Cultured pearls are pearls created as a result of manually placing nuclei within oysters or mussels which results in the coating of the irritants, by the mollusks, with secreted nacre to relieve the irritation. 

Cultured nucleated and non-nucleated Freshwater Pearls found their beginnings in China, America and the Lake Biwa region of Japan. Saltwater Akoya Pearls, now produced in China and Australia, originated in Japan.  The saltwater Cultured South Sea and Tahitian Black Pearls originates from oysters indigenous to the waters off Peru, Baja California, Australia, Panama, certain islands of Indonesia, Micronesia, the Philippines, Okinawa, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia including adjacent islands, to name a few. The New Zealand Paua (Mabe Blue Pearls) is produced by the indigenous NZ univalve shellfish found around the Pacific Rim. 

Multicolor looks, long versatile ropes and lariats, long dangling earrings, and Freshwater and South Sea baroques are displaying and receiving lots of attention. Contemporary pearl jewelry, and not just strands, in natural and enhanced colors, and irregular shapes are the fashion forward pearl pieces of our time. Try Freshwater cranberry, chocolate, lavender, black, pink, purple or a combination thereof, in multicolor pearl necklace. Wear a strand of Akoyas with a little black dress, skinny jeans, a high-quality T-shirt or your favorite pantsuit.  Combine South Sea pearls with a gown or a cocktail dress.  A ring with a solitary South Sea pearl or a pair of drop earrings is a bold accompaniment to a work outfit. A pair of Tahitian and diamond earrings will create a stunning effect against a black cocktail dress while a ring or pendant will add a sense of confidence and unique style to a neutral-colored suit or a pair of black pants and a white shirt.