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Freshwater Pearls come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are found in lakes and rivers around the world and tend to be less expensive than their saltwater cousins, which make them a popular choice among young and trendy folk. The quality of Freshwater pearls has been steadily improving since 1991, thanks to better cultivation techniques and a more widespread use of the sankaku mussel. At the end of 1992, semi-round Chinese freshwater pearls made their appearance on the market and now offer an attractive, lower priced alternative to the round akoya pearls.

The general term for any pearl cultivated in a lake, pond or river area is cultured freshwater pearl.
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Price Factors
The grading of freshwater pearls is more variable than that of saltwater pearls.  Nevertheless, there is agreement about certain value factors.  Freshwater pearls are generally valued according to the following criteria:

Luster
The higher and more even the luster, the greater the value. In high-quality freshwater pearls, there is an evenly distributed luster and a high contrast between the light and dark areas of the pearls.  When judging freshwater pearls for luster, examine them on a white background and be sure to roll them so you can see their entire surface area. It is important that your eye become sensitive to luster variations because luster is one of the most important determinants of value in pearls of all types.

Smoothness
Then smoother the pearl, the more valuable it is. Even though bumpy, wrinkled surfaces can lower the value of freshwater pearls, the bumps and wrinkles are not considered flaws.

Colour
Freshwater pearls come in a wide variety of body colours white, pink, orange, yellow, lavender, gray, bronze; some pearls are even bi-coloured.

Shape
Usually the more round a pearl is, the greater its value. Large high-quality, baroque shapes can command high prices and make distinctive jewelry pieces.
Since 1992, a lot of semi-round (off-round) and ovalish freshwater pearls have become available.  Often they are described as potato, corn and pea shapes. These pearls can be used to make impressive looking jewelry pieces that sell for moderate prices.

Weight
Freshwater pearl prices are generally quoted by weight or by the strand. The gram is probably the most common unit of weight used at the retail level, some dealers quote prices according to carat weight. The measurements of pearls are often listed along with their weight as an additional description and means of identification. The size of round freshwater pearl may be expressed by their diameter, measured in millimeters.