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Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls come from freshwater mussels. The Japanese were the first to cultivate freshwater pearls, but most of these come from China today. A no longer existing pearl farm in Tennessee is the only place outside of Asia that has harvested freshwater pearls.

Multiple freshwater pearls can be produced from the same mussel through the process of grafting. Basically, a small piece of tissue is cut away from the mussel and reinserted into a small incision made into one of the valves of the creature. Many mussels are capable of producing as many as 15-20 pearls before it must be flipped and the other valve utilized.

Freshwater pearls tend to be much less expensive than those from saltwater sources. The reason is because they don’t exhibit the same luster and visual appeal as true saltwater pearls. However, their inexpensive cost is one of their most appealing features.

 

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