Difference Between Fresh Water And Salt Water Pearls
Pearls are produced in both salt and fresh water, but the
difference is astounding. Usually, the salt water variety of
pearls are of a better quality and are also more expensive than
pearls found in salt water; however, the choice between fresh
water and salt water pearls is completely personal.
For starters, pearls are made from shellfish. When an irritant,
such as a piece of sand, invades the delicate lining of the
creature, it secretes a smooth substance to coat the irritant,
thus creating a pearl. Salt water and fresh water pearls are
both made in the same fashion. This substance, known as nacre or
mother of pearl, slowly builds up the irritant until a pearl is
formed.
The main difference between salt water pearls and fresh water
pearls is the type of create that produces this natural
gemstone. Salt water pearls are produced by oysters that inhabit
the seas and oceans. In days past, the only way to harvest salt
water pearls was to dive to tremendous depths to recover the
oysters. Today, these oysters are grown in farms, but the pearls
produced are of supremely high quality.
Fresh water pearls are produced by mussels that burrow in the
sandy bottoms of rivers, lakes, and streams. Like salt water
pearls, the mussels that produce fresh water pearls are also
farmed. In most places, "hunting" mussels to harvest their
pearls is illegal due to the havoc it can cause on the ecosystem.
One can immediately tell the difference between a fresh water
and salt water pearl by its appearance. Whereas salt water
pearls are--or should be--completely round, fresh water pearls
have a lumpy, potato-like shape. Usually, fresh water pearls are
described as off-round, egg, or Baroque, and come with a more
affordable price tag due to this irregular shape.
The colors of fresh water pearls encompass the entire rainbow.
While salt water pearls come in a wide array of colors, fresh
water pearls usually take on the hue of the mussel's shell.
Fresh water pearls can range from the traditional white, cream,
and pink to more unusual shades like lavender, and copper.
Although these latter colors tend to raise the price on fresh
water pearls, the color of choice is purely at the whim of the
buyer.
Many potential pearl buyers have the common misconception that
the fresh water pearl is not "real." This is completely untrue,
as both the fresh water and the salt water pearl are equally
authentic. The choice between the two depends on the tastes and
the budget of the wearer. Some individuals enjoy the irregular
Baroque shapes and special colors of the fresh water, where
others want the classic white round offerings of the salt water
pearl.