Saltwater, Freshwater, and South Sea: Oh My!

As with any area of specialization, the lexicon used in the pearl industry can be confusing to the uninformed.

Terry Shepherd, a.k.a. "The Pearl Hunter," who scours the world in search of the perfect pearl, likes to help his customers at The Pearl Outlet navigate those confusing pearl-rich waters. The Pearl Outlet customer is a well-informed buyer, thanks to the Pearl Hunter.

Although you could immerse yourself in a long study of the world of pearls, The Pearl Hunter has done most of the work for you. According to Terry, here are the main points to remember if you're in the market for pearls:

1. The terms "Akoya" and "Saltwater" are generally used interchangably. Most of the pearls found at The Pearl Outlet are Akoya pearls. Akoya pearls represent approximately 90% of the pearls available commercially today.

2. Freshwater pearls are usually grown in inland China. Less than 1% of all freshwater pearls harvested produce large, round pearls--in other words, pearls that might meet the quality standards of The Pearl Outlet. However, freshwater pearls are plentiful (about ten times more plentiful than saltwater pearls), so the sheer number represented by this 1% is still quite large.

3. Freshwater pearls are completely nacre, and are nucleated with a tissue nucleus as opposed to a bead nucleus used for saltwater pearls. [NOTE: For insight into why and how oysters are nucleated, see "The Pearl Hunter Returns" post of June 6, 2006]. Freshwater mussels, which are much larger than oysters, are used to grow pearls. Due to their large size, multiple pearls--sometimes in excess of TWENTY--can be grown in each mussel. However, most freshwater pearls don't have the lustre and roundness of Akoya pearls. The price of freshwater pearls is significantly lower, thanks to their ease in growing and harvest. The quality of the very top end of freshwater pearls is exceptional, and can have a much longer lifetime than Akoya pearls.

4. The legendary Tahitian pearls (grown in French Polynesia) are usually black, but can range significantly in color. Because of the many overtones available in Tahitian pearls, it's often difficult to make a strand that is perfectly matched. Tahitian pearls are saltwater pearls, grown on atolls, protected from the ocean elements, and suspended on floats. They have a very thick nacre, usually are quite large, and are typcially the second most expensive pearls, taking a backseat to...

5. ...South Sea pearls. Produced in the largest type of commercial oyster used for pearl production, South Sea pearls are mostly white, but are sometimes available in golden and "buttery" tones. These are the most expensive types of pearls, and are found off the coast of Australia, Indonesia, and the Phillipines.

Find more information on how to choose the perfect pearl for your needs at The Pearl Outlet.