Why Freshwater Pearls are Less Expensive?

A freshwater pearl sold by Amazon

A friend of mine from China offered me whether I would like to buy freshwater pearls when she traveled to China for family vacation.

What? Pearl?

I never imagine to have expensive jewelry let’s say thousands dollar worth, and a pearl is not my favorite.

She said the price less than a dollar only in China, very cheap for a real pearl. Both freshwater and oceanic pearls are real, natural pearls produced by a kind of clams or oysters.

I check to Amazon, yes, the lowest freshwater pearl cost US$ 8 only, very cheap. The prices are range from US$ 50 to US$ 2,000. 

Saltwater or Sea water pearls could range from US$ 500 to US$ 100,000, depend very much on many factors.

Pearl colors (credit to Alibaba)

What factors decide pearl price? Some of them are:

- colors

- shape and size

- origin (from what oceans)

- whether come from cultured or wild oysters or clams or mussels

Several well know colors for both freshwater and saltwater pearls are:

- golden yellow

- purple

- black

- white

- chocolate

- pink

- silver gray

- cream

Three famous origin of pearls are from:

- South sea pearls, price from US$ 1,000 to US$ 100,000

- Tahitian pearls, price from US$ 500 to US$ 25,000.

- Japanese pearls, cost from US$ 300 to US$ 10,000.

Then, Why Freshwater Pearls are Less Expensive? It is because freshwater mussels could produce 30 pearls, while sea water oysters produce 1 pearl only at once.

Do you interest to have pearls? Freshwater or saltwater pearls?