Difference Between Freshwater And Saltwater Pearl Gemstone

You might have been in love with natural pearl gemstones for a long time, but do you know that there is more to these stunning gemstones than what meets the eye?

Well, there are several varieties of pearl gemstones that a pearl enthusiast must know about. If you are intrigued to know about the difference between Freshwater and Saltwater Pearls, then keep reading!

What are Freshwater and Saltwater Pearls?

Freshwater pearls are those gems that are grown in mussels living inside the rivers and lakes. China is one the most common sources of freshwater pearls at present.

Saltwater pearls are the ones that are created by oysters in oceans. Currently, these gems are sourced from places like Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti, and Thailand.

What is the difference between Freshwater and Saltwater Pearls?

There are several points of distinction between these two popular varieties of pearls. Let’s take a look at them:

·         Nacre –

Freshwater pearls are mostly made of nacre only. On the other hand, saltwater pearls have a thin nacre coating which usually ranges from 0.5mm to 6mm. This happens because the core piece which is inserted in freshwater pearls is much smaller than the one that is placed inside the saltwater pearls.

·         Shape and Color

There is a wide variety of shapes in which one can find the beautiful freshwater pearls. These are round, oval, and the rest. Also, these gems are available in different colors as well.

Quite conversely, the saltwater pearls are essentially found in only the round shape, which also happens to be the most demanded shape of these gemstones.

·         Luster –

As already mentioned, freshwater pearls have a much thicker nacre than that of saltwater pearls. This is the reason why freshwater pearls are less lustrous than saltwater pearls. Even though they are not as glossy as their other counterparts, freshwater pearls are equally desirable amongst gem lovers.

In fact, over the years, farming techniques have been improved to create freshwater pearls that have a luster that is as good as the saltwater pearls’ luster.

·         Size

When you buy pearl stone, its size plays a crucial role. As freshwater pearls were usually cultivated over shorter time periods, they came in much smaller size than saltwater pearls. Freshwater pearls also had a much inferior shape and nacre coating than the saltwater ones.

However, with progression in pearl cultivation, many producers now grow freshwater pearls for a longer time span, and this has resulted in bigger sized pearls that range from 8-15 mm. They are also of good quality, which is somewhat at par with the saltwater pearls.

·         Price

Freshwater pearls are cheaper than saltwater pearls. This is mainly because freshwater mussels are larger. Therefore, they can produce more pearls at a time than what saltwater oysters can produce. Besides that, saltwater pearls have a much better luster and are mostly round, which makes them much more desired than the freshwater pearls. Ultimately, saltwater pearls come at a price which is comparably higher than the freshwater pearls.

·         Durability

Freshwater pearls are more durable than saltwater pearls as their nacre layer is thicker than the saltwater pearls’ nacre. The thin nacre makes saltwater pearls more susceptible to chipping and damage.

So, now that you know all the key differences between freshwater and saltwater pearls, just find a reliable supplier of pearl stone online to buy the pearls you like the most. Explore the interesting ranges of these two varieties of pearls and add the best to your collection of gemstones.