Pearl Beads

Frequently asked questions

• Are these pearls real?

  Yes — every pearl in our catalog is a real freshwater pearl, produced by a freshwater mussel through the natural process of depositing nacre (calcium carbonate aragonite plus the protein conchiolin) in layers around a seed graft. Nearly all freshwater pearls in the global bead trade are cultured, meaning the mussels are tended on pearl farms and seeded with a mantle-tissue graft to initiate the process. Cultured pearls are real pearls — the nacre, the chemistry, and the luster are the same as the rare natural article. The cultured-vs-natural distinction matters for collectors of antique jewelry; in the bead trade, cultured is the default.
• Are pearls dyed?

  Often, yes. The natural color range of freshwater pearls is narrow: cream, soft white, soft pink, soft peach, soft lavender, and occasional natural gray. Most white pearls are also bleached as a standard processing step. Saturated colors — peacock, copper, chocolate, vivid pink, vivid purple, true black — are produced by dye. The dye is generally stable under normal wear but pearls are more sensitive than mineral varieties to perfume, harsh chemicals, and prolonged sun exposure. Treatment should be disclosed — ask before buying if a strand doesn't specify.
• What's the difference between rice, potato, keshi, and baroque pearls?

  Shape vocabulary is the buying axis for pearls. Rice pearls are elongated ovals, narrower at the ends; potato pearls are small irregular shapes used as budget-friendly workhorses; keshi pearls are seedless free-form pearls with the highest nacre-to-volume ratio and intense luster; baroque pearls are large free-form shapes used as focal beads. Round is the premium shape; everything else trades nacre coverage and price-per-millimeter against the irregularity of the form. Each shape has a distinct visual register — designers shop pearls by shape first, then color, then size.
• How durable are pearls for daily wear?

  Pearls are Mohs 2.5–4.5 — the softest material in our catalog. They are wearable for everyday jewelry with appropriate care: wipe with a soft damp cloth after wear, store separately from harder beads to avoid scratching the nacre, and avoid contact with perfume, hairspray, household cleaners, ultrasonic and steam cleaning, and prolonged sun exposure. For strung necklaces and bracelets, knot between pearls so they don't wear at the drill holes from rubbing against each other.
• What sizes does Dakota carry?

  Pearl sizes are given as ranges — pearls are organic and no two are identical, so a strand is graded to a tolerance rather than to a single measurement. Our active inventory spans roughly 4–5mm through 9–10mm, with 7–8mm and 8–9mm representing the largest portion of the catalog. Full size and shape availability is filterable in the grid above; designers replenishing an existing design can confirm exact strand specifications on each listing.