Take a look at some fun facts you might not have known about pearls and their origin.
- Pearls are the only Gemstone to be produced from a living organism
- 99% of the pearls seen on the jewellery market are cultured pearls, and it is very rare to come across a natural pearl. Natural pearls are amongst the rarest jewels in the world, making up only 1% of the global jewellery market commanding a very high price.
- There are 4 types of pearls species including White/Gold South Sea Pearls, Tahitian Pearls, Akoya Pearls & Freshwater Pearls.
- Pearls can be crushed and used for cosmetics and skin care products
- The pearl is the birthstone for the month of June, and gift chosen to celebrate a 30th anniversary
- A Pintada maxima oyster, which produces the South Sea pearl, can be seeded up to 4 times producing up to 4 pearls and is the most coveted and valuable of all pearls.
- Pinctada maxima oysters are rhythmic hermaphrodites, changing sex from male to female and they may have more than one gender reversal in a lifetime.
- The colour of a South Sea pearl is determined by the colour of oyster ‘lip’ which is the outer edge of the shell.
- South Sea pearl farming is a sustainable practice and requires pristine ocean conditions to produce high quality pearls.
- All bi-products of South Sea pearl farming including the pearl, pearl meat and Mother of Pearl shell are sold.