South Sea Pearl Rings
A South Sea pearl on a hand is about as much presence as jewelry gets. White from Australia, natural gold from the Philippines, each one chosen for its setting and the ring built around it at our bench in Los Angeles. Nothing here is made in advance.
Choosing a South Sea ring
Four things decide how a ring wears and what it costs.
Pearl size
Rings run 9 to 13 mm. On a hand that is a lot of pearl, and it reads larger than the same size would on a neck. 10 to 11 mm is already substantial. 12 mm and up is a ring people will comment on. We hold loose pearls as large as 18 mm, so if you want something larger built for you, ask.
Color
White from the silver-lipped oyster, natural gold from the gold-lipped, both the pearl's own color. A ring sits at arm's length in daylight, which is exactly where color and luster get examined most closely.
Metal
14K white or yellow gold, solid throughout. White gold keeps a white pearl crisp and cool. Yellow gold is the natural partner for a golden pearl. Any diamonds are natural.
Ring size
Most designs are offered from 5 to 8.5. Have the finger measured at a jeweler if you are not sure. A pearl ring is harder to resize later than a plain band, so it is worth getting right the first time.
Before you buy
Is the golden color natural?
Yes, and it is the question to ask anyone selling golden pearls. The gold-lipped oyster produces the color itself and we do not sell treated golden South Sea. Treated gold is common in the trade and tends to look uniform, with color concentrated where the pearl is drilled. A ring is where that is easiest to spot, because you look at it up close every day.
How do I get the ring size right?
Have the finger measured at any jeweler, and measure the hand it will be worn on rather than the other one. This matters more on a pearl ring than on a plain band, because resizing means working around a pearl that cannot take heat. At this price it is worth a trip to get measured properly, and if you are buying as a surprise, tell us and we will talk it through first.
Will a pearl this size survive being worn on a hand?
Better than you might think, because South Sea pearls carry very thick nacre rather than a thin layer over a bead. It is still a pearl and hands do the work, so put it on last after lotion and perfume, take it off before washing up or gardening, and never use an ultrasonic cleaner. Treated sensibly it is a piece you hand down.
Can I see the exact pearl before it ships?
Ask us and we will photograph it. At this level nobody should buy from a catalog photograph, and on golden pearls a camera's white balance will push the color warmer or cooler than it is. Nothing here is made in advance, so the pearl is chosen for your ring. Photographs and video are free, with no obligation to buy.
Can you match a ring to other South Sea pieces I am buying?
We already do. If you order a ring at the same time as a strand, earrings, a pendant or a bracelet, we match the pearls to each other before anything is set. You do not have to ask and there is no charge for it. Matching South Sea across separate orders is difficult and sometimes not possible, so the time is now.
Still deciding?
Our specialists will show you pearls on camera and talk you through what you are looking at. Most appointments run about twenty minutes.
