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This question has no real answer as mollusks have always created pearls, both marine and freshwater, and they have been around for more than 530 million years.

If you are referring to cultured freshwater pearls, however, they were first cultured by Dr. Masao Fujita in the 1920s in Lake Biwa, Japan, using the Hyriopsis schlegeli mussel (Biwa pearly mussel). Pollution all but destroyed this industry just a few decades ago. Currently, freshwater pearl production is almost exclusive to China.

There is also some very minor production in Lake Kasumigaura, Japan.

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15y ago

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Types of pearl?

There are five different types of pearls, including natural pearls, cultured pearls, saltwater pearls, freshwater pearls, and imitation pearls.


What country do akoya pearls come from?

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Are freshwater pearls worth more than cultured pearls?

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Where can I get information on the creation of pearls?

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What color pearls can you get?

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What is the difference between freshwater pearls and normal water pearkls?

There are freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls. Natural freshwater pearls form in various species of freshwater mussels, family Unionidae, which live in lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water. These freshwater pearl mussels occur not only in hotter climates, but also in colder more temperate areas such as Scotland: see the freshwater pearl mussel. However, most freshwater cultured pearls sold today come from China. Saltwater pearls grow within pearl oysters, family Pteriidae, which live in oceans. Saltwater pearl oysters are usually cultivated in protected lagoons or volcanic atolls. Look here for more info: http://www.pinnaclepearls.com


What are two kinds of pearls?

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Is there such thing as a freshwater pearls?

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All factors being equal, sea (saltwater) pearls are always more valuable than Freshwater pearls. However, a large, top quality Freshwater pearl can easily be more expensive than a small, low quality saltwater-cultured pearl. High luster, thick coating, smooth surface, minimal blemishes, large size, fascinating colors, and symmetrically shaped pearls are the most valuable. So it is not always the category of pearls, but the quality of the pearl that determines the price.


Where can Akoya pearls be found naturally?

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What are cultured pearls how are they made?

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