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Freshwater Pearls

fresh·​wa·​ter pearls | ˈfresh-ˈwȯ-tər ˈpər(-ə)l

noun

An irregular pearl of various colors, produced by fresh water mollusks such as mussels and clams

Freshwater pearls were first popularized in Roman jewelry and are known for their more irregular shape. They are more commonly available than cultured or natural salt-water sourced pearls. Freshwater pearls are sourced from oysters that exist in freshwater lakes or ponds and due to the conditions in which the pearls are formed, they are often not as round as their counterparts. However, due to changes in freshwater pearl farming methods, and a general improvement in quality, both in color and shape, these alternatives have become more popular in the last 25 years. They are used more commonly today because of their lower cost and generally better quality.