I would recommend to eBayers that they consider Chinese fresh water pearls as an excellent bargain and should consider them over more expensive salt water pearls.  One thing is that the fresh water pearl is solid nacre rather than a shell bead covered with several layers of pearl nacre.  This is especially true since the Japanese have been harvesting their pearls earlier and earlier, thereby making the layers of nacre thinner and thinner.  With advancing technology, the Chinese have been making larger and rounder pearls, something that used to be hard to find.  This has had a depressing effect on the cultured pearl market as, when placed side by side, the Chinese pearls look better than most cultured pearls, especially when you factor in the price.  I have been promoting them to my clients as I see them only increasing in value as they increase in size and quality.  This obviously applies to natural color pearls and to the larger, round ones.  The smaller baroque shapes are quite effective in low end jewelry, but the real value lies in larger, white, pinkish or cream color pearls.