The facts
What south Sea Cultured Pearl actually is
The species behind south Sea Cultured Pearl is bead-nucleated cultured pearl from the silver-lipped and gold-lipped oyster Pinctada maxima, Aragonite nacre over a shell bead nucleus; it forms in the aggregate (orthorhombic aragonite) system.
Conchiolin pigments; the gold colour derives from the gold-lipped shell margin and can be genuine or induced is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.52-1.69 and a specific gravity of about 2.67-2.78, with none cleavage.
Where south Sea Cultured Pearl comes from
Commercial material comes from Broome and the Kimberley coast, Western Australia, Bali, Lombok and West Papua, Indonesia, Palawan and Mindanao, Philippines and Myanmar (Mergui Archipelago).
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How south Sea Cultured Pearl is treated
The finest Australian production is genuinely untreated, and that is a large part of the price. Golden South Sea pearls are frequently colour-treated - dye or gamma irradiation - and treated goods are common from Indonesia and the Philippines; ask for a report on any expensive golden strand. No CITES. Australian production is quota-managed under a wild-shell collection licence.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What south Sea Cultured Pearl is confused with
Watch for Dyed golden freshwater pearls, Treated-colour South Sea pearls sold as natural colour and Large shell-bead imitations — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.52-1.69 and specific gravity 2.67-2.78 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What south Sea Cultured Pearl is used for
The trades that buy south Sea Cultured Pearl are jewellery. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat.
Durability and care
South Sea Cultured Pearl is 2.5-4 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What south Sea Cultured Pearl costs
Expect roughly $300-3,000 per pearl for 11-14 mm white round; fine golden strands $20,000-250,000, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is south Sea Cultured Pearl treated, and how?
The finest Australian production is genuinely untreated, and that is a large part of the price. Golden South Sea pearls are frequently colour-treated - dye or gamma irradiation - and treated goods are common from Indonesia and the Philippines; ask for a report on any expensive golden strand. No CITES. Australian production is quota-managed under a wild-shell collection licence.
Where does south Sea Cultured Pearl come from?
Broome and the Kimberley coast, Western Australia, Bali, Lombok and West Papua, Indonesia, Palawan and Mindanao, Philippines and Myanmar (Mergui Archipelago). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is south Sea Cultured Pearl hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5-4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does south Sea Cultured Pearl cost?
Indicatively $300-3,000 per pearl for 11-14 mm white round; fine golden strands $20,000-250,000. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is south Sea Cultured Pearl confused with?
Most often Dyed golden freshwater pearls, Treated-colour South Sea pearls sold as natural colour and Large shell-bead imitations. A refractive index of 1.52-1.69 and a specific gravity near 2.67-2.78 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for south sea cultured pearl?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about south sea cultured pearl