose, peach or with a hue of lavender. All other natural looking or fancy coloured freshwater pearls are colour enhanced or dyed.
Ordinary sizes ranges from 2mm to10mm. With the enhanced culturing methods these sizes has been pushed and sizes up to amazing 20 mm have been found. It is only a narrow selection of the larger sizes which are of high lustre and clean surface. ...