| Freshwater versus Saltwater Pearls | | | | tissue, from another oyster. The saltwater oyster will |
| Everyone has questioned it at least once.What is the | | | | only produce one pearl, but not without both elements; |
| difference between the freshwater and saltwater | | | | the mantle and shell portion, being inserted. |
| pearls in my jewelry? Besides the obvious difference | | | | For a freshwater pearl, there is no need to insert the |
| of where they are grown; either in freshwater | | | | small piece of mother-of-pearl shell. All that the |
| streams or saltwater oceans, there is the difference in | | | | freshwater pearl needs to be produced, is a small |
| the pearls themselves, which actually, is very little. The | | | | piece of mantle from another oyster. Then, the |
| main difference can be found in the production of | | | | freshwater oyster starts to put layer after layer of |
| man-made pearls. | | | | nacre over it to produce a pearl. The great thing about |
| In all pearls that are man-made, the pearls are | | | | freshwater oysters or mullusks, is that multiple pieces |
| produced by inserting a small particle into the oyster's | | | | of mantle can be placed inside an oyster to form |
| body itself. In a saltwater pearl, the small particle that is | | | | multiple pearls! This is primarily the reason why |
| inserted into the oyster is usually a very small piece of | | | | freshwater pearls are lower in price than saltwater |
| mother-of-pearl shell. It is implanted into the oyster | | | | pearls. Either way, they both look great worn as a |
| along with a small piece of mantle tissue, or connective | | | | bracelet, necklace, or earrings! |