Today's Freshwater Pearls --- a Worthy Opponent of Saltwater Pearls

Today's Freshwater Pearls --- a Worthy Opponent of Saltwater Pearls
When you think of Freshwater pearls, what comes to mind? Do you envision a small, irregular shape?
That was pretty much the case years ago. For a long time, Freshwater pearl farms only produced low quality pearls, while Saltwater pearls were more round and of better quality.
But today, the Chinese have made advances in their cultivating methods that have allowed them to match the quality of Saltwater pearls. Many improvements have been seen in the cultivation and processing techniques of Freshwater pearls. With modern freshwater cultivation methods, Freshwater pearls today are of excellent quality - with outstanding body, shape, and luster which can be on equal footing with that of Saltwater Akoya pearls. Therefore, the least expensive cultured Freshwater pearl product on the market today rivals the quality of the most expensive natural pearls. This value is obvious to consumers wanting Chinese Freshwater bargains.
The once inferior Freshwater pearls are steadily becoming a strong opponent of Saltwater pearls.
Cultured Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes, ponds and are grown in mussels. The Freshwater pearl cultivating technique usually produces twenty or more pearls in one oyster. Recent research shows a Freshwater mollusk can create as many as 50 pearls at a time.
Saltwater Cultured Pearls are farmed in saltwater. The term "Akoya" is used internationally to signify Saltwater Pearls from Japan. Here's how it works: the Akoya mollusk is implanted with a round bead along with a small piece of mantle tissue which allows nacre to envelop around the bead. The number of beads that can be inserted into the mollusk. This limited creation makes Saltwater Pearls much more expensive than Freshwater pearls