What is The Difference Between Cultured Pearls and Freshwater Pearls? – The Wedding Expert Answer

Question from Marg:

What is the difference between cultured pearls and freshwater pearls?  Is one better than the other?  Which one do you think I should buy for my wedding?

Answer from The Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Marg.  Naturally developed pearls are uneven, and come in a variety of shapes.  The perfect roundness of cultured pearls is created by a technique created by Japanese researchers Mise and Nishikawa early in the 20th century.  The technique allows for the oyster to create a perfectly round pearl, so in a way it is also naturally created—just the start of it is through a man-made technique.  A freshwater pearl comes from freshwater mussels (as opposed to salt water oysters for cultured pearls). 

Pearls come in many shapes, sizes and natural colours.  They have long been used for bridal jewellery—a tradition that stems back to the time that a perfect set of round pearls was rare, unique, and very expensive.  Today, cultured pearls are perfectly round, and are easily harvested, bringing their cost down.  Pearl necklaces are still the most predominant wedding jewellery worn by brides.