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Some people view the freshwater pearl as a relative newcomer to the scene; but, they have been enjoyed as long as saltwater pearls, probably longer. At least in certain cultures freshwater pearls have been sought after longer.
It is said that Julius Caesar invaded the
British Isles with the hope of obtaining pearls. These were most certainly freshwater pearls from . Within the Kings Crown part of the crown jewels are some 297 pearls.
has been appreciating pearls from its freshwater lakes and rivers for centuries. is now the largest producer of freshwater pearls in the world today. Some say that the Chinese were the first to artificially cultivate pearls when they would place small figures of the Buddha into a freshwater mussel while alive and let the mollusk coat the tiny Buddhas with nacre.
Most people would be surprised that the is the largest producer of the mother of pearl from the freshwater mussel that the Japanese have been using for years to nucleate their akoya pearls. It has only just recently been that various culturers have begun to experiment with nucleus from other sources. American Mussel shell is still the largest source of bead for nucleation.
Freshwater pearls are becoming as big a hit today as they were in centuries past. Freshwater pearls are also being grown with more and more exacting standards than ever before and are competing directly with saltwater akoya pearls for quality and beauty.
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