Full Information to Pure Saltwater Pearls (Skilled Recommendation)

Right here’s our information to studying what you could find out about when looking for Pure Saltwater Pearls. Once we speak about pearls in regard to tremendous jewellery, we normally base the dialogue round “pure versus cultured” pearls and never “saltwater versus freshwater” pearls. Nonetheless, each terminologies are extraordinarily vital to any dialogue relating to pearls.
In case you have questions on Pure Saltwater Pearls, be happy to ship us a message. We’ll reply inside one enterprise hour.
Pure Pearls vs. Cultured Pearls

For anyone not absolutely aware of the distinction between pure and cultured, it’s truly fairly easy.
- Pure pearls are these which develop solely organically in sure forms of mollusks. Not till opening these mollusks do we all know in the event that they even include a pearl, not to mention the standard.
- Cultured pearls are farm-grown in the identical water as pure pearls however inside a way more managed surroundings. A cultured pearl has a head begin, with a overseas particle being launched to the mollusk to start out the pearl creation course of. This offers a a lot greater certainty of a good-quality pearl ensuing.
One other massive distinction on the planet of pearls is freshwater and saltwater. Be taught the precise distinction between freshwater and saltwater pearls.
How Pearls Are Made?

In all cases, a pearl comes from a mollusk, normally an oyster or mussel. The mollusk detects a overseas physique inside its shell and coats it in a layer of the mineral aragonite.
The intrusion might be something from a grain of sand to a microscopic parasite. The mollusk provides additional layers to guard the mollusk. These layers are held collectively by a substance referred to as conchiolin. The mix of aragonite and conchiolin has the widespread identify of nacre (pronounced nay-ker).
It takes no less than a 12 months for even a small pearl to develop, whether or not pure or cultured. Cultured pearls sometimes solely develop for two to 4 years earlier than harvesting. The longer a pearl grows earlier than harvesting, the bigger it is going to be.
Harvesting pearls doesn’t kill the mollusk as long as no hurt involves the host through the course of. In cultured pearl farming, the identical mollusks are used by way of a number of harvests as captive mussels, and oysters can reside for 20 years with adequate care.
The Distinction Between Saltwater and Freshwater Pearls

Each saltwater and freshwater pearls are virtually definitely cultured and never pure. Just one in 10,000 oysters will produce a pure pearl appropriate to be used in jewellery. Because of this, open-water pearl diving has nearly stopped utterly. Which means that virtually all pearls we see coming to market are cultured.
For probably the most half, saltwater pearls farm makes use of oysters, and freshwater makes use of mussels.
The farms can vary tremendously in dimension from a small setup in a farmer’s pond to ones protecting large areas of lakes. Because of using completely different mollusks for every sort of farming, the pearls have bodily variations.
Due to the completely different sizes of nuclei inserted into every sort, the ensuing pearl can be completely different. The nucleus inserted right into a saltwater oyster will normally be bigger than that put right into a freshwater mussel. Because of this, the nacre that makes up a freshwater pearl is way thicker than that of a saltwater pearl. On condition that nacre high quality is what defines a pearl, you’d suppose this was a superb factor, however it’s not essentially the case.
The thinner nacre of the saltwater pearl has a a lot better luster than its freshwater equal. The thicker nacre on the freshwater pearl makes it duller and fewer interesting. Nonetheless lovely, however not like a saltwater pearl.
Saltwater vs. Freshwater Pearls

Though the nacre produced in saltwater oysters appears higher, it’s a lot thinner. This implies it wears and might chip way more simply. Historically, freshwater pearl harvests happen way more steadily than saltwater, however that is altering. In recent times, some freshwater producers have been permitting the pearls to develop for longer, in keeping with progress intervals for saltwater, which improves the luster. This, after all, will increase the price of producing a pearl and, subsequently, the acquisition price.
As well as, saltwater oysters produce no a couple of or two pearls at a time. Freshwater mussels can produce as much as 50. Nonetheless, most producers restrict the variety of nuclei injected to lower than that. This quantity reduces additional if the pearl has an extended rising time.
Due to the rising time, saltwater is normally bigger than freshwater pearls. Freshwater pearls are normally between 6mm and 9mm in dimension, in opposition to the 8mm – 14mm of saltwater pearls. These days, although, now we have began to see freshwater pearls of comparable dimension to saltwater.
Saltwater pearls have a bead nucleus. This makes the pearl more likely to be spherical than freshwater. Freshwater pearls have a nucleus fabricated from a tiny flake of mom of pearl. This implies the pearls might be any form, from completely spherical to baroque (misshapen), relying on how the mussel host reacts.
Shopping for Pearls

Due to the restricted availability and longer harvest occasions, pure saltwater pearls shall be way more costly than another pearl available on the market. That is additionally, partially, because of the rarity of pure saltwater pearls.
As talked about above, freshwater pearls have a a lot thicker nacre and are way more resilient to knocks or contact carrying. Saltwater pearls harm simply and don’t go well with on a regular basis jewellery. When strung, saltwater pearls require wiping with a humid fabric after every use, as even pure oils out of your physique will harm the skinny nacre. Freshwater pearls want the identical care however will final for much longer if cared for correctly.
You’ll be able to anticipate to pay very completely different costs for pearls moreover the place they got here from. Measurement, roundness, and luster are all elements that dictate the worth. Completely spherical pearls, for instance, are very uncommon and really costly.
The Rareness of Pearls Chart
So as of rareness, here’s a record of the 4 forms of pearls:
- Cultured Freshwater Pearls. These are commonplace and very inexpensive.
- Cultured Saltwater Pearls. These pearls are commonplace and inexpensive however might typically be a bit of dearer as a result of they’re rarer and more durable to acquire.
- Pure Freshwater Pearls. These are the most well-liked pearls available on the market. They price many occasions greater than cultured pearls and are additionally thought of uncommon.
- Pure Saltwater Pearls. These pearls are virtually unimaginable to seek out. They’re extraordinarily uncommon and are thought of funding collector’s gadgets. Nearly all of the pure saltwater pearls in circulation are over 100 years previous.
How A lot Do Pure Saltwater Pearls Value?

Pure Saltwater Pearls are very uncommon and are, subsequently, very costly. A pair of real and authorized Pure Saltwater Pearls with fine condition and luster can fetch tons of of {dollars} and typically even tens of millions of {dollars}.
This simply locations Pure Saltwater Pearls in our record of prime jewellery funding concepts.
For instance, the Pure Pearl and Diamond Tiara, Chaumet, 1920, price $3.6m.
Our Assortment of Pure Saltwater Pearls

We’ve been amassing the rarest sort of pearls since 1980, and we’ve constructed up a group.
If you’re a collector, please be happy to contact us and request an inventory of our pure saltwater pearl jewellery.
Listed here are a couple of of the uncommon pearl jewellery items in our assortment.
Vintage Pearl and Diamond Earrings

Merchandise Quantity: SM225
These vintage earrings function tremendous pure saltwater pearls within the heart and are adorned by a double halo of diamonds. The pearls are accompanied by SSEF Documentation certifying their credentials.
Van Cleef and Arpels Pearl Earrings

Merchandise Quantity: SM234
These uncommon Van Cleef and Arpels Earrings function pure saltwater pearls within the heart and showcase a floral motif yellow-gold setting. Accompanied by SSEF documentation. Handcrafted by Van Cleef and Arpels circa 1970.
Chaumet Pure Saltwater Pearl Earrings

Merchandise Quantity: SM275
A really uncommon pair of Chaumet Earrings displaying pure saltwater drop pearls beneath a scroll-motif setting of platinum and diamonds. Accompanied by SSEF numbers and documentation. Circa 1950.
“Salt and Pepper” Pure Saltwater Earrings

Merchandise Quantity: 11031
A really tremendous pair of “salt and pepper” pure saltwater pearl earrings framed by a floral motif association of diamonds. The pure pearls are licensed by the SSEF.

In case you have any questions on saltwater pure pearls, please be happy to ship us a message.
You can too contact us to buy or supply saltwater pure pearls.