Freshwater Pearls

Gold chain necklace with white pearls evenly spaced along it.

  • Freshwater pearls come in a remarkable variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, surpassing any other pearl type. Beyond the classic white hue, these pearls are found in a spectrum of natural pastel shades, including lavender, pink, and everything in between.

Silver necklace with a chain and four pink pearl beads hanging down in a vertical line.

  • Although freshwater pearls are the most common type of pearl, locating exceptionally round and lustrous pearls is quite challenging. Premium-quality freshwater pearls have a significant retail value.

    Their stunning, vibrant luster and distinctive appeal will endure for a lifetime.

A hand with painted nails holding a pair of silver earrings with multiple dangling white pearls against a plain background.

  • The global freshwater pearl market is largely dominated by Chinese farms, which supply nearly all the freshwater pearls available today.

    Freshwater pearls are primarily cultivated from two types of mussels: Hyriopsis cumingi (triangle shell) and Hyriopsis schlegeli (Biwa shell), along with other bivalve mussels found in lakes, riverbeds, and creek bottoms in Japan (Biwa pearls and Lake Kasumigaura pearls) and the United States (Mississippi River Basin).

To learn about our other pearl varieties, click below.

A collection of gold and silvery blue iridescent white South Sea pearls in a white bowl.
Gold hoop earrings with large gray pearls hanging from the bottom.
Edison
Tahitian
Four lustrous Edison pearls with different shades of pink, purple, blue, and gray are aligned on a light surface against a plain light background.
South Sea