PEARLS

NATURAL PEARLS
Natural pearls are rare and formed without human intervention when an irritant, like a grain of sand, becomes trapped inside an oyster or mollusk. In response, the creature secretes layers of nacre around the irritant, gradually forming a pearl. Natural pearls occur entirely by chance in the wild, making them highly valuable and often more expensive. Their unique beauty and scarcity have made them a symbol of luxury for centuries. Most natural pearls are harvested from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar (between India and Sri Lanka), and the Red Sea.

CULTURED PEARLS
Created through a process where humans intentionally introduce an irritant, usually a small bead, into an oyster or mollusk. Prompting the creature to secrete layers of nacre around the irritant, forming a pearl over time. These pearls are produced on pearl farms under controlled conditions, allowing for the production of pearls with consistent quality, shape, and size. They are more widely available and affordable compared to natural pearls. They come in a variety of types - Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, and freshwater. Find our more below.

Akoya Cultured Pearls
Originating primarily from Japan and China, Akoya cultured pearls are renowned for their classic elegance. These saltwater pearls are most commonly recognized in Western markets, often featured in timeless jewellery pieces like single-strand necklaces. Akoya pearls typically come in beautiful shades of white or cream, making them a staple of sophisticated style.

South Sea Cultured Pearls

Originating from Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, South Sea cultured pearls are renowned for their impressive size and thick nacre, a result of their extended growth period. These pearls are highly prized due to their rarity and the specific growing conditions required. Their colors range from white to silver or golden, depending on the type of oyster.

Tahitian Cultured Pearls
Primarily cultivated around the islands of French Polynesia, particularly Tahiti, Tahitian cultured pearls are often referred to as black pearls. Despite their name, these saltwater pearls display a stunning array of colours, including grey, black, and brown, with beautiful overtones of blue, green, purple, or pink. Due to their rarity and mysterious appeal, they are one of the most sought-after pearls on the market.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls
Predominantly sourced from China, freshwater cultured pearls are the most widely produced and popular pearls among shoppers and jewellery designers. They are known for their incredible variety in size, shape, and colour, making them both versatile and affordable. Cultured in freshwater lakes and ponds, multiple pearls can be grown within a single oyster, contributing to their diverse appearance.

SHAPE

Pearls are found in eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and circled. Among these, perfectly spherical pearls and symmetrical drops are the most highly valued. However, well-formed pear, oval, and baroque cultured pearls are also greatly prized by enthusiasts for their unique beauty and character.

Colour

Pearl body colors differ by variety, with traditional shades like white and black, though unique colours are gaining popularity. The pearl's luster, including overtones and the rainbow-like iridescence known as orient, further enhance its colour.

Pearl colour has three main components: body colour, overtone and orient. Body colour is the dominant overall colour of the gem. Overtone is one or more translucent colours (secondary colours) that lie over the body colour, and orient is a shimmer of iridescent rainbow colours. It is worth mentioning that all pearls show body colour, but only some display overtone or orient, or both.

Size

Generally, the larger the pearl, the higher the value. Different types of pearls vary in size, with South Sea cultured pearls being the largest.

LUSTRE and texture

Lustre refers to the quality and intensity of light reflected from a pearl's surface and just beneath it. This lustre is one of the most critical factors in determining a pearl's beauty and value. High-quality lustre appears as a sharp, bright reflection of light, giving the pearl a radiant, almost mirror-like finish. Pearls with excellent lustre will seem to glow from within, with a deep, luminous quality. Conversely, pearls with poor lustre may look dull or chalky, lacking the brilliance and depth that make pearls so desirable.

Texture refers to the surface quality of a pearl, including any natural imperfections, smoothness, and the overall feel of the pearl. The texture can range from perfectly smooth to slightly rough or bumpy, depending on how the pearl formed within the oyster.

While a smooth, blemish-free surface is often more desirable and can increase a pearl's value, some natural imperfections—like tiny pits, ridges, or rings—are common and add unique character to each pearl. These surface features can sometimes create intriguing patterns and enhance the pearl's natural beauty.

STRAND LENGTHS

Choosing the right pearl strand length depends on your personal style, the occasion, and your body type. Here's a quick guide:

Collar (12-13 inches): Sits snugly around the neck and is perfect for formal events or high necklines.
Choker (14-16 inches): A versatile length that complements almost any outfit, from casual to formal.
Princess (17-19 inches): The most popular length, falling just below the collarbone, ideal for both high and low necklines.
Matinee (20-24 inches): A great option for professional or semi-formal wear, sitting at the top of the bust.
Tea (25-28 inches): Particularly suited for daytime events and can easily transition to evening wear. Pairs well with business attire and casual wear.
Opera (28-36 inches): Adds drama and elegance, often worn doubled or knotted for a classic look.
Rope (37 inches or more): Long and luxurious, this length is perfect for layering or wrapping multiple times around the neck for a statement piece.

Consider your wardrobe and where you plan to wear the pearls to choose the length that best suits your needs.

CARE

Wear them regularly: Contrary to popular belief pearls actually benefit from being worn regularly as the natural oils from your skin help maintain their lustre. Wearing them prevents them from drying out, as they absorb the moisture from the skin's natural oils.
Store pearls safely: You should lay your pearls flat to prevent the strands from stretching and keep pearls away from other, harder jewellery as this prevents scratching. Consider storing pearls in cloth bags to avoid direct contact with other jewellery. Do not sure pearls in plastic or air tight containers as it can affect the pearl's moisture leading to deterioration.
Clean with a damp cloth: Wiping down pearls after wear with a damp cloth to prevent staining; avoid using a toothbrush due to potential scratching. Make sure they are dry before wear to prevent any stretching of strands.
Avoid perfumes and moisturisers: Wait at least 30 minutes after applying personal care products, such as perfume and moisturisers, to put your pearls on. This will help to prevent staining or damage to the pearls. Makeup, sunscreen and even hairspray are included!
Bathing and swimming: Excess moisture can also harm your pearl jewellery, too. Water can weaken the stringing material of pearl strands, causing them to break. Additionally, chemicals in shampoos and soaps can dull their lustre, while chlorine in swimming pools may cause surface pitting. Pearls are especially sensitive to extreme temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to heat and sun can cause pearls to dry out, crack, or even turn brown. Always remove pearl earrings and necklaces before showering, swimming, sunbathing, or spending time in a sauna to protect their beauty.

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The Jewellers Association of Australia acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.