Freshwater pearls are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan and the United States on a limited scale, but are now almost exclusive to China The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires that freshwater pearls are referred to as "freshwater cultured pearls" in commerce.
Although the Japanese freshwater pearl industry has nearly ceased to exist, it does hold special historic value as the first country to cultiv...
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Freshwater pearls are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan and the United States on a limited scale, but are now almost exclusive to China The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires that freshwater pearls are referred to as "freshwater cultured pearls" in commerce.
Although the Japanese freshwater pearl industry has nearly ceased to exist, it does hold special historic value as the first country to cultivate whole freshwater pearls in Lake Biwa, utilizing the Biwa pearly mussel (Hyriopsis schlegeli). The industry attempted a come back with a mussel hybrid (Hyriopsis schlegeli/Hyriopsis cumingi) in Lake Kasumigaura in the last decade, but this venture also met with failure, with production ceasing in 2006. The pearl farm in Tennessee also holds special historic value as it is the only freshwater pearl outside of Asia, founded by the late John Latendresse, it continues as a tourist attraction. Today China is the only commercial producer of...
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