How Expensive Are Saltwater Pearls

The natural saltwater pearls in this old european cut diamond ring are notably off round and somewhat asymmetrical when viewed from the side and bottom.

How expensive are saltwater pearls. He says the south sea pearl accounts for. Contrary to what many people think most saltwater pearls are not natural but cultured. Production is so large that lovely lustrous examples are affordable particularly in off round shapes. Despite its unappealing shape and its lack of lustre the pearl is valued at an expensive 3 5 million.

For one thing saltwater pearls are not as abundant as freshwater pearls. Freshwater cultured pearls are one of the jewelry world s biggest bargains. How freshwater and saltwater pearls differ luster. 5 double strand necklace.

Round freshwater pearls look almost identical to akoya pearls but are less expensive with a strand ranging from 50 to 2 000. Saltwater pearls have set the traditional standard for the round white pearl. However pearls that are cultivated for a longer time are also more expensive. A single freshwater mollusc can produce up to 50.

Measuring 24 centimeters in diameter and 9 45 inches in length the pearl weighs just over 14 pounds. However natural pearls of any kind very rarely occur in perfectly round shapes. How expensive are saltwater pearls. The mollusk only produces one pearl at a time in saltwater oysters whereas freshwater oysters can produce up to 30 pearls.

One reason they are plentiful is that each mollusk produces dozens of pearls unlike some others which only grow one pearl per shell. Harvesting them takes longer and as oysters are smaller than mussels they don t create as many pearls. The same goes for freshwater pearls they are also predominantly cultured. Saltwater pearls tend to be more expensive than freshwater pearls because they take longer to cultivate.

Freshwater pearls come in a huge range of shapes and sizes and colors. They are versatile gemstones that are cultivated in freshwater as opposed to sea or saltwater. Naturally occurring pearls are very rare and that s why they are unaffordable for most people. While saltwater pearls are more expensive it can be difficult to tell the difference.