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A U S T R A L I A N S O U T H S E A
P E A R L S
Australian South Sea pearls have long been prized as the most desirable and valuable of all pearls.
They are renowned for their ‘orient’ – the combination of glowing lustre and the
iridescent play of surface colours exhibited by pearls with fine quality nacre.
australiansouthseapearls.com
Exceptionally rare, naturally beautiful
Australian South Sea pearls originate in the pristine waters off Australia’s remote North West coast.
This is the domain of the wild Pinctada maxima oyster, the King of all pearl oysters, and the source
of the world’s most precious mother-of-pearl. The Pinctada maxima produces pearls
of incomparable beauty, size, and quality.
Australia’s pearl beds are managed with environmental sensitivity, and are as healthy today as when
they were first discovered 150 years ago, a discovery which sparked the richest pearl era of all time
– the Victorian Pearl era. Today teams of divers work from modern pearl luggers, individually
handpicking each solitary oyster from the seabed. This ensures the seabed is left without damage
and preserved for future generations. Thanks to pearl culture technology, the oysters are no longer
cut open in search for natural pearls, but are implanted with tiny spheres of shell and carried alive to
new homes at pearl farms nearby. There, pearl farmers take care of each oyster for periods of 2 to 6
years – gently cleaning each oyster every 2 weeks until the pearl reaches maturity. The finest quality
of these pearls are among the rarest of all gems – many times rarer than most diamonds.
The Five Virtues
This most wondrous of gems emerges from the living oyster
radiant with natural beauty. Unlike other gems, pearls require
no cutting before being set into jewellery.
As a product of Nature, pearls occur in an infinite combination
of shapes, colours and sizes making each pearl unique.
After the harvest, each pearl is meticulously graded according
to the following Five Virtues:
Lustre •
Complexion •
Shape •
Colour •
Size
The value of each pearl is determined by the particular
combination of the Five Virtues that it exhibits.
Lustre
AUS T R A L I A N SOU T H SE A PE A R L S | F I V E V IRT U E S
Lustre is the result of light interacting with the layers of pearlescent organic material called nacre that
forms the body of the pearl. The finest pearls have nacre built up in thousands of layers of perfect
symmetry. This allows light to refract through the nacre giving the appearance of a soft iridescent
glow from deep within. Pearls of exceptionally high quality exhibit a phenomenon known as ‘orient’; a
combination of translucence overlaid with a subtle play of colour on the pearl’s surface.
PoorFair
Good
Very goodExcellent
Complexion
AUS T R A L I A N SOU T H SE A PE A R L S | F I V E V IRT U E S
A pearl with a flawless surface is exceptionally rare. Pearl quality is influenced
by the number and size of imperfections and their degree of visibility. Clearly
noticeable imperfections compromise a pearl’s beauty and therefore its value.
Moderately spottedHeavily spotted Lightly spotted Clean
Shape
AUS T R A L I A N SOU T H SE A PE A R L S | F I V E V IRT U E S
Australian South Sea pearls are grouped into six major shape categories: rounds, drops, ovals, buttons,
circlés, and baroques. A pearl’s shape does not affect its quality, but demand for a particular shape can
have a bearing on value. Pearls in classic shapes such as round and tear-drop are particularly desirable
although not necessarily more beautiful than a high quality pearl with a more individual shape.
OvalDrop Round Button Baroque
Circlé Keshi
Circlé Pearls feature one or more grooved rings around the pearl and can be found in a multitude
of different shapes. This distinct characteristic gives circlé pearls an appealing individuality.
Keshi is a Japanese word that literally means “poppy seed” and is used to describe small pearls.
These rare pearls are highly sought-after due to their beautiful, intense lustre and unique freeform
shapes. Keshi pearls generally range in size from 2mm to 8mm but are sometimes found in larger
sizes. Keshi pearls are cultured pearls without a solid core.
Size
AUS T R A L I A N SOU T H SE A PE A R L S | F I V E V IRT U E S
Australian South Sea pearls typically range in diameter from 10mm to 15mm and
sometimes even larger. The superlative quality and thickness of their nacre ensures
that their beauty will endure for generations.
Larger sizes sometimes 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 Five Virtues that determines a pearl’s value.
8mm 20mm
Colour
AUS T R A L I A N SOU T H SE A PE A R L S | F I V E V IRT U E S
Silver Pink White Pink
Silver
Cream Gold
ChampagneWhite
The natural colour of a pearl usually resembles the colour of its host oyster’s shell. Australian
South Sea pearls come in a variety of colours and subtle overtones including white, silver, rosé,
cream and occasionally gold. Rare pearls of the finest quality may also display subtle overtones
of rosé, green, blue, and silver - usually referred to as “orient”. Colour, like shape, is a very
personal choice but the popularity of a particular hue does influence a pearl’s value.
Caring for your pearls
To help ensure pearls maintain their natural beauty, a few simple steps are recommended:
Wait until after applying makeup, perfume and hair products to put on your jewellery
as some chemicals may harm pearls.
Wipe pearl jewellery with a chamois or a soft cotton cloth before putting away.
Store pearl jewellery wrapped in a soft cloth to protect it from rubbing
against harder gems or abrasive objects.
Occasionally clean pearls by gently wiping with a cloth dipped in alcohol diluted with warm water
or in mild soapy water. Rinse the cloth in fresh water and wipe pearls clean.
Dry with a soft cloth.
Australian South Sea pearls like to be worn as they respond well to healthy body oils. If not worn for
extended periods, they will respond well to being wiped with a cloth slightly wetted with a fine oil - such
as baby oil, then wiped clean with dry cotton before being placed into storage.
Strands will require restringing from time to time, depending on how often they are worn.
It is advisable to seek guidance annually as to whether restringing is necessary.
A L W A Y S A S K F O R A U S T R A L I A NS O U T H S E A P E A R L S
For more information visitwww.australiansouthseapearls.com