Pearl Types

Freshwater Pearls - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - click to view collection
Freshwater pearls are best known for their wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors, and their attractive prices. They are produced by the Hyriopsis cumingi mussels, which live in lakes and rivers in remote areas of China. The mussels are nucleated with tiny pieces of mantle tissue, resulting in pearls made of solid nacre. Roughly the size of a human hand, these prolific mussels are able to produce up to 50 pearls at a time, densely clustered on each shell.       ...more

Saltwater Akoya Pearls - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - click to view collection
Akoya pearls are treasured for their true roundness and reflective shine. They come from a small Japanese oyster that produces only one pearl at a time. The saltwater Pinctada fucata oyster lives along the coasts of Japan and China. A nucleating bead is surgically implanted in the body of the oyster, who coats it with layer upon layer of beautiful nacre. These relatively small pearls range from 2 to 10mm; Akoyas larger than 8mm are quite rare and valuable.  ...more

Tahitian Pearls & Black South Sea Pearls - - - - - -click to view collection
Tahitian pearls are the only pearls in the world that are naturally black. Rare, exotic, and luxurious, Black South Sea pearls are produced by the Pinctada margaritifera oyster, native to Tahiti and the French Polynesian islands. These saltwater oysters can grow as large as a dinner plate, resulting in pearls that range from 8 to 18mm in size! Tahitian pearls come in a mesmerizing array of colors, from silver to deep black, with shades of green, blue, and pink.   ...more

White South Sea & Golden South Sea Pearls - - - - click to view collection
White South Sea and Golden South Sea pearls are treasured for their luxurious size and brilliant satin luster. These valuable pearls are produced by the famous silver-lipped oyster, Pinctada maxima, along the coasts of Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. As the rarest pearls on earth, a single strand of these magnificent gems can take many years' of harvests to assemble, as each pearl must be painstakingly matched for size, roundness, color, and quality.   ...more

Mabe & Half Pearls
Mabe pearls are hemispherical cultured pearls grown against the inside shell of an oyster, rather than in the body. They are typically used in settings such as earrings or rings to conceal their flat backs. Mostly produced by saltwater oysters, Mabe pearls are grown in Japan, Indonesia, French Polynesia, and Australia. These "half pearls" range from light pink to bluish in color. Although they are beautiful, they do not retain nearly as much value as full round pearls.

Imitation Pearls
Imitation pearls are manufactured by humans and have no true value. They are often sold under misleading names, such as faux pearls, Mallorca pearls, organic, or simulated pearls. An experienced jeweler can distinguish between real and imitation pearls by examining the drill hole or taking x-rays. An easy way to tell the difference is the "tooth test". An imitation pearl rubbed against your teeth will feel smooth and glossy, while a real cultured pearl will feel gritty.