Typically, divers have to go looking for these in the sea, which can be difficult, costly and laborious. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This guide to A-AAA Freshwater Pearl Grading is going to deal primarily with the classic near round to round white Freshwater pearl, which is the most popular of all Freshwater pearl varieties available today. Check for mussels in shallow water. Cultured in sweet-water mollusks, freshwater pearls are irregularly shaped because they are not bead-nucleated but formed between layers of tissue. Freshwater pearls - these are formed inside mussels that are living in lakes, rivers, ponds, or any other body of fresh water. It creates an incredibly durable pearl that will withstand the tests of time, wear and tiny hands. FACT: Freshwater pearls come from mussels, while Akoya pearls are produced by oysters. Here's just a few reasons off the top of our heads: Cultured Freshwater pearls are grown in the freshwater pearl mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii (along with other hybridized mussels indigenous to the area) in freshwater lakes and man-made aquaculture ponds that also contain fish, shellfish and rice to support the small pearl farmer collectives in China. This is a natural part of the color-treatment process, and does not affect the durability or overall loveliness of the pearls. You can think of pearl inclusions as a built-in certificate of authenticity – they’re a natural left over of the creation process. You can also try buying oysters to eat at home from a fish market. The Freshwater pearl looks remarkably similar to the Akoya pearl, but Freshwater pearls are available for almost 1/5 the price of Akoya pearls. True round-shaped Freshwater pearls, while a major goal of pearl farmers everywhere, remain a tiny percentage of each yearly harvest – less than 3% - and are a MAJOR factor in determining a pearl’s overall quality grade. Pearl Sizes. However, it can be done, though it's best if you visit an area known for its commercial pearls. This is usually enough to start nacre production. To provide these pearls at an exceptional value, we offer them with good levels of quality, and set with 14k gold posts and clasps. If there is no pearl in the oyster, eat it or throw the shell away and move onto the next one. To learn more about all the pearl value factors, visit: When choosing fine Freshwater pearls, the biggest, most important considerations to keep in mind are, White Akoya Pearl Stud Earrings, 6.5-7.0mm, Golden South Sea Drop-Shape Ballerina Collection Pearl Pendant, White Elite Collection Pearl Bracelet, 7.5-8.0mm, White Akoya Pearl 2-Piece Necklace and Earring Set, 6.5-7.0mm. North America: eastern Canada and New England in the United States' Northeast. The growth period for freshwater pearls varies from farm to farm, which is why you can find freshwater pearls in a wide range of sizes. Solid-nacre pearls have no mother of pearl, The primary difference between the AA+ Quality and AAA Quality. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Then you just see whether the mussel passes through or not. Hello, My family is freshwater pearl farmer in China. 11301 W. Olympic Blvd. The tissue squares are seeded throughout the soft body of the mussel, up to 25 times on each side of the shell, creating a potential harvest of up to 50 pearls per mussel. Suite 326 Los Angeles, CA. . Pearls from edible oysters can be many colors, like orange, purple, blue, white, or pink, and are typically shaped irregularly instead of a sphere. They have a fascinating life cycle; their larvae attach to the gills of salmonid fish and ‘hitch a ride’ for up to 10 months of the year. We also offer our Gem Quality, Elite Collection pearls.These are the cream of the crop when it comes to the Freshwater pearl type. +17 Toughness. To shuck an oyster at home, place the slit face up. Natural pearls, created without human intervention, are extremely rare to find. The color of a pearl depends on the species of mollusk. It is unusual to find a pearl in a restaurant oyster, especially one of high value. Double-click to apply to an item with an unused upgrade slot. They can be round, oblong, egg-shaped, or irregularly shaped. Yes, especially in tide pools or damp sand. — In-game description. Learn more... Finding a pearl, especially in the wild, is a rarity. Score marks or scoring  begins with a small pin prick or pit, and then appears to be drawn off lightly over the surface of the pearl … they can look like small comets or shooting stars for those of us with a romantic viewpoint. You just have to open it to see; it's kind of like a guessing game. In fact, some companies guarantee you will find a pearl, or they will give you one. To culture pearls, first of all the skilled workers open mussel shells just a slight crack, then insert smell pieces of live mantle tissue from another mussel into tiny slits made, in the mantle.. Go to a restaurant, seafood market, or oyster farm and get lots of oysters. What is the color? For dyed pearls  such as our Black Freshwater pearls, up close inspection of the surfaces will often reveal a slight graininess or tiny dark speckles where the dye has concentrated. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Our AAA Quality Freshwater pearlsare going to have sharper, brighter luster and less blemishing, between 1-5% of the pearls' surfaces on the strand overall will feature some type of inclusion (usually chalky spots or thin ridges where organic material has accumulated). Chalky spots  are easily the most common of Freshwater pearl inclusions. Pearls can be egg shaped, round shaped and in some other irregular forms, In color, they can be black, blue, pink, white, red, purple, green and brown. Is it very lustrous or have mild luster, or is it almost a matte? However, sizes over 10.0 mm are much rarer. Because natural freshwater pearls are scarce and hard to find, so the Japanese originated the first cultured freshwater pearls in Japan. The world of Freshwater pearls is the fastest evolving of all cultured pearl types. For pink heelsplitters and washboards, the mussels need to be 4 inches in diameter. Is there a way to tell from the color of the shell what type of pearl will be inside? The Hyriopsis Cumingii is the freshwater mussel that these Freshwater pearls are harvested in. By using our site, you agree to our. The freshwater pearl industry began in Shanghai and now has a major presence in most Chinese provinces. South Sea pearls are generally the largest cultured pearl … The freshwater pearl mussel can be found on both sides of the Atlantic, from the Arctic and temperate regions of western Russia, through Europe to northeastern North America. You’ll most likely have to shuck these oysters yourself. While freshwater pearls as a variety are the most common type of pearl, very round and lustrous freshwater pearls are very difficult to find. white for white, pink for pink and so on. If you want to up your odds a little bit, consider taking a guided diving tour to find a pearl. They are circular indentations on the pearl’s surface. Order oysters. Freshwater Pearl If it doesn't have one, you can still enjoy the oyster. Keep in mind that A-AAA Freshwater pearl grading benchmarks count for the individual pearl, as well as the entire strand overall, so the 10% allowable blemish rate on even our lowest quality AA+ Freshwater pearl strand will still keep you squarely in a nice, high quality strand of pearls. We bid a little more to have them set aside, fully-drilled and matched into 18-inch hanks for us, so we can create Freshwater pearl jewelry that is above and beyond what you’ll normally see in brick and mortar jewelry stores. Sometimes in life, the value is more than a dollar amount. That being said, larger oysters, mussels, or clams may have pearls because they've had a longer time to develop. To shuck them, insert a knife into the slit and push downward. China, without doubt, is the largest source for this pearl variety. Upon close inspection (less than 6 inches), you’ll begin to notice a slight egg or oval-ish shape to some of the pearls, however this is not the case for all the pearls in the strand. Typically our Elite Collection Freshwater pearls are used for earrings, rings and pendants because their quality is top-tier. Stay up to date on our latest products, news, discounts, and more! My mother-in-law saw the … The shellfish in which these pearls are formed often hold between 20-30 pearls in each shell. To fulfill this goal, GIA sent a group from both research and education to Tennessee to sample the freshwater mollusks for DNA bar coding. When choosing fine Freshwater pearls, the biggest, most important considerations to keep in mind are consistency of shape, and a fine, bright luster. How do I know if something is a pearl in an oyster? Natural pearls are very rare to find. wikiHow's. Freshwater pearls are unique in that they are the ONLY  tissue-nucleated cultured pearl in the world. Is there anyone who knows about the basic market situation in Canada, the U.S. and Europe ? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Europe, including: Last Updated: September 19, 2019 Freshwater pearls are real, cultured pearls, grown in lakes, rivers, as well as ponds. They are cultured in China and other Eastern countries. Look for a pearl on the inside. If that's the case, maybe buy a nice cage or have it made into a ring or necklace to be passed down along with the story of where it came from. Here’s how it’s done in 5 relatively easy steps. South Sea Pearl Facts. Solid-nacre pearls have no mother of pearl bead nucleus to give the mussel a perfectly round ‘template’ to form nacre over, so the majority of Freshwater pearl harvests contain semi-baroque and baroque pearls (see the image above for an example of the variety of shapes, sizes and colors a single mussel can produce!). We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Most pearls that you see in the world are cultured pearls, created by farming, like this Akoya cultured pearl necklace. “. Finding a pearl can be as easy as purchasing oysters, if you’re lucky. Come with us to Camden, Tennessee, to see how we dive for pearly shells. Freshwater Pearl found on Fiji Islands I found the pearl in one of the Freshwater mussel I got from diving in the Rewa River near Nausori Town. Consider taking a tour of a pearl farm. Ridges are totally covered in nacre, so they’ll be whatever color the pearl is, i.e. "I needed to know where I could buy oysters with pearls.This helped me a lot. Most often you will find these in China, but some in India and Australia. Freshwater Pearl Luster And because we know you love them too, we have selected six of our most fabulous creations featuring freshwater pearls. The majority of Freshwater pearls’ inclusions will match the pearl’s natural color and/or are colorless, blending with the pearl surface making them nearly invisible to the casual observer. You don't just have to order oysters on the half shell. Freshwater pearls add timeless elegance to any jewelry design. In fact, only 1 in 10,000 wild oysters will have a pearl, let alone the jewelry-graded ones. While freshwater pearls as a variety are the most common type of pearl, very round and lustrous freshwater pearls are very difficult to find. While you are eating, if you feel something hard and smooth, you should quickly spit out the contents, as it may be a pearl. Cultured Freshwater pearls are grown in the freshwater pearl mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii (along with other hybridized mussels indigenous to the area) in freshwater lakes and man-made aquaculture ponds that also contain fish, shellfish and rice to support the small pearl farmer collectives in China. . How to Spot Fake Pearls If you have a pearl necklace (or earrings, bracelets, pendant, etc.) Step 1: Collect live oysters and find a big body of saltwater (or make your own). Perfect for formal occasions and bridal jewelry, freshwater pearls can be combined with a wide variety of jewelry components, from brilliant Swarovski crystal beads to colorful gemstones. Finding a Pearl While Eating or Buying Oysters, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Find-Pearls-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Pearls-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Find-Pearls-Step-1.jpg\/aid2201090-v4-728px-Find-Pearls-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"