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Pearls - CHINESE FRESHWATER CULTURED PEARLS

In Chinese cultured freshwater pearls, a tiny bit of tissue gathered from a donor oyster, is placed inside the oyster to serve as the irritant. Unlike the round bead of compacted mussel shell, this natural irritant dissolves into the oyster, leaving behind microscopic nuclei. This means the pearls produced are composed almost entirely of nacre. They are not a coated bead, but a nearly solid composition of nacre. Cultured freshwater pearls are available in much larger sizes from their saltwater counter parts. Although available in white, they have the unique quality of all natural colors including apricot, orange, and plum purple. These brilliant gems are grown largely in China, where the process of freshwater cultivating has been practiced since the 13th century.