South Sea Pearls

South Sea Pearls are considered the most beautiful gems in the world for their extraordinary beauty, large sizes and brilliant luster. For ages, people describe South Sea pearls as the perfect gift of nature and an exquisite work of art. Natural South Sea pearls had been considered as the most prized pearls throughout history. They represented wealth, beauty and power. The discovery of South Sea pearls in North Australia and Indonesia in 1800's culminated in the most voluptuous era of pearls in Europe. Unfortunately, these natural South Sea pearls disappeared within a few decades due to destruction of the special environment that housed the pearls' beds. Today, these natural pearl beds have been resurrected and protected. These special South Sea pearls are cultivated in the waters off the Australia coasts. Once priceless treasure owned only by Kings and Queen, South Sea pearls are not available at affordable prices. The oysters that grow South Sea pearls are called Pinctada Maxima, the largest and rarest oysters in the world. These special oysters produce the most beautiful nacre and smoothest material. Therefore, South Sea pearls possess the most beauty among all types of pearls.Pinctada Maxima oysters only exist in a small area of warm Tropical Ocean known as "the South Sea", including the Indian Ocean around Northern Australia, Southern Indonesia and the Southern Philippines. The North Australian coasts have the cleanest coastlines in the world today and they are the areas that produce amazing South Sea pearls. South Sea pearls are the largest pearls in the world. Due to the thickness of nacre produced by these shells, the South Sea pearl is also famous for the variety of unique and desirable shapes often found. The shapes of South Sea pearls include round, teardrop, semi-round and baroque. Each one is a unique product of nature. Pinctada Maxima oysters are solitary and sensitive. They won't survive in densely populated communities. The oyster shell beds are located in deep waters of extremely remote locations. South Sea pearl oysters produce thick nacre surrounding pearl nucleus only when they are presented with perfect natural conditions. Australian government has a strict control over production of pearls. Each oyster is issued a license number. Only limited number of oysters are cultivated each year. South Sea pearls require the most labor intensive cultivating process among all pearls. Cultured South Sea pearls account only for 1% of whole global productions of cultured pearls.