Beauty of Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls had been one of the dearest choices of women of all cultures since the prehistoric days. Mostly found in freshwater mussels, these pearls come in irregular shapes and beautiful colors. China, Scotland, and the United States are the three major countries where freshwater pearls are produced in a great amount. These pearls are not always cultivated naturally but are also cultured manually to give varieties.

Although freshwater pearls are recognized by their pale white color, they can still be found in some other attractive colors such as lavender, peach, pink, tangerine, and black. The color of naturally cultivated beads depends upon the kind of mussels they grow on. Due to their soothing and unique colors, freshwater pearls make a great accessory for elegant and graceful pieces of jewelry.

These days, due to the increase in demand and high price tag attached to the natural pearls, many manufactures have started selling their fake replicas. These artificial beads could be made from any commonly available material such as ceramic, glass, plastic, etc. There are only a few differences between the natural freshwater pearls and their artificial counterparts. Thus, it becomes very difficult for a layman to differentiate between the two. Here is a list of some of the main characteristics of naturally grown pearls that make them different from their fake imitations.

Characteristics of Freshwater Pearls

Shape: The first sign of their authenticity is the irregularity in shape. Freshwater pearls are seldom found in a perfect shape. If all the pearls are kept together, no two pearls would be of the similar and symmetrical shape or size. On the other hand, artificial beads would always be found in flawless shapes of round or oval.

Texture: Natural pearl beads are a little gritty in texture. Due to their formation in natural water, these pearls are slightly rough and sandy to touch whereas the fake pearls are extremely smooth and soft in texture and appearance.

Colors: Natural beads are available in only a few colors depending upon the color of the mussels they are cultivated on. Freshwater beads come in natural pastel shades of white, pink, peach and purple. However, the artificial beads come in a variety of colors and shades.

Rarity: The naturally cultivated freshwater pearls are very rare to find because they are grown in limited amount in only a few countries. Their rarity makes them highly and exclusive cherished, whereas their artificial counterparts are available in abundance in almost every jewelry store.

Price: While the uniqueness and rarity of the natural beads make them highly expensive, the fake imitations of those pearls are priced fairly cheap.


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