Salt water pearls are produced in various ocean locations around the world and usually each shell produces only a single pearl per harvest, the most prestigeous pearl being produced in the waters around Broome, Western Australia.
Australian south sea pearls are the largest, most lustrous cultured pearls in the world ranging from approximately 10mm to 20mm in diameter.
The colours produced by locally grown Broome pearls come in a variety of colours ranging from the luminous white, the rich cream to the sparkling gold.
The Pinctada Maxima is the oyster from which every Australian Pearl is born. It is one of the largest oysters in the world, sometimes found in excess of 30cm in diameter.
Pearls are formed when a nucleus is placed into the shell by an experienced Pearl Technician. This creates an irritant which the oyster then coats with nacre until the surface becomes smooth. This procress then takes up to two years to produce the world renowned Broome Pearl.
Other popular cultured pearl types include: Black South Sea pearls, derived from the Pinctada magaritifera, which are found in the waters of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands; Akoya pearls, derived from Pinctada fucata and Freshwater cultured pearls, which are produced predominantly in China by several different species off mussel shell.
To choose a pearl you must take into consideration lustre, size, shape, colour, surface blemishes and what shell it is from. For further information on Saltwater Pearls please click here to return to photos.
Cultured freshwater pearls occur when an irritation is seeded into a mussel. The mussel coats the irritant with a crystalline substance. Layers build up over time and the surface glows with a unique lustre.
There are no freshwater pearl farms in Australia . They are cultured in rivers and lakes, from the USA to Europe and a large proportion are produced in China .
Freshwater pearls come in various shapes, sizes and colours, and now, due to the advanced procedures in cultivation, freshwater pearls are larger in size and possess a higher lustre than ever before, representing excellent value for money.
They naturally occur in white, apricot, peach, mauve, purple and even bronze. The more brightly coloured pearls are colour enhanced and because these pearls are a porous gem they absorb colours . For further information on Cultured FreshwaterPearls please click here to return to photos.
