White		Ivory		Golden

South Sea pearls are the largest cultured pearls in the world and the most expensive. The average size of a South Sea pearl is 13mm, with most harvests producing pearls that range in size from 9mm to 20mm. Round South Sea pearls account for only about 15% of all of these harvested gems, making these pearls very rare and very expensive. The baroque and drop shaped South Sea pearls are slightly more affordable.

Cultured South Sea pearls are also grown through a bead nucleation process. The growth period for South Sea pearls is upwards of six years; twice that of the Akoya pearl. South Sea pearls are grown by the Pinctada Maxima oyster, which have a very limited growing area being cultured only in Australia and Indonesia.

South Sea pearls have distinct characteristics that make them unique and set them apart from other types of pearls. The nacre on South Sea pearls is extremely thick, ranging from 2-6mm compared to the 0.35-0.8mm of an Akoya pearl. South Sea pearls have a glowing satin-like luster that is a result of how quickly the nacre is layered on the pearl in the warm waters of the South Seas. South Sea pearls also have a rare spectrum of colours. The Silver-Lipped variety of the Pinctada Maxima oyster produces pearls ranging from a striking white to silver, the Golden-Lipped variety of the Pinctada Maxima oyster produces pearls ranging from ivory and champaign to a deep golden honey.

South Sea pearls are rare and special. They command extremely high prices and unlike other gems steadily retain their value. In a retail environment a strand of round South Sea pearls would be found priced upwards of $100,000 dollars and more!

SOUTH SEA PEARL SIZES

	9.0		10.0		11.0		12.0		13.0		14.0		15.0		16.0	mm