South Sea Pearls & Tahitian Black Pearls: Is There a Difference?
Tahitian Black Pearls are sometimes mistakenly referred to as Black South Sea pearls. Nothing
could be further from the truth when you look at the differences in harvesting, not to mention that the true South Sea pearls comes from an
entirely different species of mollusk. The correct definition of a south sea pearl, which can be found in CIBJO and the GIA, is a pearl
produced by the Pinctada Maxima pearl oyster. South sea pearls are the color of their host Pinctada Maxima oyster - and can be white, silver,
pink, gold, cream, and any combination of these basic colors, including overtones of the various colors of the rainbow displayed in the pearl
nacre of the oyster body itself. Due mainly to the waters where the South Sea pearls originate, they have some distinctive characteristics
that are unique to this particular pearl. While the nacre of the average Akoya will range anywhere from 0.4 to 0.7 mm in thickness, the nacre
of a South Sea pearl from the Maxima will range from 2-6mm. This gives the South Sea pearls and unusually high degree of satiny luster that
is rarely seen in other species offerings. South Sea pearls are, by percentage of harvest, the largest commercially cultured saltwater pearl
in the world. The average size of a South Sea pearl is 13mm, with the extremes in a range of sizes from 9mm up to 20mm.
What Regions Harvest South Sea Pearls
The South Seas lie between the northern coast of Australia and the southern coast of China. These waters are the native habitat of the
large oyster, the Pinctada maxima. Unlike the pinctada margaritifera that produces the Tahitian pearls, the Pinctada Maxima cannot be found
in lagoons, instead it must be dived for in a rare number of deep ocean habitats. Two varieties of Pinctada maxima exist in the wild, the
silver-lipped and the gold-lipped maxima. The two varieties are easily distinguished by the coloration of the outer edge of the interior.
The inner shell is also referred to as mother-of-pearl and it is this material that determines the color of the developing pearl as the nacre
layers are deposited. Unlike the Akoya and freshwater oysters, the South
Sea oyster will only accept one nucleation at a time. The oyster is nucleated for the first time before it is fully mature, occurring at about
24 months old. Although the South Sea oyster will support only one pearl nucleas sack at a time, it can sustain approximately 3 nucleations
over the course of its life.
Pinctada Maxima Produces One Big Pearl
While the Tahitian Black pearls can come close in size to the South Sea pearls, the South Sea
pearls dominate in size over most of the saltwater relatives. The main reasons for this are fourfold. The first and most important reason
is that the Pinctada Maxima are the largest of the saltwater mollusks that produce pearls. Secondly, since the oyster is larger, the gonad
is correspondingly larger and can handle a larger implanted bead in the mollusk. Third, the implanted bead is left to grow for approximately
2 to 3 years, considerably longer that the Akoya. Finally, due to the warm nutrient filled waters of the South Sea, the layers of nacre are
deposited at a far greater rate than other saltwater pearls. test metal
From the Land
From the Sea
Jeweled Fusion
Learn about the pearls, keshi pearl, gem, gemstones, and gold we use in our necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
We cordially invite you to Experience Jeweled Fusion of Land and Sea where we combine shimmering precious and semi-precious
gemstones with lustrous pearls and keshi pearls to create exquisit handmade designer jewelry.
