MUCH MORE THAN THE “CHINESE RICE PEARL”
Most people, when they hear, “Chinese freshwater pearls,” think of those pearls first produced in the 1960’s that are crinkly, odd-shaped pearls called “Rice Krispies”, or Chinese rice pearls, that come in an array of colours. These are pretty in a necklace with several strands of different colours twisted together.
However, due to advances in pearl farming, there has been a significant improvement in the beauty, size, and quality of freshwater pearls. In the market today, the least expensive cultured pearl product now rivals the quality of the most expensive natural pearls ever found. Only two other pearl types are solid nacre -- natural saltwater pearls and natural freshwater pearls.
AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE JAPANESE AKOYA PEARL
High quality saltwater pearls, or Japanese Akoya pearls, tend to be more highly valued than those that are freshwater. Now the Chinese are producing freshwater pearls that are round enough and good enough to pass as Japanese akoya. The Chinese, in fact, revolutionized the pearl industry in the 1990’s, and at this time, they dominate it. (China already sells round white pearls up to 6mm for less then the price of Japanese cultured saltwater pearls.)
It is now possible to find almost perfectly spherical pearls in sizes of up to 8mm and increasing in sizes up to 13mm in “near rounds”. These are produced in a range of natural colours such as peach, pink, orange, mauve, heather or lavendar, and white.
In addition, a strand of freshwater pearls probably has a better lustre, more orient, and a higher percentage of pearl nacre than the majority of cultured saltwater pearls on the market today. In fact, most freshwater pearls are composed entirely of nacre, just like their natural freshwater and natural saltwater counterparts. In contrast, the majority of a cultured saltwater pearl's volume is an implanted shell bead nucleus, only coated with nacre, or mother-of-pearl, which can wear thin.
Furthermore, these solid nacre freshwater pearls are completely unaffected by the short-culturing controversy that surrounds saltwater pearls. Culturing time affects tissue-cultured freshwater pearls only by determining how large they will grow.
My advice to you is don’t judge pearls by their price tag. Look at their lustre, their colour, their uniqueness. This way you will discover that freshwater pearls offer great variety, beauty and value.
Some of the hottest items showcase necklaces of multicoloured pearls in 9mm to 9 1/2mm sizes. Necklaces that alternate two different colours of pearls and that have station designs in gauges up to 11mm and 12mm are very popular.
Most freshwater cultured pearls are reasonably priced such as the white round or almost round Chinese Freshwater pearls in the 5-6mm range. The oval "potato" shaped pearls are even more affordable.
