SOUTH SEA PEARL

A pair of golden South Sea cultured pearl and fancy yellow earrings, by Graff
A pair of golden South Sea cultured pearl and fancy yellow earrings, by Graff
Species:  Cultured Pearl
Pearl Type:  South Sea (Bead Nucleated)
Mollusk:  Pinctada Maxima
​​Mohs Hardness:  2.5 to 4.5 out of 10
Color:  White, silver, and gold body colors that can be modified by various overtones.
RI:  1.530 to 1.685
Birefringence:  0.155 (Birefringence blink technique)
SR/DR/AGG:  AGG
Spectrum:  Not diagnostic
Fluorescence:  Variable
SG:  2.72 to 2.78
Routine Treatments:  Bleaching
Additional Enhancements:  Dyeing

South Sea Pearl Facts

Graduated South Sea pearl necklace, 13.54 to 18.00mm pearls
A graduated South Sea cultured pearl necklace with diamond clasp
​
South Sea cultured pearls are the most valuable of all cultured pearls.  In 1992, a strand of 23 magnificent South Sea cultured pearls set a new world record, selling at Sotheby's Auction for $2,300,000!

They are produced by the silver-lipped and gold-lipped Pinctada maxima mollusks of the Pacific and Indian Oceans off the coasts of Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar.

South Sea cultured pearls are larger than most other pearl types, ranging in size from 9mm to 20mm.  They can be round, drop, oval, button-shaped, baroque, or circled..

White, silver, and champagne are naturally occurring colors in South Sea cultured pearls.

South Sea Pearl Gallery


All photos are courtesy of Scott Papper, GG, ASA, CMA, RGA, AJP, CSMP, CSSP