Chinese Name: 维纳斯

English Name: Venus
Pearl Variety: South Sea Pearl
Color: White

Features: Pure, round, and with a strong luster

South Sea white pearls are mainly produced in the South Pacific Ocean (the waters off the northwestern coast of Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines). They are cultivated by the large Pinctada maxima, and their main color is white. Since Australia is rich in these pearls, they are also known as Australian white pearls.

Venus is the goddess of love and beauty in Roman mythology. Like pearls, she was born from the ocean and is a symbol of eternal beauty. Venus is the highest rating for South Sea white pearls, representing the highest level of overall pearl quality.

Introduction

The full name of South Sea pearls is South Pacific seawater pearls. They are specifically located near the deeper waters of Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. "Australian white" pearls are the cream of the crop among all South Sea pearls. Generally, only South Sea white pearls produced in Australia can be called "Australian white" pearls.

Pinctada maxima

The mother shell that produces Australian white pearls is the largest pearl oyster in the world - the "Pinctada maxima", which is generally about 25 - 28 centimeters in size and weighs 3 - 4 kilograms. It also has the longest growth cycle among all pearl oysters, usually more than 5 years. Different from freshwater pearl mussels that can be artificially bred, Pinctada maxima mother shells are very difficult to obtain through artificial breeding and can only be fished from the ocean. Moreover, the vast majority of mother shells can only produce one pearl in their lifetime.

Evaluation and Grading

The grading of South Sea white pearls can be carried out from seven aspects: size, shape, color, luster, surface finish, nacre thickness, and matching.

1.Size:

8 - 19 mm, with common sizes ranging from 9 - 15 mm.

2.Shape:

 Round, Near - round, Drop, Button, Oval, Baroque.

3.Color

Body color: White (including white, cool white, and warm white).

Overtone: Pink, green, and iridescence.

4.Luster: 

Very good, good, fair, and poor.

5.Surface finish: 

Very good, good , fair , poor.

6.Nacre thickness:

 South Sea pearls usually have a nacre thickness of 1.00 - 3.00 mm.

 Very good - good is defined as ≥1.00 mm.

7.Matching: 

The matching is divided into four grades: very good, good, fair, and poor.

For a South Sea pearl to reach the Venus level, it must meet the following conditions:

1.It should be of the Noble or Magnificent grade in the Guild Pearl Grading System.

Roundness/Symmetry: Perfectly round - round / very good - good symmetry.

Luster: Very strong - strong.

Surface flaws: Flawless - few flaws.

Nacre thickness: ≥1 mm.

2.Color: White.

3.Overtone: medium - very strong.

Origin

Australian white pearls are mainly produced off the northwestern coast of Australia. They need to grow in clean, clear, and warm waters with a rich environment. It is precisely this superior growth environment that gives Australian white pearls an outstanding luster and a smooth surface, making them elegant and romantic, which is highly favored by the high - end jewelry market.

The selection and maintenance of Australian white pearl farms are very particular and require at least five elements:

1.Good water quality: 

The water quality of the breeding sea area must be good and rich in nutrients to facilitate pearl growth.

2.Strict operation procedures: 

The entire process of breeding mother shells requires strict and standardized operation procedures to keep the mother shells in a happy and relaxed state (yes, it's that human - oriented) to ensure pearl quality.

3.Complete infrastructure: 

Ships for transporting and harvesting pearls, aircraft for detecting the sea environment, and various types of testing instruments are all essential.

4.Stable breeding environment: 

The breeding sea area must be protected. It is not in an open sea area. It is advisable to choose an area with natural mountains as a barrier or carry out harbor construction as much as possible.

5Water depth: 

The tidal range off the northern coast of Australia can reach 20 meters. During low tide, it is necessary to ensure that the mother shells are not exposed to the air and are still protected by seawater.

Rarity

In terms of time, the quality of pearls varies in different breeding sites. It takes at least 3 years to test the quality of pearls, which is a huge challenge in pearl cultivation. 

Another major reason is that decentralized breeding can also cope with uncertainties such as climate change and changes in the marine environment. Therefore, Australian white pearls are known as the finest pearls. The annual output is approximately more than 800,000 grains, which is about 1/4 of South Sea golden pearls, 1/9 of Tahitian black pearls, and 1/50 of Japanese Akoya pearls. Since each pearl oyster can only produce one pearl, it is scarce and precious.

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