Lavender Dreams Pearl Necklace
£59.09
Pearl Halo Necklace
£92.76
Aqua Bloom Necklace
£240.12
Pearl Embrace Studs
£96.50
Freshwater pearl pieces from our collection
Walk into the pearl world and you're hit with a vocabulary test: freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea, baroque, keshi. All are real pearls — the differences come down to the mollusc, the water it lives in, and geography. Here's the map.
Freshwater pearls
Grown in mussels in lakes and ponds — today overwhelmingly farmed in China. One mussel can grow many pearls at once, which is why freshwater pearls offer the best value of any real pearl. They come in the widest range of shapes (round, oval, button, baroque) and natural pastel shades of white, pink and lavender. Modern freshwater quality has improved enormously — top grades now rival far more expensive types. This is what we use across our pearl collection: genuine cultured freshwater pearls.
Akoya pearls
The classic. Grown in small saltwater oysters, historically in Japan, Akoya pearls are known for near-perfect roundness and sharp, mirror-like lustre — the iconic white strand of vintage Hollywood. Sizes are modest (usually 6–9mm) and prices sit well above freshwater.
Tahitian pearls
The only pearls that are naturally dark — grown in the black-lipped oyster around French Polynesia, in shades of grey, green, aubergine and peacock. No dye involved. Distinctive and priced accordingly.
South Sea pearls
The giants — grown in large oysters in the waters of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines, in white and gold tones, commonly 10–15mm+. They're the rarest and most expensive category; a fine strand can cost as much as a car.
Baroque and keshi
These aren't types of water but of shape. Baroque pearls are irregular, organic, one-of-a-kind forms — long dismissed by tradition, now beloved by modern design precisely because no two are alike (you'll see them throughout our collection). Keshi pearls are small all-nacre pearls formed as accidental by-products of culturing — prized for their intense lustre.
Quick comparison
| Type | Water | Typical look | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | Lakes, ponds | Soft lustre, many shapes and pastels | £ |
| Akoya | Sea (Japan) | Round, bright white, mirror lustre | £££ |
| Tahitian | Sea (Polynesia) | Natural dark: grey, green, peacock | ££££ |
| South Sea | Sea (Australia, SE Asia) | Large, white or golden | £££££ |
Whichever type suits your style and budget, the care rules are the same: last on, first off, wiped with a soft cloth, stored away from heat and chemicals — and worn often, because pearls genuinely look their best with regular wear.