When exploring the world of pearls, a regular question we regularly hear is: are “Freshwater pearls” and “cultured pearls” the same thing? At first glance, these may seem like distinct types of pearls but the relationship is a bit more nuanced.

“Freshwater pearls” refers to where the pearls are grown—namely, in freshwater environments like lakes and rivers—while “cultured pearls” describes how the pearls are formed: through human intervention via the pearliculture process. So Freshwater pearls are actually cultured pearls. In fact, nearly all Freshwater pearls on the market today are cultured, meaning they were created with some assistance from pearl farmers.

Freshwater pearls are pearls that grow inside the Freshwater mussel, usually a hybrid of the Hyriopsis cumingii, typically found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers in China. Natural Freshwater pearls have been found all over the world, but today, China is the largest supplier.

These pearls are known for their variety of shapes, natural colors like pink, lavender and classic white along with their wide range of sizes from tiny 2.0mm to impressive 12.0mm and even larger. They are more abundant and affordable than their saltwater cousins like Akoya pearls, Tahitians, or South Sea pearls.

📢 Read More: Freshwater Pearl Buyer's Guide

One of the key characteristics of Freshwater pearls is their nacre composition, and off-round to near-round shapes. 

While saltwater cultured pearls have a mother of pearl bead nucleus and nacre layered over that, Freshwater cultured pearls are composed almost entirely of nacre, giving them a softer luster and longer-lasting durability. This densely layered structure also means that they can exhibit beautiful iridescence and pastel hues similar to natural pearls, making them a favorite for fashion jewelry.

Bead nucleated saltwater pearls like the Japanese Akoya are renowned for being perfectly round in shape and have that trademark “mirror-like” luster, but are generally known to be much more sensitive to daily wear and tear. While Akoya pearls will display a bright, mirror-like luster, cultured Freshwater pearls will shimmer with an internal glow that is subtle, yet lovely. Expect to see variations in pearl shape, typically off-round to near-round, but cultured Freshwater pearls are incredibly durable, making Freshwater pearl necklaces and Freshwater pearl earrings ideal for daily wear and customers new to purchasing pearl jewelry.

📢 Read More: Pearl Shapes 101 - The Official Buyer's Guide

Yes, Freshwater pearls are very much real! 

A “real” pearl is one that is formed inside a mollusk as a defense mechanism against an irritant, and that definition includes both naturally occurring pearls and cultured pearls. The distinction that often confuses buyers is between real and imitation pearls.

Freshwater pearls, especially cultured ones, are biologically genuine—they are grown within living mussels and consist primarily of 100% crystalline nacre, just like natural pearls. What sets them apart from wild pearls is simply the presence of human intervention during their formation.

📢 Read More: How To Tell If Your Pearls Are Real or Fake?

Pearls of Joy Founder and President Kevin Canning examines a cultured pearl oyster's harvest.

The term “cultured pearl” refers to all the types of cultured pearls that have been created through a process in which humans initiate the formation of a pearl by inserting a small irritant—usually a tissue graft or bead nucleus—into a mollusk. The mollusk then secretes layers of nacre around the foreign substance, forming a pearl over time. Since the first cultured pearls were introduced in the early 1900s, cultured pearls are considered real pearls by the jewelry purchasing public at large.

📢 Read More: Pearl Types 101 - Official Buyer's Guide

Absolutely! Cultured pearls arereal pearls. They are made through the same biological processes like natural pearls, just with a little help from pearl farmers. The confusion between cultured and imitation pearls can lead to the mistaken belief that cultured pearls are synthetic or fake. However, cultured pearls contain layers of genuine nacre and are considered authentic gems.

In fact, the majority of pearls sold globally are cultured, as truly natural pearls are incredibly rare and expensive. Today most pearl jewelry is created with cultured pearls worth anywhere from “beading-tier” dyed Freshwater pearls to perfectly round Hanadama Akoya and South Sea pearls worth tens of thousands of dollars.

It is also important to know that there are natural pearls available for sale but will always be labeled as such and should never be purchased unless accompanied by a certificate of authenticity declaring their exact pearl type. Typically natural pearls are only found at auction, estate sales or with natural pearl dealers. With the exception of a small amount of pearl diving in Bahrain most natural pearls will be antiques with price tags reaching six figures on occasion.

Freshwater pearls refer to pearls grown in non-saline environments, while cultured pearls describe pearls created through human intervention. Most Freshwater pearls on the market today are cultured pearls, making the two terms complementaryrather than contradictory. Both Freshwater and cultured pearls are real, valuable, and beautiful gemstones that reflect the fascinating intersection of nature and human ingenuity in the world of fine jewelry.

No matter which Freshwater pearl jewelry you choose, from a classic pearl necklace to simple stud earrings or an elaborate pearl rope, the friendly and knowledgeable experts at Pearls of Joy are here to guide you step-by-step through your purchase to ensure you not only get the best price available, but you get to wear and enjoy the Freshwater pearls of your dreams for years to come.

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