Culturing
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.
How to tell if freshwater pearls are real
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:
Temperature: Genuine pearls are instantly cool to the touch before they warm up to your skin. Fake pearls, on the other hand, tend to be room temperature or take a long time to warm up against your skin.
Uniqueness: Each genuine pearl is unique and will have its own indentations. A string of identical pearls is likely fake.
Colour: Genuine pearls have a depth of colour. Uniform colours indicate fake pearls.
Texture: Rub the pearls together gently. A gritty texture is a sign of genuine pearls.
Freshwater pearl colours
Pandora’s freshwater cultured pearls are treated through bleaching or dyeing to enhance or change the colour. Once harvested, white pearls are bleached, while coloured ones are dyed. Both types undergo a lustre-enhancing treatment.
The most classic pearl colour is white or ivory, but thanks to dyeing technology, we can wear pearls in an array of lustrous colours. Some pearls also display an iridescent colour phenomenon known as “orient.”
Our treated freshwater pearl jewellery
Searching for statement or everyday pearl pieces? Pandora treated freshwater pearl jewellery is here to take your looks to the next level.
As the birthstone for June, pearls also make a fitting birthday gift for friends or family.
Pearl necklaces
We love the look of Pandora pearl necklaces, whether you choose sterling silver or 14k gold-plated styles.
Pearl bracelets
Find thoughtfully designed pieces that speak to your individual style, from bangles with pearl charms to pearl chain bracelets.
Pearl earrings
A simple pair of pearl hoop earrings are the perfect finishing touch for any occasion. Style your way for a look as unique as you are.
Keep your Pandora perfect
Keep your Pandora collection as sparkly as you are! Discover how to clean your jewellery and give it the care it deserves.
Discover our other materials
The look
Although not many know this, mother of pearl can be virtually any colour, often light in tone, with pearly lustre and often an iridescent effect.
Processing
After the mother of pearl is cut from the shell of the oyster, it's sometimes bleached to produce a uniform white colour or dyed a range of attractive colours. A light polishing is applied to accentuate the pearlescent effect. Mother of pearl is often cut into fancy shapes for jewellery use. The shaping can either be done by hand in traditional manner or achieved using modern laser cutting technology (CNC). In ancient times, mother of pearl was also used for mosaics, created with tiny pieces of the luminous gem.
Durability
Mother of pearl has a hardness of 3.5-4.0 on the Mohs scale. With fair toughness, it's reasonably durable, but it's particularly susceptible to attack by acids and damage from ultrasonic cleaning and is sensitive to solvents.
How to care for it?
Rough surfaces may cause scratching or chipping. Jewellery should be stored separately in a protective box or pouch. Direct sunlight and drier climates may dry out mother of pearl and create cracks. Wearing mother of pearl is one of the best ways of caring for it, as contact with natural skin oils help maintain the lustre of the gem. Clean using a soft cloth dampened in lukewarm, soapy water and wipe the surface gently.
Keep your Pandora perfect
Keep your Pandora collection as sparkly as you are! Discover how to clean your jewellery and give it the care it deserves.