Pearl Information

Natural Pearls or Cultured Pearls

We have people call us quite often with the question "Are these natural or cultured pearls?”  Another often repeated and related question is "Are these freshwater or cultured pearls?” 
 
The answer is to educate our customers.  The most simplistic answer is:
 
"All pearls online or at your local jeweler, no matter what type, are cultured."
 
Natural pearls have not been commercially harvested since the early 1900's and are bought as heirlooms or collectors' items.  They are not available in quantity and are only sold in private sales or estate auctions.
 
A cultured pearl is defined as a pearl whose formation is instigated via human intervention.  This is true even if the instigation is accidental, or with just a piece of mantel tissue, or bead nucleated.  Freshwater pearls, saltwater akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls, South Sea pearls, Cortez pearls, etc... are all cultured pearls.
 
You can find out more on our Pearl Information Guide.

posted by The Pearl Hunter @ 9:45 AM