Lesson17: Freshwater Nucleated Pearls
1. Overview
- Nucleated freshwater pearls are primarily categorized into “Freshwater AK” (淡水ak) and “Edison” (爱迪生). Freshwater AK pearls are smaller with a bright luster, resembling Akoya pearls, hence the name “Freshwater AK”. Edison pearls are larger and resemble South Sea pearls in size and color, often referred to as “pseudo-South Sea white” (赛澳白).
2. Freshwater AK Pearls
Origin:
The term “Freshwater AK” comes from common market terminology and is sometimes abbreviated to “AK Pearls.” Although the name resembles Japanese seawater Akoya pearls, they are different. Freshwater AK pearls were first developed in Zhejiang, China, by pioneering companies cultivating nucleated freshwater pearls. Since this type of pearl has no official scientific designation, the industry refers to them as “Freshwater AK” or “Freshwater AKOYA.” Unlike Japanese Akoya pearls, these pearls are cultivated using Hyriopsis cumingii (Triangle Shell Mussel) native to China.
Mollusk:
Freshwater AK pearls are produced by the Hyriopsis cumingii mussel, the same mussel used for cultivating Edison pearls.
Characteristics:
- Shape: Near-round to round.
- Size: 3mm to 9mm.
- Color: White, orange, and purple. White Freshwater AK pearls with a pink overtone are especially popular.
- Luster: The luster resembles Akoya pearls, but they lack the “mirror-like” effect of Akoya’s outer layer.
3. Edison Pearls
Introduction:
Edison pearls are produced using high-tech cultivation and innovative methods, developed over eight years. The inventor of Edison pearls held over 2,000 patents in his lifetime and believed pearls and diamonds were the only irreplaceable materials. To fulfill this legacy, the pearls were named “Edison Pearls.”
Origin:
Primarily cultivated in regions like Zhejiang, China.
Mollusk:
Edison pearls are also produced by the Hyriopsis cumingii mussel, which typically takes 2-3 years to yield these pearls.
Characteristics:
- Size: 10mm to 15mm, with some reaching up to 20mm.
- Shape: Mostly round or near-round.
- Luster: High-quality Edison pearls have a delicate, shiny white luster. However, due to their freshwater origin, the nacre layers tend to be looser, making them prone to surface defects and yellowing over time.
- Color: A wide variety of colors, including white, purple, gold, orange, cream, pink, and green. The purple variety is particularly unique, setting it apart from seawater pearls.
Market:
The most popular Edison pearls are white and purple varieties. Reasons for their popularity include:
- High-quality white Edison pearls can serve as substitutes for South Sea white pearls.
- Purple Edison pearls offer a rare, unmatched color highly sought after by collectors.