Freshwater pearls are most commonly cultivated in man made lakes, ponds and reserviors in China. Composed of solid crystalline nacre, freshwater pearls are very durable and ideal for commercial jewelry use. The pearls are grown in the Hyropsis cumingii and Hyriopsis schlegeli freshwater pearls mussels for a period of 1-3 years, and the pearls are available in natural shades of white, pink, peach and lavender. Pearls may be round, off-round, drop and button shaped, oval-ish and heavily baroque or asymmetrical in shape, and range in size from 4.0-12.0mm.
See Also: Pearl, Nacre, Baroque Pearls, Akoya Pearls