South Sea Pearls | Golden South Sea Pearls | Tahitian Pearls | Tom Ross has assembled an international network of pearl dealers and suppliers to provide you with a wide selection of the only gem item that requires no cutting or polishing in order to display its magnificent natural beauty.

South Sea Pearls in Atlanta | South Sea pearls are defined as those produced by the Pinctada maxima mollusk.  These uncommonly beautiful pearls grow naturally, but are extremely expensive.  Even when cultured, South Sea pearls are not inexpensive.  They are currently cultured in waters throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, primarily in Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar.

South Sea Pearls in Color | South Sea Pearls come from two varieties Of Pinctada maxima mollusks, the silver-lipped and the gold-lipped.  The two are easily recognized by the natural and distinct coloration of the outer edge of the interior of the mollusk.  This type of shell is also known as mother-of-pearl.  It is this portion of the mollusk that is responsible for the coloration of the cultured pearls it will produced.

South Sea Pearls | Being one of the largest pearl varieties, South Sea pearls are prized for their size.  The normal average size of a South Sea pearl is approximately 13.0mm.  Typically, producers harvest a range in size from 9.0mm to 20.0mm.  The South Seas lie between the northern coast of Australia and the southern coast of China.  These waters are the native habitat of a large oyster known as Pinctada maxima.  This oyster grows up to 12 inches in diameter, and can be nucleated with a much larger bead than other saltwater oysters such as the akoya.

There are four reasons South Sea pearls can grow to such large sizes, dwarfing many of their other saltwater pearl counterparts.  These reasons are: the large size of the Pinctada maxima, the size of the implanted bead, the length of time the pearl is left to grow in the oyster, and the oyster's environment.  Due to the size of the oyster, it is able to accept a large bead. The gonad of the Pinctada maxima is several times larger than that of the akoya.  Because of this larger gonad, the South Sea oyster deposits nacre around the nucleus at a much quicker rate, especially in warm water, which speeds the oyster's metabolism.

The South Seas are also extremely clean, and filled with plankton - the Pinctada maxima's favorite food source.  The clean waters and abundant food supply also speeds the nacre production. The growth period for South Sea pearls is also substantially longer than that of the akoya. Akoya pearls are harvested after only 9-16 months, where as South Sea pearls are harvested after a minimum of two years allowing for a larger size.

South Sea Pearl Dealer in Atlanta | South Sea pearls have a number of distinct characteristics.  They have unusually thick nacre (the outer substance of the pearl), which ranges from approximately 2.0 to 4.0mm, compared to the 0.35 0.7 mm of an akoya pearl.  Additionally, South Sea pearls have a unique, satiny luster that comes from the rapidly deposited nacre and warm waters of the South Seas.  South Sea pearls also occur in a soft and subtle array of colors from white to silver, and golden, that are rare in other pearl varieties.

One of our many pearl suppliers is the largest importer of pearls into the United States.  So, please do not hestitate to contact us with any request or question about South Sea Pearls, Tahitian Pearls or Golden South Sea Pearls.  We will be very pleased to answer your questions or arrange for you to see a selection of one of nature's most beautiful gifts.