The South Sea wild oyster, Pinctada maxima, is the worlds largest pearl oyster.
It is a solitary life form and refuses to share its genius with mass farming
methods. Like all great artists it makes no compromises and delivers the purest
of all pearls from warm, uncontaminated waters.
Pearls, by virtue, are unique among gemstones, being the only ones found within
a living creature and the only ones that require no cutting or polishing before
use.
Nearly all South Sea Pearls are cultured and come from Australia, Myanmar,
Indonesia and other Pacific countries. The process begins when technicians open
the live pearl oysters, then surgically implant a small polished shell bead and
piece of mantle (oyster muscle) tissue in each. The shell bead is the nucleus
around which the oyster secrets layer after layer of nacre. These pearl-bearing
oysters are returned to the sea, where they are suspended from rafts in
sheltered bays rich in natural nutrients. The oysters will feed and grow. Pearl
technicians monitor the water temperatures and feeding conditions daily and move
the oysters to warmer waters in the winter. These pampered oysters are lifted
from the sea for cleaning and health care. Seaweed, barnacles and other growths
are removed and the shells are treated with compounds to prevent disease from
injuring the oysters. Even taking all of this into account, Typhoons, red tides
and predators all take their toll before the pearls are ready to be harvested
(in about two to three years). On average, about half of the nucleated oysters
do not survive to bear pearls.
Of these surviving oysters, only a fraction yield pearls and less then five
percent produce pearls with ideal shape, luster and color to be considered fine
gem quality.
The Five Virtues of Fine South Sea Pearls
There are five qualities of South Sea Pearls that define their value. They are
referred to as virtues. A knowledge of these will help in the selection process,
but with South Seas you can trust your own sense of judgment. Remember you are
choosing something created by nature and every pearl is unique.
Lustre: he paramount defining virtue of beauty and therefore value. How
light reflects from the pearl’s surface, but also how it seems to glow from
within. Lustre ranges from the bright and sprightly to the warm and alluring.
Size: The larger the pearl the scarcer, and Australian South Sea Pearls are
the largest in the world. Measured across the smallest diameter, sizes run from
8.0mm to 18.0mm.
Shape: Perfectly round pearls are the most rare, and are valued
accordingly. But there’s more to pearls than just round ones; Baroque pearls
have tantalizing shapes and lines, Circle pearls have a contemporary impact and
Semi-baroque pearls bring a range of exciting possibilities to light.
Surface: The more flawless the pearl the higher the value. But because
pearls are created in the ocean by oysters, Nature almost always leaves its
mark. These surface blemishes are part of the individualizing elements of every
pearl.
Color: South Sea Pearls come in an array of natural colors. The choice is a
matter of personal preference. There is strong demand for the classic
silver-white and popularity impacts on a price even though color is irrelevant
to a pearl’s intrinsic value.
You do not have to be an expert to see and feel the attraction of that special
pearl. South Sea pearls seem to have an inexplicable inner presence that glows,
seemingly choosing you as much as you have chosen it. Trust your instincts.