The Types of Cultured Pearls

There are four commonly recognized types of pearls: freshwater pearls, Akoya saltwater pearls, Tahitian pearls and South Sea pearls. Some jewelers refer to Tahitian pearls as South Sea Tahitian pearls. Each type of pearl is produced by a different species of mollusk, and each mollusk lives in a different region on earth under very specific climatic conditions.

 Each type of pearl has its own market value due to the supply and demand relationship. South Sea and Tahitian pearls are the most costly to be cultivated, they are rare, therefore, their values are high. Akoya pearls are relatively easy and less expensive to cultivate, the production volume is higher, and the value of Akoya pearls is lower than South Sea and Tahitian pearls.

 Due to the large over production of freshwater pearls by Chinese farms, Freshwater pearls are the most inexpensive and affordable cultured pearls among all its cultured pearl family.