Freshwater Pearl Necklace

When buying pearl necklaces, you have the option of freshwater pearl necklace and salt water pearl necklaces. These necklaces are very different and they are actually used differently. When making the choice between the two, it is important to have all the facts.

These necklaces are mostly worn by women and girls and they make a great gift. They are expensive and small, with some taking irregular shapes because of the conditions under which they grow in different freshwater mussels. They come in different colors and the most common of these colors are black, pink, bronze, white, gray and lavender. Pearls of the same color are usually beaded together and the more luster they have, the more expensive they are.

The things to look for and consider when buying a freshwater pearl necklace are the luster of the pearl, the color since, for example, a black freshwater pearl necklace is more expensive and a pink freshwater pearl necklace is more elegant, the size of the pearl because different sizes are fit for different occasions and the shape because the more regular the pearls are, the more beautiful they look.

A major consideration is the price. When making the purchase, it is important to remember that although it is said cheap is expensive, a necklace being expensive does not always mean its better. The best option is to ‘shop around’, but his might be difficult in normal jewelry stores because they might not have what you want and they usually hike their prices. The best place to make comparisons is online because the online stores and markets usually lower their prices to remain competitive and because they can afford to since they have low overhead costs and you get to compare prices from thousands of online stores and markets, meaning you can choose the one with the best price and the best quality.

The reasons women love natural over cultured freshwater pearl necklace is that each necklace is unique and they are cheaper compared to gold and diamond jewelry, while giving the same elegance. Pearl beads are also long lasting and they can be passed from one generation to the other. Another advantage over other jewelry is that the same necklace can be worn at work, at a posh party and when going out.

Whereas saltwater pearls come from oysters found in lagoons or bays in Tahiti, Japan and other bays and lagoons, freshwater pearls come from different species of freshwater mussels, mostly found in China and the United States. Another difference is that saltwater pearls are more rounded than freshwater pearls, thereby making them more expensive. The roundness of saltwater pearls is because they are bead nucleated – this has the direct effect of creating a more symmetrical pearl which has impressive luster, or shine. Freshwater pearls have thicker nacre because they are not nucleated, meaning they are not only hard on the inside like saltwater pearls. Another reason why saltwater pearls are more expensive is that each oyster produces one pearls and another reason is that they are harder to harvest since it is harder to access bays and lagoons compared to freshwater sources.

When making a purchase, it is important to note that there are many cultured pearl necklaces and it is difficult to tell the difference. You should therefore have an expert examine the pearl beads, especially if you are buying expensive pearls.