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Friday, August 5, 2011

The BIRTHDAY COLLECTION -- Alternant Stone for October !




SOLD In addition to being considered elegant, this 20 inch necklace is also


dainty and very lightweight. Glowing Opal Czech Crystals, along with


Light Rose Czech Crystals and Freshwater Cultured Pearls paired with Silver


accents compose this October Opal Birthstone necklace.



A Dragonfly Toggle clasp completes the necklace.


Silver plated French Hook earrings with a 1 3/4 inch drop complete the set.


Freshwater Cultured Pearls are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan and the United States on a limited scale, but are now almost exclusive to China. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires that freshwater pearls be referred to as "freshwater cultured pearls" in commerce. Although the Japanese freshwater pearl industry has nearly ceased to exist, it holds special historic value as the first country to cultivate whole freshwater pearls in Lake Biwa, using the Biwa pearly mussel. The industry attempted a comeback with a mussel hybrid in Lake Kasumigaura in the last decade, but this venture also met with failure, with production ceasing in 2006. The pearl farm in Tennessee also holds special historic value as it is the only freshwater pearl outside of Asia, it continues as a tourist attraction. Today China is the only commercial producer of freshwater pearls, producing 1500 tons using a triangle shell mussel and several hybrids that have shown heterosis from several mussel species.

Czech Crystals are also used in this set.