Pearl jewely - Freshwater and saltwater pearls may sometimes look quite similar, but they come from very different
sources.
Natural
freshwater pearls form in various species of freshwater mussels, family Unionidae, which live in
lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water. These freshwater pearl mussels occur not only in hotter climates, but also in colder more temperate areas such as Scotland: see the freshwater pearl mussel. However, most freshwater cultured pearls sold today come from China.
Saltwater pearls grow within pearl oysters, family Pteriidae, which live in oceans. Saltwater pearl oysters are usually cultivated in protected lagoons or volcanic atolls.
