Of all the cultured pearl varieties on the market today, South Sea pearls are the undisputed leaders in value. Their large size, combined with the relative scarcity, make them among the most desired as well.

The average size is in the 10 to 13 mm range, and some remarkable pearls have been found as large as 20 mm.

South Sea pearls are quite large, and they tend to have very thick nacre. For this reason, not all golden South Sea pearls are as perfectly spherical as other saltwater pearl varieties. In a typical pearl harvest, there will be a large number of drop pearls, button pearls, baroque pearls and circle pearls.

Although commonly called black pearls, Tahitian cultured pearls, born from Pinctada Margaretifera Oyster,  offer a wide range of colors. In their natural state, they show infinite unique shades: cherry, cream, peacock, green, blue, grey, white and more. Choosing is, above all, a matter of personal taste.

Few people outside the South Sea Pearl real pearls gem industry realize the true nature of a cultured pearl’s journey from the producer to the counter of a store. Whether the gem is being offered to consumer’s at a traditional jewelry store’s counter, an internet online shopping site, or a television broadcast the journey always involves a great deal of effort. Careful nurturing, countless hours of labor, and significant investment are needed to being a pearl to market.