Cultured saltwater pearls
Just like freshwater pearls, saltwater pearls are renowned for their natural beauty. However, saltwater pearls are more expensive than their freshwater cousins. If you want the inside scoop on these prized jewels, read on.
These pearls usually come in the familiar round shape, with variations in size and color. However, one of the main differences between freshwater and saltwater pearls is that saltwater pearls have less nacre in comparison with the freshwater pearls. This is why the saltwater pearls are usually less durable in comparison with the freshwater pearls.
There was a time when the entire saltwater pearl industry was dependent on the natural production of the pearls and therefore was not widely available in the market. However, these days they can be produced artificially through human intervention, which has driven down the cost, while adding to the variety in size and color. THe advent of artificial pearl production has made pearls available to a mass audience, while preserving the highly prized status of natural pearls.
There are mainly two types of cultured saltwater pearls that can be found in the market: Tahitian pearls and Akoya pearls.
Nucleation process is the key factor of producing artificial saltwater pearls and the entire process can be very delicate. Some people believe that nucleating the Akoya pearl oyster is easier in comparison with the nucleation process of the Tahitian pearl oysters. When producing artificial saltwater pearls, the water temperature is a vital factor. Oysters are usually very sensitive to any change in the water temperature and this factor can determine how thick the nacre is going to be. This is why the Akoya pearls are nucleated during spring and summer. The entire process takes place along the coasts of Japan, one of the leading producers of cultured freshwater and saltwater pearls.
The nucleation process for the Tahitian pearls is similar to the process followed by the farmers to nucleate Akoya pearls. However in case of the Tahitian pearls, the black lipped oysters are used for nucleation and the farming takes place at the coasts of the French Polynesian islands. Tahitian pearls are well known for their bigger size and dark color.
Another type of artificial saltwater pearl is the South Sea pearl. Silver-lipped and gold-lipped oysters are used for harvesting these pearls. These oysters are collected from the wild and then taken to pearl farms where the farmers keep them under controlled environment to produce the final product.
Whether you choose to buy jewelry made of freshwater or saltwater pearls, your first step should be to go online, compare several online stores for price and variety, then select a reputable online jewelry store for your purchase. The price will vary depending on the size, quality, design and type of pearls that are used in the jewelry.
Tags: Cultured Pearls, saltwater pearls