Pearls are produced when mollusks secrete nacre to coat an irritant inside their shells. Pearls grow bigger and faster in salt water, but have a more unique appearance in fresh water. Which is better is a matter of personal opinion.
Cultivation
Salt water pearls begin with a small piece of shell called a nucleus, which cultivators place inside an oyster. Over time, the oyster secretes nacre to cover the shell, making it smooth and reducing the irritation. Freshwater pearls start with a soft nucleus inside a freshwater mussel, and thus contain more actual pearl than salt water pearls do.
Appearance
Salt water pearls tend to be round and white. Fresh water pearls are much more varied in color and shape. They can be round, but often have a more oval or cylindrical shape and a textured surface. Pearl cultivators can also alter the color of fresh water pearls more easily than salt water pearls, and as a result fresh water pearls come in various shades, including yellow and pink.
Size
Fresh water pearls are generally smaller than salt water pearls. New cultivation methods have increased the size of fresh water pearls, but they take longer to grow than salt water pearls: 3 to 6 years, versus 2 to 3.
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