What Is the History and Origin of South Sea Cultured Pearl?

Love pearls? You would then love reading up on the history of south sea cultured pearls! Golden and white, both types of south sea cultured pearls are the best and most expensive variety of farmed pearls available today. South sea pearls, sometimes known as the “Queen of Pearls,” have a stunning range of pure golden and white colors that sparkle with gentle overtones and are utterly distinctive. South sea pearls are precious gems from the South Pacific, giving the wearer an exquisitely glamorous and radiant appearance. These magnificent, South Pacific-cultured, creamy white, and golden pearls are prized for their splendor in stunning strands and pearl jewelry.

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The History of South Sea Cultured Pearl

The “Rolls Royce” of farmed pearls, according to many, is the south sea variety. They rank among the most expensive and unique cultured pearls on the market.

The south sea pearl is developed in the bodies of water off Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Japan and Thailand. Its history goes back thousands of years when the indigenous Australians thought the organic gem had magical powers and even used it to interpret dreams. These prehistoric humans exchanged oyster shells and the pearls discovered inside of them for food and equipment in addition to using them as ornamental parts in their tribal attire.

Native Americans carried out the exact activity throughout the South Pacific, anywhere the oyster that creates South Sea pearls was discovered. But these distinctive pearls didn’t become in high demand worldwide until the 16th and 17th centuries when European travelers landed in the South Pacific. And indeed, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the western world’s insatiable demand led to the almost complete loss of south sea oysters that produced pearls.

At the beginning of the 20th century, more than 400 sailboats worked in Australia exclusively to collect shells and swim for pearls, and more than 3,500 hard-hat swimmers were hired to obtain shells for mother-of-pearl knobs and inlay, as well as south sea organic pearls. When pearl-cultivating machinery came from Japan in the early 20th century, pearl farming activities started to arise throughout the South Pacific, in the nations that are now known for them. However, commercially valuable harvests from south sea pearl farms didn’t start appearing until the 1950s.

But as more pearl farms appeared, south sea pearls were finally prepared to make an impression in the cultured pearl industry. South sea pearls were previously unavailable in sufficient quantities to satisfy the demands of upscale shops worldwide until the middle of the 1990s. As a result, South sea pearls currently account for 10% of the market for saltwater-farmed pearls in terms of monetary value.

Historical Facts About South Sea Cultured Pearl

Following are some of the facts about south sea cultured pearls that will surprise you:

Rarity: The south sea pearl oysters are beads nucleated, just like most seawater oysters. They create a nacre about 2-4 mm thick, which is the thickest. The south sea pearls also require the most time to develop, twice as long as Akoya pearls. The growing period lasts between two and four years. Additionally, pearl oysters are kept in their natural environment because they are susceptible to disease. South sea pearls are the rarest cultured pearl due to these features.
Mainly Developed in Australia and the Philippines: South sea pearl farming calls for a unique skill set, setting, and amount of time. Major cultivation areas for white south sea pearls are on China’s southern coast and Australia’s northern coast. The Pinctada maxima prefer plankton, which is abundant in the water in this area and highly clean. It quickens the procedure and yields pearls with a high degree of luster. The Philippines and Indonesia are the primary producers of golden south sea pearls.
Time-Consuming: As they require the most time to produce, south sea pearls are both costly and rare. Before harvesting, the oysters are stored in pure, clean water after being harvested. The oyster is put back in the water, where it spends the next two to four years forming a pearl sac surrounding the nucleus bead and covering it with hundreds of coats of nacre.
Best Wedding Gifts: According to statistics, south sea cultured pearls engagement rings are the preferred present between the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries. Women of all ages like pearl engagement rings or rings adorned with south sea pearls.
Expensive: Did you know that only 10–30% of the south sea pearls mined have a form that is round or almost round? The remainder is baroque or fashioned like drops. The lengthy cultivation time makes it difficult to find pearls of the same size, color, and quality. Because of this, it’s uncommon to see a strand of south sea pearls. The biggest ones are those from the South Sea, but they are also the rarest and most costly.
Largest in Size: South sea pearls are the biggest cultured pearls on the planet in terms of size. The size of south sea pearls is estimated to be 13mm, and they can range in size from 9mm to 20mm.

Color Shape and Size

The typical size of south sea pearls is 12 mm. However, they can range from 8 to 20 mm. Some pearls bigger than 20 mm have been discovered while being incredibly rare. Round or almost round pieces will only make up 10–30% of each harvest, making pearl paradise’s bits a truly uncommon find. High-end luxury jewelry frequently uses baroque and drop-shapes to highlight their distinct forms and brilliance. As a result, there are several pricing ranges for south sea pearls.

Silver-lipped shells from the South Sea that create pearls typically have hues of white, silver, aqua and cyan. The gold-lipped species produce creamy wine and deeper golden varieties. As south sea pearls’ original hues are so vibrant and exquisite, they are only cleaned and polished after collecting to show their original radiance.

Most white south sea pearls are farmed in Australia’s northwest region. The Philippines and Indonesia, two nations swiftly rising to the top in the manufacturing of the best golden south sea pearls, are the main producers of golden pearls as well.

While hatchery-bred shells are used to augment the natural harvesting of south sea pearl oysters in Australia, the opposite is true in other regions. In both situations, the supply is kept wholesome and abounding by combining wild oysters with the hatchery stock. All sources are watched by governmental agencies to ensure their long-term health.

Their colorful past, which began towards the late 19th century, adds to their allure. Despite its filthy image, the gritty city of Broome on Australia’s northern shore quickly rose to prominence as the trade hub for south sea pearls in the 1850s. The 1950s saw the start of large industrial pearl cultivation, which has continued to expand ever since. The white south sea pearling business is still dominated by Broome, which has developed into a stunning, contemporary city that reflects the high-tech character of the industry.

Closing Thoughts

Pearl elements can become a significant aspect of the pearl’s distinctive personality when seen through the perspective of someone who values pearls. With the advancement of technology, various types of south sea cultured pearl shapes and styles of jewelry are available for people to wear. Similar to the infamous “Jardins” or “gardens” or snowflakes, each pearl is completely distinct and one-of-a-kind.