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Australia is the world’s major producer of white South Sea pearls, for during the 1998 season the tropical waters off northern Australia yielded ~ 60 per cent of total world production of these much desired and very valuable bead-nucleated cultured pearls.
White South Sea pearls are large (>10 mm diameter) rounded, lustrous, white, silvery, cream, or golden pearls that are cultivated by man in the gold- and silver-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) that is indigenous to the off-shore waters of northern Australia. Other white South Sea pearls produced by the Australian pearling industry include ‘accidental’ whole baroque keshi pearls, and cultured bead nucleated half pearls that are commonly termed mabés.
The white South Sea pearl is a comparative newcomer to Australia’s pearling industry, for the history of this primary industry stretches back for well over a century to the time when Australia was one of the major supplier of natural pearls to European and American markets. |
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 White South Sea Pearls
The value of world cultured pearl production during 1998 has been estimated to be Japanese akoya (US$180 million), Chinese akoya (US$25 million), white South Sea (US$220 million), black South Sea (US$150).
World production of white South Sea cultured pearls for the 1998 season was 650 kan (2437.5 kg or ~2.5 tonnes). This contrasts strongly with world production in 1936, which was a mere 5 kan (18.75 kg). |
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