Of all the different pearl colours available the most expensive of these are the White and Gold South Sea pearls. As it takes such a long time for the creation of these particular pearls it means that we consider them to be more rare.
Kailis pearls are unlike any other on Earth. Highly sought after, the Australian South Sea pearl is revered as one of the best varieties of pearls in the world. Born from the rare Australian Pinctada Maxima oyster, our Australian South Sea pearls have the thickest nacre and a magnificent lustre, to rival any other.
South Sea. South Sea pearls are often referred to as the Rolls Royce of pearls. They are the largest and most valuable pearls grown today, with average sizes ranging from 10 to 15 millimeters. South Sea pearls grow in a large pearl oyster native to Australia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
A Pearl can double in price from one millimeter size to the next. For example a 12mm Perfect South Sea Pearl may be $1,000 and a 13mm Pearl with exactly the same characteristics might be $2,000 the increase in one mm in size literally makes that much difference.
Extraordinarily rare, naturally beautiful, unmatched in size. Australian South Sea pearls are grown inside the largest and rarest pearl-producing oyster, the Pinctada Maxima. They are highly sought after as the pearls produced are amongst the world's largest and most valuable.
Fine South Sea Baroque Pearls are much more valuable and desirable than Baroque Akoya Pearls. Because of the large size difference in the two primary varieties, a South Sea Baroque Pearl is more likely to have a critical mass of lustrous surface.
The majority of white South Sea pearls are cultured along the northwest coast of Australia. Pearls of the golden variety are also produced primarily in the Philippines and Indonesia - two countries that are quickly becoming the leaders in the finest golden South Sea pearl production.
The lip determines the pearl color. While the white pearls are also priced by jewelers, the gold pearl variety is the most coveted color. The gold South sea pearl's color can range from creamy white to deep gold, and the darker the color, the more expensive it becomes.
Australian South Sea Pearls are widely regarded as the most valuable Pearls in the world due to their size, lustre and scarcity.
Cygnet Bay is actually just one of several pearl farms in this part of North West Australia – and there's a very good reason for this. This area has the biggest tropical tides in the world – up to 12 metres from low to high.
Akoya pearls are the preeminent cultured pearls. They are the pearls that the Mikimoto brand popularized. Prized by royalty and pearl connoisseurs for centuries, Akoya pearls have long been coveted for their perfectly round shape, richness, and deep luster.
The most classic and widely preferred pearl color is white. The white pearl is considered a symbol of purity, and is often associated with wedding and graduation celebrations.
Mikimoto grades their pearls: A, A+, AA and AAA Quality, which is their highest/best pearl grade. Their AAA Quality Akoya are so rare, and so expensive, that there are only one or two strands produced each year.
If you want natural pearls, then head to Australia, the Persian Gulf or India. If you're after cultured pearls, then China is the place to go – it produces around 90% of all cultured pearls. Japan and South Korea also produce cultured pearls.
Japanese Akoya Standard Grades
AAA is the highest of the standard loose Akoya pearl grades that is not accompanied by a Certificate. This represents less than 3% of the pearl harvest making this grade of Akoya pearls extremely rare and high in value.
Lustrous pearls are prized pearls.
You should also be able to recognize some of your facial features reflected in the surface of the pearl. AAA quality pearls feature the best luster, AA+ quality pearls should have Very High luster and so on.
Today, Broome is still known for its pearling industry, which produces some of the finest pearls in the world. Founded as a pearling port in 1880s, by the turn of the century over 300 luggers were plying the rich waters of Broome's Roebuck Bay.
Austrian crystal pearls are faux pearls with a beautiful luster, uniform shape, and nice hole size for beading.
Exporters and Importers
In 2021, the top exporters of Pearls were Japan ($164M), Indonesia ($83.1M), China ($69.1M), Hong Kong ($55.8M), and Australia ($46.1M). In 2021, the top importers of Pearls were Hong Kong ($196M), Japan ($167M), United States ($66.1M), Australia ($25.6M), and China ($24.6M).
The highest value pearl colors belong to Tahitian pearls, and include blue, brown, purple, peacock and aubergine. Next is Akoya with white and silver, followed by freshwater pearls in shades of white and lavender. South Sea pearls in silver and gold are also very valuable and sought after by collectors.
Pearls are a Good Investment
Both natural and cultured pearls are fine gems similar to diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. Though pearls do not increase their value the same way as the mentioned gems, pearls can still retain their original value, especially if you care for them.
The cleaner the surface of the pearl, the more valuable it is. Look for an absence of disfiguring spots, bumps or cracks on the surface of a pearl, also known as "cleanliness." Notice that the highest quality pearls have a sharp, mirror-like reflection.
Each of the colors may be beautiful in their own right, but the most valuable is gold. South Sea pearls are quite large, and they tend to have very thick nacre.
Saltwater pearls are larger than freshwater pearls, and they come in a narrower range of shapes and colors. They are more expensive than freshwater pearls, but they are also more durable and can be worn in the shower and while swimming.
South Sea pearls, grown in the Pinctada maxima saltwater pearl oysters, are known to have the thickest of all nacre layers. The harvests consist of pearls ranging from 9.0mm to 16.0mm in size, and sometimes even larger.