The Khalsa Raj Collection

South Sea Pearls – Among The Largest In The World

South Sea pearls are among the largest commercially harvested pearls in the world. They are currently cultured in areas throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, primarily in Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. The average size of a South Sea pearl is 13 mm, with most harvests producing a range of sizes from 9 mm to 20 mm. The South Seas lie between the northern coast of Australia and the Phillipines. These waters are the native habitat of a large oyster known as Pinctada maxima. This oyster grows up to 12 inches in diameter, and can be nucleated with a much larger bead than other saltwater oysters such as the akoya.

Scroll down for our available South Sea Pearl Jewelry - 

                        then click image for details

South Sea Pearls Come From Two Varieties Of Pearl-Producing Mollusks

There are two varieties of Pinctada maxima, the silver-lipped and the gold-lipped. The two are distinguished by their distinct coloration of the outer edge of the interior. This type of shell is also known as mother-of-pearl, and is responsible for the coloration of the cultured pearls produced, therefore the name. Unlike the akoya oyster, the South Sea oyster will only accept one nucleation at a time. The oyster is nucleated when it is only about half developed, from 4.7 inches to 6.7 inches in size, or about 24 months old. Although the South Sea oyster will only handle one nucleus at a time, this oyster (like the Tahitian pearl producing Pinctada margaritifera) can be nucleated up to three times over the course of many years.

The Exceptional Lustre our South Sea Pearls Exhibit

 Shine - As in all things, true beauty comes from within, so the virtue rated above all others in a South Sea pearl is its lustre and shine. Lustre is the result of light reflected from the pearl’s surface combined with its deep inner glow (iridescence).

South Sea pearls are made up of many fine layers of a crystal-like substance called nacre, comprising organic and inorganic materials secreted from within the living tissue of the oyster. The quality and thickness of nacre gives a pearl both its radiance and its deep glow. The combination of light reflecting on the pearl’s surface and light refracting between each layer of nacre within the pearl is what makes this gem unique.

Shine has the magic to minimize other imperfections and is considered the soul of the pearl.

Surface - There are two essential aspects to be considered when assessing the surface of a pearl: blemishes and grain. 

The surface of a pearl is essentially its skin. Because South Sea pearls have layers of lustrous nacre built up over time, a flawless surface is extremely rare. As pearls are a gift of nature from a living mollusc, the most beautiful and valuable pearls may still have slight imperfections which appear in the form of small blemishes. These naturally bestowed ‘beauty marks’ characterise each pearl as an individual creation.

The pearl grain refers to the composition of the pearl's skin and its structure. The tighter the structure of the pearl, the less evident is its grain. The grain will appear as slight ripples on the pearl's surface.  In cases where the grain is only just visible, it will give the pearl a slightly fractured appearance. As these fractures become larger and more evident, they will appear as "cracks" within the structure of the pearl.

  Shape - South Sea pearls come in a variety of shapes, making them an incredibly difficult gem to classify without a professionally trained eye. A product of nature, each pearl is individual and unique. The major categories of South Sea pearl shapes are; round, near round, drop, button, baroque and circle. With the exception of round and near round pearls, there is a variation of different types within each shape category. However, to simplify pearl shapes, some general principles can be applied.

Shade - The species of oyster and the environment in which they grow are the main factors behind determining a pearl’s colour and complexion. South Sea pearls are highly coveted for their rich, varied colours. Pearls from the Pinctada maxima oyster come in shades of white, ivory, silver, blue, yellow and rich gold. Pearls from the Pinctada margaritifera oyster (referred to as Tahitian or Black pearls) come in shades of aubergine, blue, green and grey, all with various hues.  Each pearl reflects colour in a different way – boldly on the surface or hinting at hues from within layers of nacre.

With a focus on pearl-first design and excellent craftsmanship, our signature jewelry pieces are at the forefront of design and use only the finest materials, natural gemstones and diamonds to highlight the individual beauty of every pearl.