Old Hollywood glamour? Sleek minimalism with a modern edge? Whatever aesthetic you're going for, pearls are your new best friend. From the simplicity of a single pearl drop earring to the extravagance of layered pearl necklaces, this material can do it all.

Our treated freshwater cultured pearl jewellery is here to add the finishing touch to your jewellery collection. From colours to care guidance, get clued up on all things pearls with our freshwater pearl jewellery guide.

Let's take a look at how natural freshwater pearls are made. When an irritant gets into the shell of the oyster or other mollusc, it begins to coat it with many layers of a pearly substance called nacre, eventually creating a lustrous pearl.

Unlike a natural pearl, a freshwater cultured pearl starts with human intervention. A skilled pearl technician gently inserts an irritant into the shell of a freshwater mussel. The mussels are then put into nets and submerged in the lakes surrounding the pearl farm.

The irritant in the shell grows to form a pearl sac in which the mother of pearl (nacre) is deposited layer upon layer until a pearl is formed. The longer the molluscs are left alone, the larger the pearl will grow. A freshwater mussel can create up to 50 cultured pearls at a time.

The term "cultured pearl" means genuine pearls produced with human assistance, as described above. There are two types of cultured pearls: freshwater and saltwater.

Freshwater pearls are harvested in lakes, rivers or ponds, while saltwater pearls come from the ocean. As saltwater pearls are more expensive, freshwater cultured pearls are great for everyday jewellery.

With technology advancing each year, it can be difficult to tell whether jewellery is made from real freshwater pearls or fake man-made beads. Here's how to tell if freshwater pearls are real: