South Sea Pearls

The formation of Australian pearls is a result of a defense mechanism. When a foreign body, such as a grain of sand, enters the shell of the Pinctada Maxima, the mollusk produces nacre to protect itself from the intruder.

The oyster coats it with thousands of layers of nacre, eventually forming a perfectly smooth sphere that prevents any injury or irritation. The color of the pearl varies according to the species of this variety: it can be white, golden, gray, or cream…

Did you know that in nature, only 1 in 10,000 oysters produces a valuable pearl? This ratio is much higher, with 40% of pearls being marketable, when using cultured oysters.

To achieve this ratio, mollusks are implanted with a nucleus, a perfect sphere made from mussel shell. They are then returned to the water for 18 months until the formation of the pearls is complete. This makes it possible to produce Australian pearls in various regions around the world!

Like all other types of pearls, South Sea pearls are characterized by their colors, sizes, and quality (number of imperfections).

Regarding the Color of South Sea Pearls

Enchanting, precious, and rare, Australian pearls are renowned for their golden color. However, other shades are available: rose white, silver white, golden champagne, and deep gold. The hues of these pearls range from silver white to deep gold, including white with green overtones, white with gray overtones, white with cream overtones, and champagne. South Sea pearls are thus available in a wide palette of colors and shades, making them unique, precious, and perfect for enhancing all our cultured pearl jewelry creations.

Regarding the Size of Australian Pearls

South Sea pearls for sale have an average size of 13mm. The diameter can vary from 7mm to 20mm. The larger the pearl, the higher its price. These pearls are among the rarest in the world, and creating a single piece of jewelry like a necklace may take several years to find pearls of the same size and luster.

The Quality of Australian South Sea Pearls

Australian pearls are classified into six categories: "Super Gem" or "A-AAA," "AAA quality," "AA+ quality," "AA quality," "A+ quality," and "A quality." The grading criterion is the number of visible imperfections (also called flaws). Perfectly rated Australian pearls are quite rare, making them some of the most precious and sought-after pearls in the world.

At Kalinas, we certify that all our cultured pearls are authentic and of high quality. Always remember that it is possible to purchase pearls with a certificate of authenticity. To verify if an Australian pearl is real or fake, you can perform a few simple tests that don’t require extensive knowledge.

Try gently rubbing the surface of the pearl against your teeth. If the coating is damaged, the pearl is fake. You can also try rubbing two Australian pearls against each other. If they are true cultured pearls, you will feel a slight roughness. Other experimental techniques can be applied using specialized equipment such as a microscope or a refractometer, although this can be challenging to set up.

Due to their natural beauty, South Sea pearls are often used by jewelry designers to create exquisite necklaces, earrings, and rings. With their various shades and sizes, these pearls are the perfect way to express personal taste, desires, and lifestyle!

Whatever your budget, you can find an Australian pearl or a lot of South Sea pearls that will bring you complete satisfaction. Making the right choice is about finding the best quality/price ratio! Indeed, the price difference of a cultured pearl jewelry piece can vary significantly from one pearl to another.