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A freshwater pearl is one of the few gems you can wear on a Tuesday morning and to a wedding the same week. It has a soft, living glow, and no two are alike. It is also the most misunderstood pearl on the market. People ask if freshwater pearls are "real," why they cost less than Akoya, and whether a pearl that isn't perfectly round is somehow a lesser one. This guide answers those questions plainly. It also covers something most pearl guides skip: how to care for pearls set in sterling silver, where the rules for the metal and the rules for the pearl pull in opposite directions. What are freshwater pearls? Freshwater pearls are genuine pearls grown inside freshwater mussels, usually in lakes and ponds. Most are cultured: a farmer inserts a small piece of mantle tissue into the mussel, and the mussel coats it, layer by layer, with nacre, the same iridescent material that lines its shell. Because most freshwater pearls grow without a bead nucleus, they are typically made of nacre almost all the way through. That nacre is what makes a pearl a pearl. It gives the surface its depth, its soft reflections and its faint play of color. Natural, cultured, imitation: the three words that matter The jewelry trade uses these terms precisely, and knowing them protects you as a buyer. Natural pearl: formed entirely without human involvement. Extremely rare today and priced accordingly. Cultured pearl: a real pearl grown by a living mollusk, with a person starting the process. Almost every freshwater pearl in jewelry belongs here. Imitation, simulated or faux pearl: not a pearl at all. Usually glass, shell or plastic with a pearly coating. International trade guidelines ask sellers to use the word "cultured" for any pearl that was farmed. So if you see "natural freshwater pearl" on an everyday piece, it is worth asking the seller what they mean. Usually the intent is "real, not imitation," which is a different claim. Are freshwater pearls real? Yes. A freshwater pearl is organic, it grew inside a living mollusk, and it is made of genuine nacre. The lower price compared with saltwater pearls reflects how they are farmed, not what they are: a single freshwater mussel can produce many pearls at once, while a saltwater oyster usually produces one or two. In other words, choosing freshwater over Akoya is a choice about look and budget, not about authenticity. Freshwater vs. saltwater pearls The four pearl types you will meet most often differ in the animal that grows them, their typical look and their price. Type Grown in Typical look Character Freshwater Freshwater mussels Round to baroque; white, pink, peach, lavender Most varied shapes, soft glow, accessible Akoya Saltwater oysters Small, round, white with bright luster The classic "grandmother's strand" Tahitian Black-lip oysters Dark grey, green, peacock tones Moody and dramatic South Sea Large saltwater oysters Large, white or golden Rare and the most expensive Freshwater pearls give you the widest range of shapes. That makes them the natural choice for contemporary design, where a pearl is often the sculptural center of a piece rather than one bead among a hundred. How to judge quality: five things to look at Grading letters such as AA or AAA look official, but there is no single standard behind them. Every seller uses their own scale. Your eyes are a better guide. Here is what to look for. Luster Luster is how light reflects on and from within the pearl, and it matters more than anything else. A good pearl looks lit from the inside, and you can see soft, fairly crisp reflections on its surface. A chalky or flat look is the sign of low luster. If you only judge one thing, judge this. Surface Almost every pearl has small marks: tiny dimples, rings or spots. That's normal and proof it grew in a living animal. What you want is a surface where the marks don't distract from the glow at a normal viewing distance. Shape Perfectly round freshwater pearls are rare, so they cost more. Most are off-round, oval, drop-shaped, button-shaped or baroque (freely irregular). Shape is a matter of taste, not a measure of worth on its own. A well-formed baroque pearl with great luster is more beautiful than a dull round one. Size Pearls are measured in millimeters across. Small pearls read as delicate and quiet. Larger ones become the focal point of a piece. For everyday wear, think about scale in relation to your frame and neckline rather than simply "bigger is better." Color Freshwater pearls grow naturally in white, cream, pink, peach and lavender, often with a subtle overtone that shifts in the light. Very saturated or unusual colors can be dyed. Dyeing isn't a problem if it's disclosed, but it's fair to ask. Why baroque pearls feel so modern For a long time, the ideal pearl was a perfect sphere, strung in a uniform row. Today many designers, MUR among them, choose the opposite: pearls that are irregular, sculptural and unmistakably individual. A baroque pearl has a presence that a round one doesn't. It catches the light differently on every curve. It looks at home next to raw textures and clean silver lines. And because no two are alike, the piece you wear is genuinely yours. A figured pearl set as a single ring or a mono earring turns a classic material into something personal and current. How to tell real pearls from imitations No home test is conclusive, but together these give you a good sense: The tooth test. Rub the pearl gently along the edge of your front teeth. Real pearls feel slightly gritty; imitations feel glassy and smooth. Look for variation. Real pearls in the same piece differ slightly in shape, size and surface. Perfect uniformity suggests a machine-made bead. Check the luster. Real nacre has depth. Imitation coatings tend to look flat, glossy or plastic, and they can chip or peel at the drill hole. Feel the temperature. Real pearls feel cool against the skin at first, then warm up. One test to avoid: dropping vinegar on a pearl. It does reveal calcium carbonate, but it does so by damaging the surface. If authenticity matters for a valuable piece, a gemological laboratory can confirm it without harm. How to wear freshwater pearls now Pearls have lost their formality. The way they are worn today is closer to how you'd wear a favorite silver chain: often, casually, and in combination. As a single statement. One sculptural pearl on a fine chain, like the teardrop Pendant Yoni, works over a white shirt, a knit or bare skin. Layered with silver. Pair a pearl pendant with a plain or textured chain of a different length. Cool silver sharpens the pearl's softness. Browse MUR chains to build a stack. Asymmetric earrings. A single pearl earring, or a pair where each side differs, like Earrings Pearl Moon Symmetry, feels modern without trying. With symbols. Pearls combine naturally with celestial motifs; the Moonlight Collection pairs both. A useful rule: let one piece lead. If the pearl is large and sculptural, keep everything around it simple. Caring for pearls set in sterling silver Pearls are organic and far softer than any metal. They dislike acids, heat, dryness and abrasion. Sterling silver, on the other hand, slowly darkens through contact with air and moisture and is usually brightened with a polishing cloth or cleaning dip. Put the two in one piece of jewelry and you need a routine that respects both. The one mistake that ruins silver-and-pearl jewelry Never put a pearl piece into a silver cleaning dip, paste or ultrasonic cleaner, and never rub the pearl with a silver polishing cloth. Silver cleaners are chemically aggressive and polishing cloths are impregnated with mild abrasives. Both can strip a pearl's luster permanently. If the silver needs brightening, polish only the metal, carefully working around the pearl. A simple routine Last on, first off. Put jewelry on after perfume, lotion, sunscreen and hairspray have dried. Take it off before showering, swimming, exercising and sleeping. Wipe after wearing. Use a soft, dry cloth to remove skin oils from both pearl and metal. Keep it dry. Don't soak pearl jewelry. If it gets wet, pat it dry and let it air-dry fully before storing. Store separately. Keep each piece in its own soft pouch or box so harder jewelry can't scratch the pearl. Avoid heat and harsh sun. Don't leave pearls on a sunny windowsill or near a radiator, where they can dry out. Wear them. Pearls kept locked away in a dry drawer tend to lose their glow faster than pearls that are worn and cared for. Some gentle darkening of silver over time is normal and easy to lift. Plated finishes, used on many silver pieces for extra protection, also wear gradually with use, depending on skin chemistry and exposure to water and cosmetics. Freshwater pearls at MUR MUR's Pearl Collection is built around one idea: that a pearl is most beautiful when it is allowed to be itself. Each piece pairs genuine freshwater pearls with 925 sterling silver and is handcrafted in small batches in partner workshops in Bali and Japan. Because every pearl is grown by a living animal, each one varies slightly in shape, size and surface texture from the piece you see in the photographs. That variation is the point: it means no one else wears exactly the same pearl. Every order arrives in MUR's signature box, ready to give or to keep. Delivery across Europe usually takes 3 to 7 business days after dispatch, with free shipping on orders over €200. If you have a specific idea in mind, a shape, a length, a combination of pearl and symbol, you can also create a custom piece with the MUR studio. Explore the Pearl Collection → Frequently asked questions Are freshwater pearls real pearls? Yes. They grow inside living freshwater mussels and are made of genuine nacre. Almost all are cultured, which means a person started the process, but the pearl itself is entirely real. Can I wear freshwater pearls every day? Yes, with a little care. Put them on last, take them off before water and sport, and wipe them after wearing. Pendants and earrings are the easiest pearl pieces for daily wear, since they're less exposed to knocks than rings. Can I shower or swim with pearl jewelry? It's best not to. Water, chlorine and shower products can dull the pearl's surface and wear down plated finishes on the metal. Do freshwater pearls lose their shine? Not if they are cared for. Luster fades mainly through contact with cosmetics, acids and abrasion, or from being stored somewhere very hot and dry. How do I clean a pearl pendant set in sterling silver? Wipe the whole piece with a soft, dry cloth. If the silver has darkened, polish only the metal with a silver cloth, keeping it away from the pearl. Never use silver dips or ultrasonic cleaners on pearl jewelry. Why doesn't my pearl look exactly like the photo? Because it's real. Each pearl grows differently, so shape, size and surface vary a little from piece to piece. That individuality is part of what makes freshwater pearls special.