Are South Sea pearls worth it?

Fine South Sea Pearls are the superlative pearls, the crème de la crème of pearls, the most coveted and sought-after of all cultivated pearls in the world. They are unique in that they exhibit very high levels of each of the value factors – size, shape, luster/nacre thickness, surface cleanliness and rarity.

Are South sea pearls a good investment?

Investing in South Sea Pearls

They may be more expensive than other pearls, but their quality and incredible value make them a good investment. If you take care of your pearls, and repair and restring them when needed, these pearls could be passed on for many generations.

What is so special about South sea pearls?

South Sea pearls are generally much larger than other pearl types and have a unique luster quality – a soft reflection due to the large aragonite platelets that make up the pearl. They also have the thickest average nacre of all cultured pearls. These factors make South Seas both distinctive and valuable.

How can I tell if my South sea pearl is real?

The first and the easiest way to tell if a pearl is real is by feeling it. When you touch a real pearl, it feels cool and warms up when worn. Fake pearls feel warm, and can be sticky when felt with fingers. A natural pearl has a unique weight.

What color of South sea pearl is the most expensive?

Pearls produced by the gold-lip South Sea pearl oyster range is colors from a creamy white to a deep gold. The varying hues in between are often referred to as yellow and champagne. Each of the colors may be beautiful in their own right, but the most valuable is gold.

South Sea Pearls Tutorial with GIA Graduate Gemologist Hope Meyer

Do South Sea pearls have flaws?

Damaging and Non-Damaging Blemishes

It's important to remember that some blemishes won't detract from the beauty or value of a pearl, and this is particularly true with South Sea pearls. That's because it takes these pearls 2 to 3 years to develop, and flawless or slightly flawed South Sea pearls are extremely rare.

Why is Southsea pearls expensive?

Because South Sea Pearls form over longer periods of time, they are more costly to cultivate. For this reason, there are a limited number of South Sea pearl farms, making the truly prized South Seas exceptionally rare. Not all cultured pearls are good enough to become Assael pearls.

What is the price of South Sea pearls?

South sea pearls price per carat ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 5,000 per carat Plus.

What is the difference between Akoya and South Sea pearls?

South Sea Pearls of 9.5 – 10.5 mm sizes are more common. But the smaller Akoya oyster has a hard time producing a pearl as large as 9.5 – 10.5 mm, making these pearls much rarer, hence the higher price. Akoya Pearls are preferred for someone wanting a bright white/pink lustrous strand in this “overlap” size range.

Is South Sea pearl natural?

Natural Pearl Colors: Golden and White South Sea pearls are admired around the world for their totally natural, organic beauty.

How do you care for a South Sea pearl?

Store pearl jewellery wrapped in a soft cloth to protect it from rubbing against harder gems or abrasive objects. Occasionally clean your pearls gently with a cloth dipped in alcohol diluted with warm water or in mild soapy water. Rinse the cloth in fresh water and wipe pearls clean.

What color pearl is the most valuable?

The larger size makes South Sea pearls and black pearls the most valuable type of pearl. On Mikimoto's website, this strand of South Sea cultured pearls is selling for $32,000. The other notable difference between pearl types is the color.

What is the highest quality pearl?

White South Sea and Golden South Sea pearls are the most sought-after cultured versions of the gems in the world. That's because they are the rarest, and offer the most luster and greatest pearls sizes. Both Golden South Sea and White South Sea pearls are cultivated in saltwater.

Do pearls lose their value?

Natural or Cultured Pearls

Of all these attributes, the most important is LUSTER! If a pearl has bright, crisp, sharp, and glowing luster then it is beautiful and therefore valuable. If a pearl displays low, soft or chalky luster then the pearl is not nearly as beautiful and is automatically downgraded in value.

Are South Sea and Tahitian pearls the same?

South Sea pearls are naturally delicate pastel in hue and color. They range from being soft white to creamy champagne and pink. Tahitian pearls, on the different side of the spectrum, are bold and dramatic, since the natural color is black.

Which is better freshwater pearl or South Sea pearl?

There are many reasons that freshwater pearls are considerably lower priced than South Sea pearls: A single freshwater pearl mussel is capable of producing up to 50 pearls at a time. The pearls are only left in the water for a maximum of 6 months. The pearls are often smaller in size.

Are Mikimoto pearls a good investment?

Even a simple strand of Mikimoto pearls can set you back thousands of dollars. And the princes only get higher the more intricate the pearls. Therefore, we're inclined to say that Mikimoto really isn't worth the money — save your money and stick to the fake stuff.

What is the difference between fresh water pearls and South Sea pearls?

The main difference between Freshwater Pearls and Saltwater Pearls is: Freshwater pearls are nearly 100% nacre, whereas Saltwater pearls are of a thinner nacre coating from 0.5mm to 6mm. Freshwater pearls are cheaper, whereas Saltwater pearls are generally more expensive due to their scarcity.

Which country pearl is best?

Japan is the acknowledged leader in Akoya pearl production – known to produce the best, most consistently beautiful Akoya pearls in the world.

How do you clean pearls that have yellowed?

Key Steps

1. Wipe pearls with warm water first.
2. Make a soapy water mix to clean your pearls.
3. Always use a soft cloth to avoid damage.
4. Rinse thoroughly with plain, clean, cold water.
5. Dry using clean cotton.
6. Use nail polish remover to whiten yellowed pearls.

What is the best grade of South Sea pearl?

South Sea pearls are famous for their high gloss luster. We have four grades of pearl luster: Very High (AAA), High (AA), Medium (A) and Soft (B). This is the quality of the light reflections from the pearl's surface. Pearls are said to have high, or very high, luster when the reflections are bright and sharp.

Why are they called South Sea pearls?

South Sea pearls are cultured using a large, white-lipped oyster, hand-selected from the waters of the South Pacific. The oyster is about twice the size of the Akoya pearl oyster and produces much larger pearls. These luxurious pearls are cultured in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Japan and Thailand.

What are AAAA South Sea pearls?

AAAA High-Grade South Sea pearls representing the top 2% of a pearl harvest. A Pearls having flaws on at least 60% of the pearl surface, with 20% containing deep imperfections. AA Flawless pearl on 40% if its surface, with the remaining 50% having minor imperfections and 10% containing deep flaws.

Are Tiffany pearls worth it?

Are Tiffany Pearls Good Quality? Definitely! Tiffany's sell some VERY high-quality pearls, and their jewelry craftsmanship is impeccable. Their Tahitian and South Sea pearl jewelry offerings are nothing less than gorgeous.