And where is it mined? This is definitely not a mineral or a natural stone. These are deposits inside a sea oyster or in river shells, covered with mother-of-pearl. There are freshwater and sea pearls.
How to distinguish river pearls from sea pearls, how much do jewelry made from natural pearls cost, does it have magical properties and who is it suitable for? You will learn about all this from the article.
What are natural pearls and what are they like?
Let's start with the fact that natural pearls cannot be completely identical. Firstly, these are beads of different colors, ranging from white pearlescent to black and even pink. Secondly, the sizes and shapes differ.
How to check naturalness? Pay attention to the quality of the surface. If these are natural pearls, then they necessarily have a rough surface, are quite heavy and cool.
Which pearls are more valuable - river and sea pearls, are there any differences or are they far-fetched? From the name it becomes clear that sea pearls are formed in the sea, in salt water. River - in mollusks from freshwater.
Unlike sea beads, river beads are more affordable. The reason is simple. The process of cultivating beads in freshwater rivers takes less time. In the mantle of mollusks, 12-20 beads are grown at once, while no more than two or three foreign bodies can be introduced into a sea oyster.
How much does a natural pearl cost on average? It all depends on the shape, size, cultivation method. The price can range from several hundred dollars to several tens of thousands.
Production in Russia yesterday and today
Once upon a time, Russian pearls became famous throughout the world. There was so much of it that there was enough for everyone, including for export. Delicate natural beads were used to decorate royal clothes and crowns, icons and kokoshniks, and the wedding dresses of noble ladies could not do without them.
Freshwater pearls, black, silver, white, and even with a greenish tint, were actively used in Russia to create designer jewelry. At that time they were:
- earrings;
- rings;
- necklace;
- bracelets;
- beads;
- brooches, etc.
The most valuable material was considered to be extracted from Karelian rivers. Pearls from this area had a unique bluish and silvery glow. It is noteworthy that a lady with any level of income could afford a bracelet or pendant with natural pearls. The jewelry of both the queen and simple fisher girls, each of which had several threads, was equally highly valued.
The uniqueness of products in Russia in the 19th century is mentioned in the description of the visit to the Nizhny Novgorod province of a German researcher. He wrote about how much he was amazed by the beauty of the whitish or yellow, soft blue and even black jewelry worn by Russian women. The higher the lady's position, the more items she wore. This made an indelible impression on the foreigner.
In those days, the mother of Russian pearls was the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. Dozens of provinces traded on pearl rivers. These are Arkhangelsk, Siberian, Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg, etc. Shellfish production was especially active in Karelia and on the Kola Peninsula.
Not so often, but Margaritifera margaritifera was found in the Moscow region. In which rivers were shellfish harvested? The pearl mussel was found in the basin of the Dnieper, Amur and tributaries of the Volga. In total, there were up to 150 pearl-bearing rivers in the country, half of which were used for fishing on a large scale. A third of the production at that time came from the provinces in the northern part of the country.
Today in Russia they do not figure out which pearls are best in the country; they are mined mainly on an experimental basis in Karelia. Every year the state treasury is replenished with hundreds of pearls of the highest quality.
How are pearls mined these days? More than 25 years ago, they began to use delicate methods of influencing mollusks with partial opening of the valves, allowing them to be left alive. Near the Northern capital there is a reserve for the protection of fish of the salmon family and mollusks. In 2006, research work was carried out on its territory for the presence of margaritane. Several populations of no more than a few dozen adults were discovered.
Are there pearl mussels today in the previously “prolific” Novgorod region? So far, mollusks have been found only in one river, and the number of individuals is no more than a thousand; all of them are on the verge of extinction due to their replacement by pearl barley, which is less demanding on environmental conditions.
So what is the difference between past centuries and modern times, why did the country's pearl reserves dry up? It's all about the salmon. There is too much demand for them. Pearl mussels can only exist in rivers where salmon live. After all, larvae develop on their gills.
Is there a possibility that the mining industry will be revived at its previous level?
Work is underway to revive it. To do this, they are establishing the process of breeding salmon and protecting freshwater rivers suitable for the life and development of pearl mussels.
What is the difference between freshwater pearls and sea pearls?
Returning to the topic of differences, including from the photo, between sea and river pearls, let’s determine the main points:
- Shine. Sea pearls emit a brighter glow in daylight, while river beads appear dull and almost matte in comparison.
- Form. Freshwater pearls, like natural stones, by the way, have an irregular shape. Sea beads also rarely have ideal parameters, but still look more neat. In addition, river beads are often oval-shaped, while sea beads are predominantly round.
- Price. An important difference. Sea pearls are always more expensive than river pearls. Why? This was mentioned above.
- Nacre. Another significant indicator. Sea beads have a thinner coating, on average from 0.5 to 6 mm. This explains the abrasions that occur over time. Freshwater pearls are made almost entirely of mother-of-pearl, which means they last longer and require minimal care.
You can also distinguish between freshwater and sea pearls by analyzing their sizes. Freshwater specimens are usually smaller than marine specimens. Previously, cultured freshwater pearls were grown for several years, which negatively affected the quality of the coating, shape, and, of course, size. Not long ago, the growing period was extended to 6 years, which made it possible to correct the situation and achieve almost complete identity of pearls with sea pearls in shape and size.
The magical properties of freshwater pearls
People have believed in the magic of natural river pearls since the first acquaintance with them. It was believed that mother-of-pearl products would help one live happily ever after and reward the owner with strength of mind and body.
Psychics confirm the powerful energy of pearls, claiming that people of any age can wear jewelry with them with equal benefit.
Many believe in the properties of freshwater pearls to attract love; they are sincerely convinced that products with mother-of-pearl beads will help you meet your soulmate and live happily ever after with them for many years.
There are also some signs regarding freshwater pearls. It is believed that they should not be owned by people with a nomadic lifestyle, as well as families with small children.
Who is suitable for pearl jewelry?
So, who can wear freshwater pearls? Astrologers recommend wearing jewelry for representatives of the water signs of the zodiac. That is, the beads will feel most harmonious in life:
- Rakov;
- Scorpios;
- Aquarius.
Other signs (do not forget that beads are intended more for the female half of humanity) can also wear pearls, but without much hope for an energetic relationship.
The exception is black river pearls. It is recommended to be worn by strong signs Leo and Aries for peace of mind and tranquility.
How to clean pearls at home and how to store them
Natural freshwater pearls are stronger than sea pearls, but they are not stone; they are vulnerable and subject to destruction over time. To extend the life of mother-of-pearl beads, you need to follow simple operating rules and provide delicate and regular care.
For example, to maintain the shine of a pearl, you need to clean it from time to time. Under no circumstances should this be done with cleaning agents or vinegar. The latter will corrode the layers of mother-of-pearl and will be certain death for the jewelry (some people use it to check whether pearls are real or not).
Clean products with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Before storing in a box (kept separately), the pearls are allowed to dry and rubbed thoroughly.
How to care for pearls
How to care for pearls according to folk recipes? Potato starch or a teaspoon of salt diluted in a glass of water will help. They replace soap solution.
A separate box for storing pearl jewelry is not enough. For a complete set, take care of the accompanying protective fabrics. It can be:
- silk;
- atlas.
It is important that the materials are not only natural, but also unpainted. Is heat dangerous for pearls? It happens, so take care of the beads from drying out in the summer, store them next to a glass of water. And also, if you do not want to shorten the life of your pearl jewelry, never store it hanging without a case or box.
You have learned what freshwater pearls look like and how they differ from sea pearls; now you definitely can’t go wrong when purchasing products. Share the article with your friends! See you again!
Team LyubiKamni
Since ancient times, the sophistication of pearl products has amazed and captivated the eyes of men and women. The mysterious birth of pearls has made the jewel one of the most mysterious. Not all representatives of the fair sex can control the magical properties of pearls, because only a strong, self-confident girl can cope with them.
Pearl is born in a very unusual way - in the shell of a mollusk. Once in the shell, the foreign body is simply overgrown with nacre, becoming a real pearl. However, not many people know that not only sea mollusks can create pearls, but also river mollusks. Freshwater or river pearls are very different from sea pearls, and the difference is not only in price:
- A pearl born in the sea shines much brighter due to the high salt content in the water
- The color of freshwater pearl will be less pronounced, while sea pearl will be white as snow.
- The shape of a sea pearl is always extremely round, while a river pearl can have an oval shape and be extremely uneven.
Of course, freshwater pearls are not as attractive as sea pearls, but they still have their value and beauty, unlike cheap fake jewelry. How to distinguish cultured pearls from artificial ones?
How to distinguish fake pearls?
There are many different methods for detecting counterfeit. By resorting to basic tests, you can distinguish a fake from a piece of jewelry.
- It is often recommended to try pearls “for the tooth”. A real jewel will creak in your mouth.
- Having rubbed natural pearls, dust will form between them, but fake pearls will damage each other.
- Having tried on this product, you will feel a slight coolness even on the hottest and stuffiest day. The fake decoration will not show itself in any way and will rather be at room temperature.
- Of course, an x-ray will help to 100% accurately determine the naturalness of a pearl jewelry, which will see the contents of the pearl.
- Real cultured pearls, unlike fake ones, cannot have a perfectly even and smooth surface; on the contrary, each pearl is unique, has roughness, abrasions, uneven edges and individual shine.
- Natural cultured pearls glow green under ultraviolet rays. The artificial one does not glow at all.
- You can distinguish black pearls from fakes using the following methods. Also pay attention to the edges of the drilled hole of the bead; a smooth and even edge is a sign of a fake.
You can purchase products with real pearls by visiting the online store of natural precious and ornamental stones in St. Petersburg. Here you will find a wide selection of jewelry inlaid with precious gems and minerals, learn how to distinguish natural pearls from artificial ones (photo), how to choose a talisman stone and choose an amulet that attracts money!
There are many ways to classify pearls, but did you know that where they are grown can have a big impact on their quality and price?
Let's see how saltwater pearls differ from those grown in fresh water.
Freshwater pearls are grown by mussels that live in rivers and lakes.
Today, most of these pearls are formed in the fresh waters of China.
Saltwater pearls, on the other hand, are created by oysters in the oceans and come from places like Thailand, Australia, Indonesia and Tahiti, among others.
Cultivated in Japan, as well as China and Vietnam, Akoya pearls are one of the most popular and high-quality saltwater pearls, prized for their excellent luster and near-perfect round shape.
How are pearls created?
Most pearls are not grown naturally.
This means that a small piece of fabric or bead was placed into the clam, which coated it with nacre, the material the pearl is actually made of. 
A pearl created in this way is also called a "cultured" pearl, and the longer the growing season for it, the better the nacre is formed in terms of quality.
However, material that is grown over a longer period of time is also more expensive.
Contrary to what some people think, most sea pearls are not natural, but cultured.
Natural specimens are very rare, and that is why they are inaccessible to most people. The same applies to freshwater pearls - they are also predominantly cultured.
What is the difference between freshwater and saltwater pearls?
Shine
Because the nacre of freshwater pearls is thicker and different in composition from sea pearls, they are less lustrous and less glossy.
However, in recent years there have been improvements in farming methods and there are now freshwater pearls whose luster is comparable to that of the sea.
Nacre
Sea pearls have a thinner nacre coating, ranging from 0.5 mm to 6 mm.
Freshwater, on the other hand, is composed almost entirely of nacre.
The reason for this difference is that the core (what the nacre is formed around) found in river mollusks is much smaller than in marine mollusks.
Shape and color
Pearls grown in fresh water have a greater variety of shapes (round, oval, etc.) and colors.
Marine ones are usually only round, which is the most popular shape.
Size
Previously, freshwater pearls were grown over shorter periods of time (less than 2 years), and as a result, they were smaller in size and had poorer shape and pearlescent coating.
In recent years, however, many producers have begun to grow them for longer periods (three to six years), and the resulting material has become larger (8-15 mm) and has a quality comparable to that of the sea.
Price
Freshwater pearls are cheaper for several reasons.
First, river mussels are larger and can thus produce more material at one time than sea oysters. As a result, they are grown in abundance.
It is also worth noting that the marine grade is mainly round in shape and has better luster - characteristics that are more valued.
Buying: river pearls versus sea pearls.
Because the nacre layer of river pearls is thicker, they are more durable than sea pearls, which are more vulnerable to wear and tear and are also more prone to chipping.
Marine ones, on the other hand, are shinier and have a more round shape.
As you can see, when choosing between these two varieties, you need to weigh appearance versus durability and decide what trade-off to make.
Finally, if you can find river specimens that have been raised using modern methods, you will find that their luster and shape often match those of the sea, but at a more reasonable price.
How to distinguish a fake?
There are fake pearls that can be easily distinguished from real ones, while others are more difficult to recognize. Here are some tips to help you figure out if you are dealing with originals.
Dental test.
If you rub a real pearl against your teeth, its surface should be rough. If the surface is too smooth, it is usually a fake. However, this method is far from scientific and is not the most accurate.
Real pearls are rough.
If you look at a natural pearl through a magnifying glass, you will clearly see that its surface is uneven and slightly rough.
You will also be able to see how uniform or smoother the surface of the fake is.
Real pearls have imperfect color.
Examine the pearl closely in a well-lit environment. 
If it is genuine, the color will be uneven and you will be able to see the transition to different tones. The fake will not show the same effect - its color will not vary.
The holes in real pearls should be small and even.
Real pearls tend to have smaller holes than fake ones. Since great attention is paid to maintaining the integrity of the pearls, the holes are drilled as small as possible.
Another clue is that the top layer of fakes tends to peel off easily and the holes will appear uneven. A similar effect is not observed in real pearls.
The shape of real pearls is uneven.
Natural pearls are not perfectly shaped because the natural process that creates them is not as precise as a machine. 
Genuine pearls will also have irregularities on their surface.
Fake pearls, on the other hand, have a spherical shape that looks too perfect, as if the pearls were made.
Warmth test.
Real pearls usually take longer to heat up when held in your hand than fake ones. If the pearl is relatively warm to the touch, this may be a clue that it is not real.
However, this test is far from perfect and is highly dependent on the material from which the fake is made. Plus, you'll need a real gem for comparison.
A real pearl often weighs more than a fake one. Genuine pearls are typically heavier than fake pearls, which are often made from plastic or other lightweight material.
However, this rule is not necessarily true in all cases, so use the weight simply as another clue and not a definitive proof.
Occupies cultivated, that is, grown in rivers and lakes. A huge share of pearls comes to us from China, which annually supplies tens of tons of pearls to the market.
Freshwater pearls even grow in flooded, unused rice fields in China. There is a comfortable microclimate for mollusks, where they can quickly reproduce and grow beautiful pearls.
Freshwater pearls are obtained from river and lake oysters. They live mainly in clean waters of rivers with not very strong currents. The size of river mollusks reaches 18 centimeters in length, weighs up to 300 grams, and their age sometimes reaches 50 years.
Mollusks that live in fresh water belong to the family Unionidae. A well-known representative of this family in Europe, Margaritifera margaritifera, is valued as a producer of pearls, and beautiful buttons are also produced from its shell. It is believed that these amazing creatures can very quickly adapt to a new environment when climatic, physical, biological and even chemical conditions change. They are long-lived, and in natural conditions some individuals sometimes live up to 250 years.
River pearls, unlike sea pearls, do not have a nucleus, that is, they are grown using a nuclear-free method.
A piece of foreign tissue is planted into the mantle of the mollusk, which begins to be enveloped in layers of mother-of-pearl. This method is called nuclear-free, since sea pearls use a special ball core for this purpose. That is why it has a thicker layer of mother-of-pearl than marine mother-of-pearl.
The nuclear-free method makes it possible to add several seeds to a mollusk and get several beautiful gems from one pearl mussel at once. One river oyster can simultaneously grow 12–16 pearls. As the pearls grow, they need to be turned over to prevent them from becoming flat. Despite this, perfectly round pearls make up a small percentage of the total number of freshwater pearls and are much more valuable.
In 1.5 years, a river pearl grows up to 3 millimeters. In 3 years it can become 7 millimeters in size. River pearls will grow more than 7 millimeters only if another 4 years pass (7 years in total). Very rarely they are more than 10 millimeters, and their price in this case increases greatly.
Freshwater pearls are very popular due to the variety of shades, shapes and sizes. Pearls have a diameter from 2 to 8 mm, their average size is 4–6 mm.
The hard nacre of these pearls is more matte and does not have such a strong shine as sea pearls, but it is considered more durable and resistant to abrasion, which is not bad for jewelry. The color is a little uneven and may shift slightly from one shade to another.
Freshwater pearls come in a variety of colors, but the tones are a little muted. The following shades are found: white, cream, pink-orange, lilac, champagne, pale purple, brown.
River pearls are often irregular in shape. The shapes of freshwater pearls are different - drops, ovals, unusual shapes (baroque pearls). Perfectly round large pearls are very rare. Since the price of freshwater pearls is less than that of sea pearls, this allows you to create beautiful, affordable jewelry.
Akoya sea pearls
Choosing pearls is a pleasant process, but not an easy one.
Even after reading about the types of pearls, you can still get a full box of low-grade pearls, and a lot of experience.
We have already looked at natural and cultured pearls - both types of pearls are natural.
Natural pearls are further divided into river (freshwater) and Akoya saltwater (salt water, sea water), according to the habitat of the mollusk. Saltwater pearls are considered more brilliant, but also more expensive, since the conditions for their cultivation are more difficult, and the output is less high-quality pearls.
For freshwater pearls, a large mollusk is used, into which you can place dozens of “seeds” and get up to 30 pearls. Therefore it is much cheaper. Such pearls grow faster. In fresh water, there are no storms that can bring colder layers of water to the shore where pearl clams grow in farms.
With the same quality of pearl (size, shine, smoothness of surface), a sea pearl will cost you much more than a freshwater one.
A solid “seed” is placed in sea pearls, and a piece of the mollusk’s mantle is placed in freshwater pearls; it begins to be enveloped in layers of nacre, in the process it dissolves and a solid pearl is obtained, entirely made of nacre.
If you take two necklaces for comparison (sea and freshwater), let’s say the price is $100 per thread (the cost is also approximate, depending on where you buy), you will get an excellent freshwater necklace, 7 mm in diameter, with almost selected pearls, the shape of the pearls is close to a circle. The necklace looks beautiful and expensive. At the same price, saltwater pearls will either have significant pearl imperfections, visible growths, a baroque shape “with spouts” that make the pearls look teardrop-shaped, or a very thin layer of nacre,
kept in a pearl oyster with a seed core for no more than six months with a mother-of-pearl layer up to 0.5 cm thick. The shine will be better, but you will need to wear such a necklace very carefully; if not handled correctly, within a year the mother-of-pearl may fall behind and peel off, exposing the surface of the core, the necklace will lose its appearance.
One can imagine that the price-quality ratio is better in freshwater pearls. 
Photos are the best way to help you understand and form your own idea. The title photo shows baroque-shaped Akoya sea pearls, the photo in the text shows earrings and a pendant - round Akoya sea pearls, the very last photo shows a necklace made of excellent quality freshwater pearls.
Look, decide, the final choice is always yours!
Anna Kushkova
Comments
- Lena
08.02.2012 @ 19:30I haven’t had such pleasure reading for a long time. Even my husband listened with great attention. Through the text you can feel Anna’s love for pearls. And Sergei, as a kind and strict teacher, dotted all the I’s. THANK YOU.
- Sergey
20.11.2011 @ 10:18Anna, sometimes freshwater pearls can be distinguished even from photographs. And your example is exactly such a case. Both of your strings are freshwater pearls. Let me explain:
It is almost impossible to grow smooth, round freshwater pearls due to the “nucleus-free” method you described. Mother of pearl grows on an initially uneven base - a piece of mantle (meat) of the donor mollusk. A uniform rounded (precisely rounded, not round) shape is achieved by culling. Naturally, no one throws away uneven pearls; they simply move into other categories of commercial pearl forms. These are the shapes: rice, baroque, potato, drop, button, etc. They are subsequently used to make magnificent jewelry. In some cases, a pearl that has reached a certain size undergoes an additional alignment procedure. It is again wrapped in a thin layer of mantle and reinserted into the clam to continue growth. Non-commercial pearls (those with very strong defects or simply scary as death) are used in crushed form in cosmetics and medicines.
Sea pearls are obtained using the “nuclear” method. And this very nucleolus is a ball, regardless of the material from which it consists, always of an even, round shape. The ball can be plastic, glass or made from mother of pearl of the shell. Cheap pearls in Asia use a plastic ball. The thickness of the mother-of-pearl layer can be incredibly small - a tenth of a millimeter. For this reason, the ball is used white or, in the worst case, transparent with a matte surface, otherwise it will be visible through a thin layer of mother-of-pearl. When using transparent plastic, these pearls even partially transmit light. Such pearls cost a couple of hundred rubles per string, and if handled carelessly, the mother of pearl comes off faster than nail polish. Nevertheless, these are real sea pearls! The main thing is that even such pearls have a round shape without dents, flattening or barrel-shape.
When growing higher quality saltwater pearls, a thicker layer of nacre is achieved over a longer period, but even when growths appear, the initial round shape of the pearl does not change. The growth does not “spread” over the surface of the pearl, changing its shape, but continues to grow in the direction from the center of the pearl. As a result, you get a round pearl with growths sticking out of it. Jewelry made from such pearls is valued for its originality, but is much cheaper than pearls with a smooth, defect-free surface.
So, we can say with almost one hundred percent certainty that uneven - elongated, barrel-shaped, and in general any rounded pearls (as in your photo) are freshwater pearls obtained by the “nuclear-free” method. No matter what the seller claims!- Anna
22.11.2011 @ 15:43
- Anna