What are the differences between natural pearls vs cultured pearls? Pearls are very beautiful gems, natural pearls are created naturally while cultured pearls are being farmed by people.
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls like its name, grow naturally, without any human intervention. An organism works its way into the mollusks species of oyster, mussels, clams or snail. The mollusk secretes fluid to coat the irritant as a defense mechanism. These layers of nacre coating is deposited on the irritant, until a lustruous pearl is form.
Natural pearls may not be as well-shaped or as round as cultured pearls. Natural pearls are rare and very expensive. Most pearls sold today are cultured pearls farmed for jewelries.
Cultured Pearls
Cultured pearls are farmed by people. The pearls are created through inserting a small bead into the oysters, mussels or clams.
Cultured pearls can and are produced in freshwater and saltwater.
Pearl farmers who culture pearls, create an environment that would help keep the oysters, mussels and clams alive to allow high quality pearls to be formed. Though both natural pearls and cultured pearls are different in formation, both are real pearls.
Saltwater Pearls or South Sea Pearls
Saltwater pearls like the South Sea Pearls, Tahitian Pearls and Akoya Pearls are usually more valuable than freshwater pearls due to their beautiful lustre, thick nacre with rich overtone colours.
Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater pearls are known for the beautiful pastel natural colours. They come i varieties of shapes and sizes and beautiful overtones. Freshwater pearls are usually more affordable than saltwater pearls..
Freshwater pearls grow in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds from Asia, Australia and USA.
Cultured pearls are more readily avail, while natural pearls are more limited. Hence, real natural pearls are more expensive than cultured pearls.
Pearls come in different ranges of quality, colours, shapes and sizes. They make good gems collection for casual or avid pearls lovers.