Freshwater, Cultured or Glass Pearls: What Is the Difference?
"Freshwater" tells you where a pearl grows: inside a mussel in a river or lake. "Cultured" tells you how it started: a pearl farmer begins the process, and the mussel does the rest. Most freshwater pearls sold today are both. A glass pearl is made from glass with a soft, pearl-like lustre.
At DANSK Copenhagen, founded in Copenhagen in 1971, about 90% of the pearls in our jewellery are cultured freshwater pearls. The rest are glass pearls. Each product page shows which pearl is used.
- Are freshwater pearls real pearls? Yes. They are grown by a living mussel, layer by layer.
- Which pearls does DANSK Copenhagen use? About 90% cultured freshwater pearls, the rest glass.
- Can I shower with my pearl jewellery? Pearl designs on a 316L steel base are designed to be waterproof, so you can keep them on. Pearl designs in brass are fashion jewellery and should be kept away from water.
How Does a Pearl Form?
A pearl starts with something small, such as a grain of sand or a fragment of shell, inside a mussel or oyster. To protect itself, the animal coats it in layer after layer of nacre, the same lustrous material that lines its shell. Over months or years, those layers become a pearl.
Freshwater and Cultured: Not Opposites
The two words are often set against each other, but they answer different questions.
- Freshwater. The pearl grows in a mussel in a river, lake or pond.
- Saltwater. The pearl grows in an oyster in the sea.
- Cultured. A farmer places the starting point, and nature builds the pearl.
- Natural. The pearl forms entirely by chance. Natural pearls are very rare.
So a freshwater pearl is almost always a cultured pearl too. Because a living mussel shapes it, no two are quite the same. Expect soft variations in shape, size and lustre, from near-round to organic baroque forms.
What Are Glass Pearls?
A glass pearl is a glass bead with a pearl-like finish. It gives an even size, shape and colour, which makes it a good fit where a design calls for a clean, uniform look. Each product page shows whether a design uses freshwater pearls or glass pearls.
Freshwater Pearls and Glass Pearls at a Glance
| Freshwater pearl | Glass pearl | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | A living mussel | Glass with a pearl-like finish |
| Each one | Unique in shape and lustre | Even in size, shape and colour |
| Look | Organic, with natural variation | Clean and uniform |
| At DANSK Copenhagen | About 90% of our pearls | The rest |
New to pearls? Our simple guide to freshwater pearls covers the basics.
Pearls at DANSK Copenhagen
Malene Storm designs our jewellery and chooses freshwater pearls for their quiet individuality. A pearl that looks slightly different from the one beside it is not a flaw. It is what makes the design yours.
Most of our pearl designs are made on 316L stainless steel, with silver tones in natural steel and gold tones 18K ION plated. Some pearl designs are made in brass as fashion jewellery. Each product page states the material.
How to Care for Pearl Jewellery
Pearls are softer than most stones, so a little care keeps their lustre. Wipe them with a soft, dry cloth now and then. Let perfume and lotion dry before you put your jewellery on. Store pearls apart from harder jewellery so they don't get scratched. For brass designs, avoid water, perfume and lotion altogether.
Pearl FAQ
Are freshwater pearls real pearls?
Yes. Freshwater pearls are real pearls, grown layer by layer inside a living mussel. Almost all freshwater pearls sold today are cultured, which means a pearl farmer starts the process and the mussel builds the pearl.
What is the difference between freshwater and cultured pearls?
"Freshwater" describes where a pearl grows: in a mussel in a river or lake. "Cultured" describes how it started: a farmer places the starting point. The two are not opposites, and most freshwater pearls are cultured.
Does DANSK Copenhagen use real pearls?
Yes. About 90% of the pearls in DANSK Copenhagen jewellery are cultured freshwater pearls. The rest are glass pearls. Each product page shows which pearl is used.
Can I wear pearl jewellery in the shower?
Pearl designs on a 316L steel base are designed to be waterproof, so you can keep them on. To keep the lustre, wipe them with a soft cloth now and then. Pearl designs in brass are fashion jewellery and should be kept away from water. Each product page states the material.
Are pearls gemstones?
Pearls are organic gems, made by a living animal rather than formed as a crystal. They are softer than stones such as cubic zirconia. Read our guide to cubic zirconia, glass crystal and lab-grown diamonds to compare stones.
Explore our jewellery with freshwater pearls and find your new everyday favourite.
Made with Love. Designed to Last.