Three strands of round white freshwater pearls in loose loops on ivory linen

White Freshwater Pearls

The pearl everyone pictures, and a classic for good reason. Shop white freshwater pearls chosen for clean surfaces, soft warmth, and the deep luster that separates a good pearl from a great one.

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Thickest nacre

Freshwater pearls have the thickest nacre (the glossy organic material from which pearls are made) of all pearls. This makes them the most durable pearls, and the best for wearing everyday.

About freshwater pearls

Grown in Zhuji, China

The freshwater pearl capital of the world. Our partner farms are family-run operations we visit and buy from directly.

About our sourcing

Hand-knotted on PE fiber

Pearls knotted on silk need to be re-strung every 2-3 years. PE fiber looks like silk but lasts for decades.

About white freshwater pearls

White is the pearl everyone pictures, and white freshwater pearls are how most people can afford a real one. The pearls in this collection are white with a soft rosé overtone, the faint pink glow that shows when the pearl turns, in three sizes: 3.5–4 mm for a fine, delicate strand, 7.5–8 mm for the classic single strand, and 10.5–11 mm for a bold statement piece. All are solid nacre, hand-knotted between every pearl, and graded by hand.

White freshwater versus white akoya

Akoya pearls, the small bright white Japanese saltwater pearls, are the traditional luxury white. They are grown over a shell bead with a thin nacre coating, top out around 9 mm, and a 7.5 mm strand starts around $600 and runs into the thousands. White freshwater pearls are solid nacre with no bead, grow to 11 mm and beyond, and a 7.5–8 mm High Grade strand is $135 here. Akoya pearls on average have a sharper, more mirror-like luster; our Gem Grade freshwater pearls are selected for exactly that quality and come close. The full comparison is in the freshwater vs akoya guide.

Choosing a size

The 3.5–4 mm strand, from $60, is the fine, layerable necklace that disappears against the skin and works at any age. The 7.5–8 mm strand, from $135, is the size most people mean by "a pearl necklace", right for the collarbone and for a bracelet. The 10.5–11 mm strand, from $385, is the size that gets noticed across a room; a decade ago freshwater pearls this large were rare, and they still cost a fraction of saltwater pearls the same size. The pearl sizing guide shows all three on a neck.

Grading white pearls

Because white pearls have no color to distract from the surface, grading matters most here. High Grade pearls are near-round with a soft satin luster and only faint natural marks. Gem Grade pearls are perfectly round with a sharp reflection and clean surfaces, the top of each harvest. The difference is visible side by side and explained with photographs on the grading page. Other natural colors, and how they relate to white, are in the pearl colors guide.

White pearls: your questions answered

Are white freshwater pearls real pearls?

Yes. White freshwater pearls are real cultured pearls grown in freshwater mussels. They are solid nacre from the surface to the center, with no bead inside, which is why they can be worn daily without a coating wearing through. The rosé overtone on ours is a natural optical effect of the nacre, not a treatment.

What is the difference between white freshwater and white akoya pearls?

Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls grown over a shell bead with a thin nacre layer; they have a very sharp luster, stay under 9 mm, and start around $600 a strand. White freshwater pearls are solid nacre, grow to 11 mm and beyond, and a 7.5–8 mm hand-knotted High Grade strand is $135. Freshwater luster varies more, which is why grading matters; Gem Grade freshwater pearls approach akoya brightness.

Are black pearls more expensive than white pearls?

Natural black pearls, meaning Tahitian pearls, cost far more than white freshwater pearls; a Tahitian strand starts in the thousands. Dyed black freshwater pearls, which are most of the black pearls sold under $300, cost about the same as white freshwater pearls. White freshwater pearls are the value choice for a real, untreated pearl.

What size white pearl necklace should I buy?

For a fine everyday strand or for layering, 3.5–4 mm (from $60). For the classic single strand that suits most necklines and occasions, 7.5–8 mm (from $135). For a statement piece that reads from a distance, 10.5–11 mm (from $385). Most first-time buyers choose 7.5–8 mm.

Do white pearls yellow with age?

Well-cared-for white freshwater pearls keep their color for decades. Yellowing comes from dry storage, heat, sunlight and absorbed cosmetics. Keep pearls out of sealed bags and safes with desiccant, put them on after perfume and make-up, wipe them after wearing, and they stay white; the pearl care guide has the full routine.