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