Why South Sea pearls have different colors?

South Sea Pearls colors come in a variety of five hues. Each is associated with the specific oyster beds from which they are produced.

What is the best color of South Sea pearl?

The overall value of these pearls is higher than akoya or Tahitian, and very comparable to white South Sea pearls. The deepest golden color, often referred to as 24 karat, is considered the most valuable color of all South Sea pearls.

What do the different colors of pearls mean?

The colour of a pearl is determined by the coloured lip of the mollusc in which it was formed. A pearl's overall shade is made up of its body colour and an overtone which may be warm or cool (for example a creamy white pearl with a pink overtone), which is why some pearls are multi-tonal under different lights.

Why are natural pearls different colors?

Pearl manufacturers also may influence the pearl's color to some level by presenting tissue from an additional oyster into the host oyster alongside the shell nucleus. The pearl colors are decided by a mixture of factors: iridescence, overtone, and the base color. Also, cultured pearls are occasionally dyed.

How can I tell if my South Sea pearl is real?

The first test to try is a texture test. A real pearl, when rubbed against another pearl or against your tooth, will feel slightly rough. If it's totally smooth, then it's not a pearl. Real pearls will also have minor imperfections that differ from one to the other.

South Sea Pearls Tutorial with GIA Graduate Gemologist Hope Meyer

Why are South Sea pearls more expensive?

Because South Sea Pearls form over longer periods of time, they are more costly to cultivate. For this reason, there are a limited number of South Sea pearl farms, making the truly prized South Seas exceptionally rare. Not all cultured pearls are good enough to become Assael pearls.

Do South Sea pearls have flaws?

Damaging and Non-Damaging Blemishes

It's important to remember that some blemishes won't detract from the beauty or value of a pearl, and this is particularly true with South Sea pearls. That's because it takes these pearls 2 to 3 years to develop, and flawless or slightly flawed South Sea pearls are extremely rare.

What is the rarest pearl color?

Naturally colored blue pearls are the rarest pearl colors in the world (with one or two exceptions, which we will get to below). The color has existed in pearls for decades, but only recently have naturally colored blue pearls gained popularity in the modern pearl jewelry markets.

Which Colour pearl is best?

The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.

Are Golden South Sea pearls dyed?

Currently, the method can only be found in the South Sea pearls. And some golden South Sea pearls are dyed and even look more beautiful than natural golden ones.

Do real pearls change color with age?

Like many things in life, pearls age. As these precious gems age, they go through a natural process that changes the composition of the organic substances that make them up. This causes them to change color. Yellow pearls typically indicate that pearls are real since artificial pearls don't normally change color.

What is the rarest pearl in the world?

The most rare pearl in the world is the Melo Melo, which is produced by a sea snail and not an oyster or a mollusk. The Melo Melo differs in appearance compared to a classic pearl, having a shimmery surface with swirling patterns in the light.

What is so special about South Sea pearls?

South Sea pearls are generally much larger than other pearl types and have a unique luster quality – a soft reflection due to the large aragonite platelets that make up the pearl. They also have the thickest average nacre of all cultured pearls. These factors make South Seas both distinctive and valuable.

What is the difference between Akoya and South Sea pearls?

South Sea Pearls of 9.5 – 10.5 mm sizes are more common. But the smaller Akoya oyster has a hard time producing a pearl as large as 9.5 – 10.5 mm, making these pearls much rarer, hence the higher price. Akoya Pearls are preferred for someone wanting a bright white/pink lustrous strand in this “overlap” size range.

What is the most expensive South Sea pearl?

The color of the Golden South Sea pearl range from a creamy white to deep gold. The deeper the gold, the more expensive this pearl is, as natural (not dyed) gold pearls are rare. For example, a perfect strand of large, deep golden South Sea pearls can go for as much as $100,000.

Which country pearl is best?

China is the leading source for freshwater cultured pearls. Cultured pearls from Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Myanmar, are grown in the Pinctada Maxima mollusk.

What is the difference between South Sea pearl and cultured pearl?

Cultured South Sea Pearls

South Sea pearls are usually round and larger than other cultured pearls, with the size ranging from 8mm to 20mm. These high-quality pearls are often white or golden with a high amount of luster. South Sea pearls are very desirable and often the most expensive of the cultured pearl varieties.

Which pearl is expensive?

South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market. A strand of South Sea pearls can range from $1,000 to over $100,000.

Which pearl is best?

White South Sea and Golden South Sea pearls are the most sought-after cultured versions of the gems in the world. That's because they are the rarest, and offer the most luster and greatest pearls sizes. Both Golden South Sea and White South Sea pearls are cultivated in saltwater.

Are black pearls real?

The Tahitian pearl (or black pearl) is an organic gem formed from the black lip oyster (Pinctada margaritifera). These pearls derive their name from the fact that they are primarily cultivated around the islands of French Polynesia, around Tahiti.

What is the finest quality pearl called?

White and Golden South Sea pearls are the largest and most luxurious of all cultured pearl types on the market today. Often called the “Queen of Pearls”, South Sea pearls feature a gorgeous palette of natural Golden and White colors that shimmer with delicate overtones and are simply unmistakable.

What is the best grade of South Sea pearl?

South Sea pearls are famous for their high gloss luster. We have four grades of pearl luster: Very High (AAA), High (AA), Medium (A) and Soft (B). This is the quality of the light reflections from the pearl's surface. Pearls are said to have high, or very high, luster when the reflections are bright and sharp.

How do you clean South Sea pearls?

Occasionally clean your pearls gently 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. Strands will require restringing from time to time, depending on how often they are worn.

Why are they called South Sea pearls?

South Sea pearls are cultured using a large, white-lipped oyster, hand-selected from the waters of the South Pacific. The oyster is about twice the size of the Akoya pearl oyster and produces much larger pearls. These luxurious pearls are cultured in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Japan and Thailand.