Five 10mm to 11mm Freshwater Pearls: Freshwater Pearls are created from mussels in fresh water areas such as lakes, streams; Saltwater Pearls come from oysters. There are a number of differences: Freshwater Pearls come in all sorts of shapes, Saltwater Pearls trend to be generally much more rounded in shape; Saltwater Pearls tend to have a crisper sheen on the surface than Freshwaters; Freshwater Pearls are somewhat tougher, harder than their Saltwater sisters. All these “differences” stem mainly from the different methods of insemination, in the different types of irritants inserted, around which the mollusc will create a protective barrier, the nacre which is the very substance of Pearl.
The biggest difference between the two is price: quite simply, the Freshwater mollusc can produce a number of Pearls in its life, where the oyster will produce but one. Saltwater Pearls are more rare than Freshwater Pearls; they are both Pearls, beautiful organic gemstones.