How to Select Freshwater Pearls

China Freshwater Pearls

The quality of Chinese Freshwater pearls has been steadily improving since 1991, thanks to better cultivation techniques and a more widespread use of the sankaku mussel. At the end of 1992, semi-round Chinese freshwater pearls made their appearance on the market and now offer an attractive, lower priced alternative to the round Akoya pearls.

China and Japan are not the only places where freshwater pearls are found. There are many historical accounts about the natural freshwater pearls of Europe and North America. These pearls are still being sold, but in decreasing quantities. Overfishing, flooding and pollution has either dwindled or, in some areas, eliminated the supply of these natural pearls.

The cultured freshwater pearl market in the United States, however, is gradually increasing. They're now being cultivated in Tennessee with a shell bead nucleus. Their nacre is very thick due to the fact they are left in the molluscs for three to five years. Unlike most other freshwater pearls, American cultured pearls are never bleached, dyed or treated. You'll find them in a wide variety of shapes - marquises, drops, coins, tadpoles, domes and bars. Tennessee is also known for being the primary source of the shell head nuclei in Akoya pearls.

The general term for any pearl cultivated in a lake, pond or river area is freshwater cultured pearl.


Price Factors
The grading of freshwater pearls is more variable than that of saltwater pearls. Nevertheless, there is agreement about certain value factors. Freshwater pearls are generally valued according to the following criteria:

LUSTER
The higher and more even the luster, the greater the value. In high-quality freshwater pearls, there is an evenly distributed luster and a high contrast between the light and dark areas of the pearls.
When judging freshwater pearls for luster, examine them on a white background and be sure to roll them so you can see their entire surface area. It is important that your eye become sensitive to luster variations because luster is one of the most important determinants of value in pearls of all types.

SMOOTHNESS
Then smoother the pearl, the more valuable it is. Even though bumpy, wrinkled surfaces can lower the value of freshwater pearls, the bumps and wrinkles are not considered flaws.

SIZE/WEIGHT
Freshwater pearl prices are generally quoted by weight or by the strand. The gram is probably the most common unit of weight used at the retail level, some dealers quote prices according to carat weight. The measurements of pearls are often listed along with their weight as an additional description and means of identification. The size of round freshwater pearls may be expressed by their diameter, measured in millimeters.

SHAPE
Usually the more round a pearl is, the greater its value. Large high-quality, baroque shapes can command high prices and make distinctive jewelry pieces.
Since 1992, a lot of semi-round (off-round) and ovalish freshwater pearls have become available. Often they are described as potato, corn and pea shapes. These pearls can be used to make impressive looking jewelry pieces that sell for moderate prices.

COLOUR
Freshwater pearls come in a wide variety of body colours - white, pink, orange, yellow, lavender, gray, bronze; some pearls are even bi-coloured.
The body colour does not affect the price of freshwater pearls as much as it does that of saltwater pearls. The presence of overtone colours such as pink and silver makes them more valuable. This is because pearls with high luster have overtone colours.
Iridescence (orient) increases the value of pearls. Iridescence and high luster are also interrelated.

NACRE THICKNESS
Nacre thickness is not as important of a factor in cultured freshwater pearls as it is in saltwater pearls. One of the biggest selling points of freshwater pearls is that they usually have a higher percentage of pearl nacre than their saltwater counterparts.


As you shop for pearls you'll probably notice that freshwater pearls cost less than saltwater pearls. Low prices, though, do not necessarily mean low quality. Some US$20 strands of small Chinese freshwater pearls have a better luster, more orient and a higher percentage of pearl nacre that the majority of cultured saltwater pearls on the market today. Therefore, do not just judge pearls by their price tag. Consider their luster, their colour, their uniqueness. If you do, you will discover that freshwater pearls offer great variety, beauty and value.