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.
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.
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 PearlParadise.com 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.
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.
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.
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