For centuries, South Sea pearls have been treasured gems. They are often used in a wide array of jewelry, including earrings, bracelets, rings, broaches and necklaces. They have also been used to adorn clothing, and the headpieces for members of royalty.
Gemstones are categorized by their shape, luster, size, color and surface quality. While there is not one standard global grading system, a smooth surface, deep luster, large size, satiny finish and rainbow iridescence are highly valued.
The lustrous hues of these tropical beads include cream, yellow, pink, gold, white and silver. Their deep iridescence is created by the thick nacre lining the inside of the shells. Nacre is commonly called mother of pearl. The beads are actually composed from layers of nacre.
The hearty Pinctada maxima mollusk is the only oyster to produce these gemstones. While black nacre seeds are often known as black South Sea gems, they are created by the Pinctada margaritifera oyster.
Jewels from the South Sea are primarily harvested from oysters that live in the ocean waters of Australia, Indonesia, Tahiti and the Philippines. These elusive oysters thrive in natural saltwater habitats as well as hatcheries. Only a small percentage of wild mollusks contain treasures.
Jewels harvested from the wild are known as natural gems, and are more valuable than cultured gems. Cultured beads are grown and harvested from hatcheries and farms. Due to the depletion of natural stocks from harvesting, most of today’s gemstones are produced in farms.
In the western part of Australia, the white-lipped and gold-lipped Pinctada maxima clams are primarily harvested. The black-lipped Pinctada margaritifera mollusks are harvested from the tropical seawater of Tahiti. The clams are named for the hues of their interior edges.
The large size of these tropical jewels is due to the size of their hosting mollusks, the largest gem-producing clams in the world. The Pinctada maxima can grow up to 12 inches in diameter. They produce thick nacre beads to a diameter up to one-half of an inch.
The South Sea extends from the northern coast of Australia to the south coast of China. Pinctada maxima oysters are native to the waters of Australia, Fiji and Tahiti. These warm waters provide a prime habitat for the Pinctada maxima mollusks. The clean waters nurture fast growth, large size and thick layers of nacre.
At two years of age, the Pinctada maxima mollusks can be implanted with small beads or grains of sand which serve as the seeds for new beads. They are then returned to the water for about three years while the oysters produce beautiful new jewels. The oysters secrete layers of necre to entomb the seeds and create the beads. The Pinctada maxima oysters can survive the surgery to remove the treasures. They can typically be reseeded three or four times during their life-cycles.
Centuries after their discovery by ocean traders, South Sea pearls remain highly valued. Their uniquely beautiful luster and iridescence make them one of the most desirable jewels in the world.
Learn more about exquisite south sea pearls now in our overview of all you should know about how and where to find magnificent south sea pearl earrings.