Forming a cultured pearl requires human intervention by helping to start production process in the mollusc. Federal trade commission requires that farmed freshwater pearls be referred to as freshwater cultured pearls in commerce.

What Is The Difference Between Natural Cultured Freshwater And Shell Pearls Lansing Jewelry Doctor

These pearls are produced in japan and the united states on a limited scale but are now almost exclusively produced in china.

How cultured pearls are made. Cultured freshwater pearls are pearls that are farmed and created using freshwater mussels. The oyster then secrets layers of nacre. These pearls are gonad grown and usually one pearl is grown at a time.

The cultured pearls on the market today can be divided into two categories. The first category covers the beaded cultured pearls including akoya south sea tahiti and the large modern freshwater pearl the edison pearl. All the pearls are real but the requirement of human intervention is what makes cultured pearls cultured.

Nothing better describes how precious pearls are than the myth about cleopatra dissolving a large pearl in vinegar and drinking the potion in a demonstration of her infinite wealth. A cultured pearl undergoes the same process. This limits the number of pearls at a harvest period.

Quality of cultured freshwater pearls is evaluated through a grading system of a series of a values based on luster shape surface colour and mat. Layer upon layer of this coating called nacre is deposited until a lustrous pearl is formed. First the irritant is surgically implanted in the oyster as the nucleus is made from the shell of a mussel.

As a defense mechanism a fluid is used to coat the irritant. The process of depositing layers of nacre the substance that forms the pearl around the irritant just. Technicians open the live pearl oysters and then carefully implant the bead.

Natural pearls form when an irritant usually a parasite and not the proverbial grain of sand works its way into an oyster mussel or clam.