The pearls of the freshwater variety offer up a huge range of styles, colors, shapes and price points. it’s actually quite common to see them rival the visual beauty of much more expensive pearl varieties at price points.

Freshwater pearls, which often are compared to natural pearls as they’re composed of all solid nacre.

The only difference between the natural pearl and freshwater pearl is that human intervention is require to start the pearl production process, not to mention the significant savings and affordability that can also be found!

Today’s freshwater pearls are the least expensive variety but you would be hard pressed to make that assumption by visually examining a gem grade specimen. With a large array of colors, shapes and sizes you can be sure your investment lasts a life time with proper care.

Many people surprised to learn that very high quality freshwater pearls can often be purchased for a small percentage of what would typically be spent on Akoyas or South Seas.

In today’s beading market its typically to see lower quality Chinese freshwater pearls used instead of higher quality ones as the cost savings and added function offer a lot of incentive to beaders and at home jewelry makers.

For the added variety and value many beaders are using more and more lower end Chinese pearls in their works. Lower prices and increased variety has spurred on an entirely new market.

It really does come down to sales for businesses but its the consumer that has been reaping many of the rewards. Today there is a broad selection of colors, shapes, qualities and even prices. Added cost savings have allowed more and more women to enjoy the beauty of a fine pearl necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings.

Typical consumers that never considered themselves able to afford the luxury of pearls are often dumbfounded at the actual cost of some items and obviously very please with the fact that they now can afford to make that purchase.

Common shapes today include round, semi round, potato, coin, rice and many other varieties that are made into exquisite necklaces, earring and bracelets.

Most freshwater pearls found in today’s market are cultured freshwater pearls, however with the superior quality becoming more readily available day by day they will continue to hold and be the best value for dollar as time moves forward.

Nearly 100% of all the pearls used in the manufacturing of jewelry today are infact cultured. While this often seems to surprise people the fact remains that whether your looking at a Tahitian, South Sea, Akoya or Freshwater pearl their is a 99.99999% chance that it has been cultured with the help of human intervention, rather than being formed by chance within nature and then found by man.

Learn more about pearls. Check out Jessica Sampson’s favorite site where you can find out all about pearl earrings and what it can do for your look today.