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Their
large size, limited culturing area, and extended growth period all
combine to make South Sea pearls the rarest of all pearl types. Found
in colors ranging from optic white to a deep, honey gold, these
pearls are prized by collectors and designers alike. The luster of
South Seas pearls, whether white or golden, is deep and velvety, rich
and luxurious. Only a small percentage of South Seas are spherical
and as such, full strands of matched pearls are even more rare.
Adding to their mystique is a colorful past, beginning at the end of
the 19th century. In the 1850's, the rough-and-tumble city of Broome,
on the northwest coast of Australia, fast became the commercial
center for South Sea pearls, despite its seedy reputation.
Large-scale commercial pearl culturing began in earnest during the
1950's and has grown steadily since. Today, Broome still dominates
the South Sea pearling industry and has become a beautiful, modern
city reflecting the high-tech nature of the business. |
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South Sea pearls are generally much larger than other
pearl types and have a unique luster quality. These factors make South Seas both
distinctive and valuable. All things being equal, South Sea pearls have a higher
value and command higher prices than all other types of pearls. As with other
saltwater oysters, the Pinctada maxima is bead-nucleated. However, the
growth period is approximately 3-6 years, unlike the Akoya pearls, which develop
in less than half that time. Being a delicate organism, this genus of oyster is
particularly susceptible to disease and stress, which is one reason why the
culturing area for South Seas pearls is quite limited. Attempts to expand
farming facilities has met with little success because the oysters do not thrive
outside their natural environment. Pinctada maxima oysters are
collected in the ocean, relocated to a designated holding area nearby, and are
carefully monitored while the pearls are developing. |
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| South Sea pearls can be found in the
range of 8mm to 20mm, with the average being 13mm. Although
extremely rare, some have been found between 20mm and 30mm. Only
10-30% of each harvest will be round or near-round, so those strands
carried by Netpearls.co.uk are truly a rare commodity. Baroque and
drop-shapes are often used in high-end designer jewelry to showcase
their unique shapes and luster. This also makes the South Sea pearls
available at a variety of price levels. Silver-lipped oysters
generally produce pearls in the white, silver, aqua and blue family
of overtones. The gold-lipped variety develop the cream, champagne,
vanilla, and deeper golden variety. Since the natural colors of
South Sea pearls are so rich and beautiful, after harvesting they
are merely washed and buffed to remove any residue and bring out
their natural glow. When an oyster is unsuccessful in producing a
full pearl, sometimes it will be used for mabe or blister pearls. |
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| The
majority of white South Sea peals are cultured along the northwest coast
of Australia. Pearls of the golden variety are also produced in the
Philippines and Indonesia, an area which is rapidly becoming the leader
in the finest golden South Seas. Although the majority of Pinctada
maxima in Australia are collected in the wild with hatchery-bred
oysters to supplement, in other areas the opposite is true. In both
cases, wild oysters are mixed with the hatchery stock to keep the supply
healthy and plentiful, and all sources are closely monitored by
government organizations to guarantee their well-being. The warm,
tropical waters that are home to the Pinctada maxima are in
large part the reason the South Sea pearls have a rich satin luster and
soft coloration. |
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| South
Sea pearls generally retain the highest value of all pearl types.
Because of their scarcity and unusually large size range, they command
much higher prices. Depending on the quality, shape, and size of a
Golden South Sea strand, those prices can be well up into the thousands
of dollars, with prices for the White South Seas going even higher. It
is quite common for the retail prices of high-quality, round South Sea
necklaces to be in the range of $100,000 to $300,000. The baroque shapes
are often used individually in unique jewelry pieces which can make them
more affordable while still showcasing their natural beauty. |
Go back to
our shop: South Sea Pearl Jewelry |
