Freshwater pearls are produced by H. cumingi and other bivalve mussels that live in lakes, riverbeds and creek bottoms. At freshwater pearl farms, each mussel is surgically implanted with 24 to 32 tiny pieces of mantle tissue. Once the tissue has been inserted, a sac forms and cells begin secreting nacre. Over the course of 2 to 8 years, the mussels deposit layer after layer of nacre around the growing gems.

Shape: drop-shaped

Size: approx. 8.00-8.50 mm