VERMEIL (GOLD-PLATED STERLING SILVER) FRESHWATER CULTURED PEARL NECKLACE SIZE: 16 in. METAL: Vermeil GENDER: Ladies FEATURES: Freshwater cultured pearls set at stations supported by a designer style Gold chain terminating in a lobster claw clasp. CONDITION: Good TOTAL WEIGHT: 8.9 GR. FRESHWATER CULTURED PEARLS Freshwater Cultured Pearls are farmed in freshwater lakes and grown in mussels. In China, most pearl farms use the indigenous Hyriopsis Cumingii mussel. The irritants and the mussels used in making freshwater pearls are smaller than all of the saltwater pearl oysters. Freshwater pearl cultivating techniques can produce multiple pearls in one mussel. Freshwater pearls take from at least 3 years to as long as 6 years before they are ready for harvest. Freshwater pearls can be found in almost any shape. By adding very small quantities of additives into the water on a pearl farm, the color of freshwater pearls can be manipulated to almost any color of the rainbow including black. Freshwater pearls are almost seedless, because they are tissue nucleated, using a piece of mantle tissue only, without a bead. The pearl develops around the mantle tissue, which can over time degenerate, leaving a pearl that is compose almost entirely of nacre. CALIFORNIA BUYERS: 9 % SALES TAX WILL BE ADDED 2-5 DAY SHIPPING, INCLUDES INSURANCE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION OR SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION Please call us with any Inquiries: Continental Coin and Jewelry Company Web Department: Monday - Friday, from 10:30 am - 6 pm (818-781-4232) Reference Item # 080-2843