Smart people will stock up on fantastic freshwater pearls such as the above, now, before the public learns the truth and they become in (deservedly) high demand at equal to higher prices than sea pearls. Intrinsically, freshwater pearls are the best cultured pearls in the world because they are solid nacre.
I don’t care what the mystique is on the sea pearls, they are ultimately beads, beads skillfully dipped into oysters. Then the resultant nacre-covered beads are subjected to a hype almost as profound as that of diamonds. I do not object to the mystique- it helps raise the price and it takes real skills to get the nacre on the beads- unlike digging for diamonds.
BUT, I think the real mystique should be around the solid nacre pearls!
The best of the FW pearls are BETTER than the best of their oyster-dipped buddies in the very qualities that give pearls value. It also seems that the Chinese are getting better at growing best quality FW every year. So FW pearls will remain a great opportunity for average folks to get some great pearls.
Will someone email the correct answer to me?
Caitlin
PS Is not the "The Book of the Pearl" chock full of pictures of royalty and nobility wearing freshwater pearls? They used to be equally valued, right?