Cultured Pearl Bracelet vs. Freshwater Pearl Bracelet... What’s the difference?

Pearls have been prized for their beauty and rarity for more than four thousand years. Pearl jewelry and cultured pearl bracelets were usually reserved for the very wealthy or the most deserving. Greek mythology proclaimed pearls to be tears of joy shed by the goddess Aphrodite. Ancient Egyptians associated pearls with Isis, the goddess of healing and life. The Romans and Egyptians prized pearls above all other gems. It is easy to imagine a freshwater pearl bracelet being worn by Roman women. In Elizabethan England, only royalty could wear them. It is said that Queen Elizabeth 1 would always wear 7 ropes of pearls that reached to her knees and had over three thousand pearl-embroidered dresses. Handmade white pearl bracelets were also worn by this inspirational queen.

Here’s an interesting fact: the pearl is the only gemstone which is grown inside of a living organism. Natural pearls are pearls formed by chance and very rare and valuable; however, their shape is usually irregular. Moreover, unlike gemstones, they don’t have to be cut and polished to reveal their natural beauty.

“Cultured Pearls” is a trade term still used today by many to describe Akoya pearls (saltwater pearls) which are highly prized for their roundness, small size and luster. If you are planning on purchasing true a Akoya, Tahitian or South Seas cultured pearl bracelet, be prepared for the high price tag and we suggest buying them from a reputable dealer who can give you a certificate of authenticity.

In order to keep up with demand - freshwater and saltwater pearls are “cultured” meaning – pearl farmers induce the creation of pearls by inserting a foreign object in a mollusk or oyster and wait several years to see the results. Any pearl that is grown and marketed today are considered cultured pearls. This is because these pearls would not exist without human intervention. Generally, the terms cultured pearl bracelets and freshwater pearl bracelets are used interchangeably by most people.

At Girlie Girls Jewelry Studio, our collection of handmade pearl bracelets are designed with creativity - many are one of a kind designs that are snatched-up quickly by sophisticated women looking to express their savvy sense of fashion. There is variety in the cultured – freshwater pearl bracelets designs to reflect the many women who wear them, and designing a pearl bracelet is fun, the hard part is deciding which pearls to choose...

There are so many types of pearls available – baroque, ovals, potatoes, button shapes, Keshi and Biwas. Then they come is so many colors... white, cream, greens, blues, pinks and they have even come up with chocolate tones! Then there is the option of combining them with the finest materials such as gemstone beads, sterling silver beads, Murano glass beads, lampwork glass beads, copper beads, the list goes on. We take pride in the craftsmanship of our freshwater pearl bracelets, in fact, we guarantee it; and our customers are satisfied with their jewelry purchases, read what they are saying.

Now it’s your turn to explore the many pages of handmade bracelets: start with the Handmade Directory page or go specifically to the Cultured Freshwater Bracelets page. You’ll be thrilled with all the handmade bracelets designs, choose your favorites, place your order and join an exclusive list of Girlie Girls jewelry owners, especially those with cultured pearl bracelets.

Pearls are truly a miracle of nature and we are thankful for the opportunity to have them in our designs.

Be a classy Girlie Girl...wear a white cultured pearl bracelet.