What is the best pearl in the world?
Only four species of oysters produce saltwater pearls. The largest of them is Pinctada Maxima. It is to this hard worker that we owe the appearance of the most beautiful pearls in the world – golden and silver shades.
Growing the Pinctada Maxima oyster
Its size is simply amazing. In a few years, the oyster grows up to 30 cm, and that is why it is possible to obtain large pearls. The size of the resulting pearl is from 9 to 20-25 mm, the average size is 12-16 mm. To obtain cultured South Sea pearls, many farms grow oysters on their farms. This guarantees better survival rate and yield. After 2 years, when moving from the “nursery”, the oyster is ready to be replanted with primary material. Most often, this is an excellent quality mother-of-pearl ball, and some material from the mantle of another oyster. These oysters are not able to live outside their native warm seas, and therefore pearl cultivation centers are located off the coast of Australia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. The purity of water for tens of kilometers, the absence of impurities and cruel fishing plays a key role in cultivation. Therefore, preserving the environment in these places comes first. There are two types of this oyster – silver-lipped and gold-lipped. They were named so after the inside of the shell. The color of the resulting pearls ranges from white and silver-pink to cream, champagne and gold. An oyster can undergo cultivation a maximum of 3 times. Then the viable ones are released back into the ocean. Others are used in the production of cosmetics and household products.
Pearl cost
South Sea pearls are the most expensive in the world. One pearl, depending on the quality, costs from a couple of thousand dollars to several tens of thousands of dollars. Of all the pearls, the rich golden color will be more expensive than the others. For example, Paspaly’s necklace made of perfect Australian South Sea pearls was sold at Sotheby’s for $2,3 million in 1992. White and gold South Sea pearl necklace by Mikimoto. Subscribe to the educational gemological channel GEM STONES)) Photo source: instagram.com/official_mikimoto
Why is this pearl so unique?
- mother-of-pearl layer – capable of reaching a thickness of 6 mm. For example, for comparison, Akoya sea pearls have a nacre thickness of 0,7 mm.
- Well preserved – thanks to such a thickness of mother-of-pearl, nothing will happen to the pearls.
- Rarity. Cultivation limited by natural conditions does not allow the production of large quantities of pearls. Hence their great value and cost.
- Cultivation time – to get a South Sea pearl, you first need to spend 2 years growing a suitable oyster, then another 2-4 years growing the pearl. At the same time, no one guarantees the result. Therefore, cultivation is a very labor-intensive production.
Pendant with white South Sea pearl and diamonds, Mikimoto. Photo source: instagram.com/official_mikimoto
For example, on the Australian farms of the famous company Paspaly there are even psychologists working with employees. After all, taking good care of your work (and oysters are a living organism!) is key.
What types of pearls are there?
- According to the form – round, teardrop-shaped, baroque (free-form), circle (with grooves)
- By Color – white, white-pink, white-blue, cream, champagne, golden. Bright golden hue – the rarest and most difficult to obtain.
- To size – from 8-9 mm to 16-18 mm. Larger pearls are exclusive and are often sold in jewelry at auctions.
Necklace with South Sea pearls and Akoya pearls. Photo source: instagram.com/official_mikimoto
- Brilliance – matte, characteristic of all types of sea pearls
- Surface quality – here the existing defects in the pearl are taken into account.
To date, there is no pearl that can surpass the South Sea pearl. That is why owning such a pearl becomes a real dream for many.
For centuries, Australian South Sea pearls have been considered the most sought after and most valuable of all pearls. It is famous for its iridescence (“orientation”) – a combination of transparent shine and play of shades, thanks to which it is the best in the world.
PINCTADA MAXIMA
As a rule, the most beautiful pearls are born in mollusks with the most beautiful shells.
Australian South Sea pearl oyster
The Australian South Sea pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) is the largest and rarest of all pearl oysters. It produces the most beautiful pearlescent layer (“nacre”) of the highest quality.
In the pristine waters off northwestern Australia, divers harvest wild oysters by hand. They are then taken to pearl farms where they are bred in the hope of producing gem-quality pearls. Not every oyster will produce a pearl and, with rare exceptions, produces one pearl at a time.
The shell itself is highly prized for its lustrous mother-of-pearl, which is used to make jewelry, high-quality buttons, and inlay.
Quality
Australia’s crystal clear ocean waters are recognized as the source of the world’s most beautiful and largest pearls.
Today, Australian South Sea pearls, renowned for their excellent clarity and play of hues (“orientation”), are produced almost exclusively in Australia. Such a unique play of surface shades is found in nature only in high-quality pearls. In order to reproduce this effect in pearls from other regions, they may be subjected to chemical and heat treatments.
Location
In commercial quantities, wild Pinctada maxima oysters are found only in a remote area of northwestern Australia. Unaffected by pollution, the oyster beds are protected by strict harvest regulations set by the Australian government.
Pinctada maxima oysters are rare and solitary creatures that thrive only in waters rich in microscopic plankton. They are especially sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, so their cultivation is an unusually complex process.
UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
Australian South Sea pearls are unparalleled in rarity, quality, thickness, luster, size and value.
It is to the combination of these characteristics that Australian South Sea pearls owe their uniqueness.
Australian South Sea pearls are renowned for their extraordinary beauty, which is difficult to express in words and impossible to miss. Today, most South Sea pearls are produced in Australia, which are characterized by natural transparency and play of shades – the so-called “orient”. The terms “glitter” and “orientation” are used to describe the light reflecting from deep within flawless layers of mother-of-pearl paint. The high-quality thick shell of Australian South Sea pearls, made up of thousands of layers, gives the pearls a natural beauty that will last for centuries.
Due to their rarity, natural pearls often command a higher price than cultured pearls, but the factors by which the quality and value of pearls are assessed are the same for both types.
Each pearl is sorted and graded based on the “Five Characteristics” – luster, surface clarity, shape, color and size. However, when choosing pearls, do not forget that their beauty (and, ultimately, value) is in the eye of the beholder.
FIVE CHARACTERISTICS
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Learn about the time-tested methods traditionally used to value pearls with our interactive Five Characteristics tool.
- Weak Dullness, chalkyness – signs of thin or poor-quality paint
- Medium Matte, blurry reflection – signs of rough paint
- Good Brightness, soft gloss, smoothness – signs of high quality paint
- Very good An attractive glow coming from within is a sign of the highest quality paint
- Excellent Strong shine, mirror reflection of light – a sign of rare jewelry quality
1/Shine
The magic of pearls is in their shine. Although luster is difficult to demonstrate visually, it is the most important quality characteristic of a pearl and is immediately noticeable.
What is glitter?
Glitter is the effect of light interacting with endless layers of pearlescent paint. Nacre is the iridescent organic material produced by the oyster that forms the body of the pearl.
High quality oysters are produced when the oyster produces layers of nacre that are perfectly symmetrical, causing light to continually refract through the nacre layers.
The result is the effect of a soft iridescent glow coming from within. The natural shine is eternal, unlike the surface shine of treated pearls, which fades over time.
Pearls of exceptionally high quality have a so-called “orientation”, which is a combination of transparency with a subtle play of shades shimmering on the surface of the pearl.
- Severe spotting Numerous surface defects on pearls
- Moderate spotting Moderate surface defects on pearls
- Slight spotting A few minor surface imperfections on the pearl
- Clean surface Perfect surface or presence of tiny, barely noticeable defects
2 / Surface cleanliness
Pearls with a perfect surface are extremely rare. The quality of pearls is influenced by the number and size of defects, as well as the degree of their visibility. Obviously visible defects significantly reduce the attractiveness and value of pearls.
Surface finish
Pearl nacre is a complex matrix of calcium carbonate crystals and special substances produced by the oyster. This matrix consists of overlapping layers of microscopic tiles. When the layers are perfectly uniform, the nacre will appear identical over the entire surface of the pearl, thus creating a flawless pearl.
However even nature is rarely perfect. Some tiles may not be perfectly laid, resulting in pearls having blemishes on their surface known as spots or marks.
- teardrop-shaped
- Oval
- Round
- Button
- Baroque
3/Shape
The shape of a pearl does not affect its quality, but the demand for any particular shape does affect the price. Perfectly symmetrical pearls, such as round and teardrop pearls, are especially rare and coveted. But ultimately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so choosing a pearl shape is a very personal matter.
Types of forms
cyclic
Cycle pearls have one or more hoops on the surface and come in a variety of shapes. This distinctive characteristic gives cyclic pearls a distinct personality.
Keshi
Keshi are cultured pearls without a hard core. “Keshi” literally means “poppy seed” in Japanese. This is what small pearls are called. These rare pearls are highly sought after for their beautiful, intense luster and unique irregular shape. Keshi pearls range in size from 2 to 8 mm, but larger sizes are sometimes found.
4 / Color
The variety of natural colors of Australian pearls usually reflect the tones of the oyster shell. Like the choice of shape, the choice of color is very individual. The cost of pearls is influenced by the popularity of the shade. Australian pearls are mainly found in white, silver, cream or golden colors. The most highly prized are white pearls with shades of pink.
5/Size
Australian pearls have a very thick coating. This is the largest of all types of pearls, its average size is 11-16 mm. There are also larger specimens measuring over 20 mm. Such pearls are highly valued. Larger pearls tend to cost more due to their rarity, but size is just one of the “Five Characteristics” that determine a pearl’s value. Pearl size is measured in mm across the width.
Note: scale is approximate
Size
Larger sizes exceeding 20mm are occasionally found and such pearls are highly prized. Larger pearls are typically more valuable due to their greater rarity but size is only one of the 5 Virtues used to consider a pearl’s value. The thick nacre for which Australian South Sea pearls are renowned ensures that their beauty will endure for generations. Pearls are measured in millimeters by width.
ENVIRONMENT
Australian South Sea pearls are cultivated with great respect for nature. The pearl industry is regulated by the Pearl Cultivation Rules and Regulations, which provide for minimal disturbance to environmental conditions.
Australian South Sea Pearls
The virgin environment in which Pinctada maxima oysters are grown
Australia’s remote pearl farm sites, stretching from the Cobourg Peninsula (northeast of Darwin) to Dampier in Western Australia, have been carefully selected for their pristine nature, unaffected by pollution.
These areas provide optimal conditions for the Pinctada maxima oyster to produce the world’s finest pearls. Many farms are located in or near national parks, marine reserves, and Aboriginal lands.
The pearl industry exceeds the sustainability requirements set out in the Australian Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Thanks to Australia’s sensible harvest regulations and the location of some hard-to-reach wilderness areas, Australia is now home to the world’s largest wild South Sea oyster beds.
Due to increased conservation efforts, Australia’s oyster beds are healthier now than they were more than a century ago. And it is no coincidence that natural pearls of the highest quality are still found today. This is the result of caring for wild oyster resources and respecting their natural habitat. Such environmental responsibility has always been inherent in the Australian pearling industry.
