Kasumiga Pearls and Biwa Pearls

Kasumiga and Biwa pearls are two types of pearls cultured in the freshwater lakes in Japan.

Kasumiga pearls are a new type of pearl harvested from the Kasumigara lake just north of Tokyo. These pearls are obtained from a mussel, which is a crossbreed between Japanese and Chinese freshwater mussels. Seeds inserted into mussel are mostly round or flat.

These pearls are large because the nucleus inserted is large. Kasumiga pearls have very unusual colors from purple to pink, and white to golden. Kasumiga is trademarked name, but these pearls are also called Kasumi pearls.

Biwa pearls are cultured in the Biwa Lake near Kyoto, Japan using freshwater mussels. They don’t have any regular shape, but they have very good color and luster. While culturing pearls, small, square Mother of Pearls are inserted instead of a seed. Biwa Lake is the largest and most ancient lake in Japan. Biwa Lake, actually, is the first site for culturing fresh water pearls.

The phrase, “Biwa pearls,” was once used to refer to all freshwater pearls. Biwa pearls a good reputation of high quality. Many times dealers use this term to impress buyers. Over harvesting and pollution caused extinction of these mussels. The production of these pearls is nearly standstill.