Cultured Freshwater Pearls

Cultured Freshwater Pearls emerged as a revolutionary phenomenon in 1914 when pearl farmers began cultivating them using mussels native to Japan’s Lake Biwa, renowned for its pristine waters near Kyoto. Once celebrated as the epitome of beauty, pearls from Lake Biwa earned global acclaim, with ‘Biwa Pearls’ becoming synonymous with Freshwater Pearls.

However, pollution led to a sharp decline in Lake Biwa’s pearl production, prompting Japanese pearl farmers to innovate by cultivating hybrid pearl mussels in Lake Kasumigaura and exploring pearl farming in regions like Shanghai, China. Today, China stands as the world’s largest producer of Freshwater Pearls, generating over 1,500 metric tons annually.

Freshwater Pearls have sparked a major fashion craze, with enthusiasts mixing them with Akoya Pearls, layering them with Tahitian and South Sea Pearls, and experimenting with various lengths, colors, shapes, and sizes to create captivating jewelry ensembles.