If you are new to the wonderful world of pearls, you might not know that there are several types that are grown in various places around the world. The most common kind of pearl is the freshwater variety, followed by Akoya (Chinese and Japanese), Tahitian (“black pearls”) and, last but not least, white and gold South Sea pearls. The last one on the list is, by far, the most expensive, rare, valuable and breath-taking kind of pearl you will ever have the chance to witness. South Sea pearls are of the highest quality known on the pearl market and are a genuine delight even to look at.
No matter their shade or overtone, South Sea pearls are easily the most appreciated living gems from around the globe. If you are a beginner in the pearl industry like we said above, but are interested in making a worthwhile investment, you can learn everything you need to know about South Sea pearls in the article below. After that, you can find various pieces of top notch South Sea pearl jewelry – as well as freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls and black pearl necklace price, – at online shops.
Origins and Production
As their name suggests, these pearls are grown and produced in the South Sea. The main regions that culture South Sea pearls are the Philippines, Indonesia but, most of all, Australia. They are produced by the silver lipped and gold lipped Pinctada maxima oysters, which are visibly larger than most pearl oysters. You can read more about it on this website.
Big, Brilliant and Beautiful
There are three Bs that can easily describe the magnificent South Sea pearl: big, brilliant and beautiful. When we say big, we mean big; a South Sea pearl can grow up to 20 millimeters in diameter, which is huge compared to most pearl varieties that barely reach 10 millimeters at the most. They have very rich and deep tones and sincerely are breath taking to see.
Rare and Extremely Valuable
Genuine South Sea pearls are the hardest to find pearls on the planet. Aside from the fact that it takes around four years just to grow them, South Sea pearls are rare “due to the large size of the oyster and its pearl sac, and the fast rate of nacre buildup in the warm sea environment”, as explained on the Mineral & Gemstone Kingdom. They can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially the gold variety.
White and Gold
The exciting part about South Sea pearls is that you are not limited to just one color. These astonishing living gems come in two distinct hues: white and gold. While the gold variety tends to be more expensive, white South Sea pearls are just as gorgeous. Gold South Sea pearls are excellent for highly sophisticated occasions.
Processing and Treatment
While many types of pearls are processed, treated or dyed to obtain certain colors or quality, South Sea pearls are famous for being absolutely 100% natural: no processing, no treating.