| Think of pearls and the image of divers in | | | | mantle tissue of the mussel. Pieces of tissue from |
| saltwater bays comes to mind. Ah, but there are | | | | other mussels are inserted into these cuts - and |
| also freshwater pearls that are just as | | | | these pieces then become the foreign object that |
| magnificent. | | | | is coated with nacre, becoming a pearl. The |
| Long a symbol of culture and class, pearls have | | | | Chinese were the first to come up with this |
| been worn for centuries by wealthy women who | | | | manner of culturing freshwater pearls, and they |
| wanted to show off their money and status. | | | | began having large scale success with the process |
| While pearls still hold some of this meaning today, | | | | in the 1930's. |
| there is a new class of pearls available that are | | | | Today, some freshwater pearls are as round and |
| affordable and accessible to nearly everyone. | | | | beautiful as saltwater cultured pearls - some even |
| Freshwater pearls, in their many shapes, sizes and | | | | more so. Many consumers prefer the pearls from |
| colors, can be worn by women young and old, | | | | the Biwa region of China for their jewelry, as |
| and are both classic and hip in their looks. Pearls | | | | these pearls have the best sheen and lustre. |
| are no longer seen as jewelry that is just for the | | | | Freshwater pearls are also cultured in other parts |
| mature and dressed-up woman. | | | | of the world, and even in the United States - but |
| Freshwater pearls do not come from oysters, | | | | the goal is not always a perfectly round pearl. |
| the way that saltwater pearls do - but they are | | | | Potato pearls, stick pearls and other odd shapes |
| created in much the same way that a saltwater | | | | are also prized in jewelry making, and colors |
| cultured pearl is created. In both cases, an irritant | | | | ranging from light purple to pink, peach and cream |
| is introduced into the mollusk (in the case of | | | | are also found. |
| freshwater pearls, this is a mussel), which causes | | | | Freshwater pearls are a great way to have the |
| the mollusk to coat the foreign object with nacre. | | | | natural beauty of a pearl in your jewelry without |
| Nacre is the same material that mollusks and | | | | having to pay the sometimes exorbitant prices of |
| oysters use to build their shells. When a "natural" | | | | saltwater pearls. These pearls also have |
| pearl is found in a freshwater mussel, it is usually | | | | "character", meaning they can go with many |
| because sand or a pebble was able to breach the | | | | other jewels and gems, as well as different |
| shell, and became coated with nacre. | | | | metals, allowing a combination of different looks |
| When a freshwater pearl is cultured, the mussel is | | | | from just one pearl. |
| opened slightly, and small cuts are made in the | | | | |