Freshwater pearls are found in rivers in Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, and the Mississippi River in the United States. They range in size from 3.0 to 7.0 mm in size, and are the least consistent in terms of size and shape. They are also the least expensive. Freshwater pearls are typically irregular in shape, round or oval to pear or button-shaped. The color ranges from white to cream, pale pink, silvery white or lavender.

Freshwater cultured pearls are cultivated in freshwater and grown in mussels. The irritant and the oyster used in making freshwater pearls is smaller; therefore, freshwater pearls are generally smaller in size as compared to other artificially grown pearls.