American Pearl is world renowned for its collection of the finest quality Golden South Sea Pearls available in the world; the richest color, the cleanest surfaces all guaranteed natural color. Purchase Golden South Sea Pearls here wholesale at a fraction of retail prices knowing you are getting the finest quality pearl necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets available.

Golden South Sea pearls are produced by the “gold-lip” variety of the Pinctada maxima, which is a general South Sea pearl oyster. Although their color is stunning, as if made from spun gold, the color is completely natural. More commonplace in the South Sea among pearls are white, cream and silver. However, Golden Pearls are very rare; less than one percent of Pinctada Maxima oysters produce nacre of this color! They are grown primarily in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The first attempts at cultivating South Sea oysters were made in the Philippines in 1917, and those islands are still a primary producer of these luxurious gems.

A day in the life of a Philippine Golden Pearl farmer begins at 5am, when the boats go into the warm ocean to retrieve the special nets used to house the Pinctada maxima. The nets act as a framework for the oysters, which attach themselves to the nets. Once the nets are retrieved, the oysters are carefully removed. The oyster’s shells are cleaned of the algae and other sea life that form a symbiotic relationship with it. This algae is often dried and used as fertilizer, as many farms in the Philippines are as concerned with sustainability as with the quality of their product.

These oysters are first sorted into different sizes; the smaller oysters are placed back into their protective nets to allow them to mature. To assure their health, oysters are not grafted with the nucleus of a pearl until they reach a certain size, which can take between two to three years. The grafting process is only performed once the oyster has reached the optimum health and size.

This grafting process is identical to the method used for implanting other salt-water pearl oysters. A round bead or nucleus is inserted into the oyster, creating a matrix around which the nacre or iridescent layers can form. As Pinctada maxima reaches full growth in two years, and a Golden Pearl can take two to three years to form, it is a five year process to cultivate each individual gem.

Often, in order to not disturb the oyster too soon, they are x-rayed to determine if it is safe to harvest the pearl growing inside. If the oysters are not ready, they are released back into the tropical waters.

Today’s well-known Golden Pearl farmers, such as the famous Jacques Branellec, are all dedicated to environmental sustainability. They work to not only nurture their oysters, but also to nurture the environment that produces these rare gems.

Like other South Sea pearls, the pearls grown in the Pinctada Maxima are commonly as large as 12mm, but frequently can grow to 14mm in diameter. In addition to this luxuriant size, the color of the pearls produced by the rare gold-lip Pinctada Maxima shines like pure gold. Their size and scarcity make these stunning natural gems among the most sought after and prestigious ornament available today!

Golden South Sea pearls hold the title for rarity. Among pearl aficionados, Golden pearls are seldom seen and prized by collectors for this reason. Pearl grafting technicians carefully implant a sliver of the super golden mantle tissue which borders the perimeter of the Pinctada Maxima oyster along with the mother-of-pearl bead which initiates the formation of a pearl. It is the meticulous selection of the golden mantle tissue which allows this oyster to deliver a super-saturated vivid golden colored pearl.

Whether you are looking for a formal Golden South Sea pearl necklace for a special occasion, a classic timeless cultured pearl earring for everyday wear or a matching Golden Pearl bracelet, we offer complete line of the finest quality expertly matched pearls available. All of our Golden pearls are purchased directly from the farmers, imported to our wholesale Fifth Avenue showroom in New York and expertly matched and drilled by our GIA trained pearls specialists. 

If you are looking for a custom Golden South Sea Pearl Necklace (specific size, color or length) that you do not see here offered on our website or in our catalogs, please contact us as we can offer you a custom piece made to your exact specifications. In addition, our newly formed 3D Jewelry design group can design any pearl jewelry piece you can think, model it in CAD/CAM and render a custom piece to your exact specifications for your review such as this custom designed Tahitian Pearl Ring 

Source : American Pearls

The Abernathy Pearl -This 44-grain, natural freshwater pearl, is the most perfect pearl ever found in the rivers of Scotland. A 44-grain natural pearl is a rare find, and even rarer still is to find a pearl of such outstanding quality as the Abernathy. This famous specimen is nicknamed "The Little Willie Pearl".

The Abernathy pearl was discovered in the River Tay in1967 by a professional pearl diver by the name of Bill Abernathy (hence its name and nickname). The pearl was found in an odd-shaped mussel, common to the River Tay.

The Scottish have searched their abundant rivers for centuries seeking prized pearls. Freshwater pearls were indeed found in abundance until the Industrial Revolution polluted the waterways and wreaked havoc on the pearl producing mussel populations. The Abernathy was displayed for nearly 30 years in a jewelry store in the city of Cairncross until it was sold for undisclosed sum in 1992.

The Arco Valley Pearl
Reportedly given to Khubilai Khan, the emperor of China, by Marco Polo, the Arco Valley Pearl is a baroque pearl weighing 575 carats, or 2301 grains, (78 x 41 x 35 mm) and is a white pearl with overtones of pink and brown.

The Big Pink Pearl
Valued in 1991 at $4.7 million US dollars, the Big Pink Pearl is listed in the Guiness book of World Records as being the largest natural abalone pearl ever found. This baroque gem weighs a full 470 carats.

The purported owner of this gem is Wesley Rankin, who found the pearl while diving at California's Salt Point State Park in Petaluma California in 1990.

The Gogibus Pearl
This pear-shaped pearl was the largest know pearl discovered during the early 17th Century off the coast of the West Indies. The gem weighs a hefty 126 carats. It is said that King Philip IV purchased this pearl from a merchant name Gogibus who wore the pearl as a button in his cap in 1620.

The Hope Pearl
Most likely the largest and most famous natural saltwater pearl ever discovered, the Hope Pearl, is an astonishing gem. The pearl weighs 1,800 grains (450 carats), or approximately 4 ounces! The Hope is a white, drop-shaped blister pearl, measuring approximately 2 x 4 inches, and ranging in color from greenish-gold on one end to white on the other.

Currently residing in the British Museum of Natural History, the Hope Pearl was once owned my Henry Philip Hope, the one-time owner of the Hope Diamond.
The Huerfana (Spanish: The Orphan)

The Huerfana was one of the most splendid gems of the Spanish Crown Jewels. Remarkably, it has been reported that this large pearl was not discovered within an oyster, but found in a shell bed in the Gulf of Panama.

The Huerfana was a remarkable pearl because of its perfect shape, large size, and brilliant luster, and was once owned by Doña Isabel de Bobadilla, the first female governor of Cuba. The Huerfana was reported to have been destroyed, when the Spanish palace burned in the 18th century.


Charles I Pearl
A famous pearl, now lost, destroyed, or hidden away by a discreet collector, was that of King Charles I. Artist Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) painted several portraits of the king, many of which show a large drop pearl hanging from his left ear. In the portrait, Charles I, King of England, from Three Angles, 1636, which is now on display at the Windsor Castle in the UK, a clear representation of this great pearl is visible. King Charles I was executed in 1649 and as the pearl was so greatly coveted, it was said that as soon as his head had fallen from his body, a horde of witnesses surged forward to steal the prized gem.
Charles II Pearl

Like his predecessor, King Charles I, King Charles II possessed a remarkable pearl. Reported as very similar to La Peregrina, The Charles II pearl was given to the monarch by Don Pedro de Aponte, Conde Del Palmer, a native of the Canary Islands.
This amazing pearl, which weighed more than 130 grains, was found in 1961 (more than 100 years after the similar La Peregrina), and is reported to have been destroyed in a fire in 1734 – a short-lived reign of such a regal pearl.

The Jomon Pearl
The Jomon pearl is the oldest known pearl in the world. This pearl reportedly dates back more than 5,500 years, and is named after a period in Japanese history called the Jomon era, from 10,000-300BC. Although there are no written records of this era, dating has been deduced through the many artifacts (such as the Jomon Pearl) recovered at the site where it was found.

Gresham Pearl

A pearl whose fame was garnered in no less than its destruction for Queen Elizabeth was known as The Gresham Pearl. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the merchant prince known as Thomas Gresham was known to possess a large natural pearl valued at £15,000. In a toast to his queen and to astonish the Spanish ambassador, it is said that Sir Thomas Gresham crushed the pearl and drank it in a glass of wine. This was done to win a wager with the Spaniards to prove that he could provide a costlier feast to for the queen. As history does not give us a full description of this pearl, the valuation appears to be excessive when compared with other pearls of the period. This story is strikingly similar to that of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony.
La Peregrina (Spanish: The Pilgrim)

Known once as the Phillip II pearl, La Peregina, (not to be confused with La Pellegrina) was once the most celebrated pearl of its time. Weighing a large 203.8 grains, La Peregrina was celebrated not only for its great size, but also its perfect pear shape, and bright white coloration.

La Peregrina was found off the coast of Panama in the 16th century, and was promptly delivered to King Phillip II of Spain who presented the gem to his new bride, Queen Mary of Spain. The gem later belonged to Queen Margaret as well as Joseph Bonaparte, before the British Marquis of Abercorn acquired it.

In 1969, La Peregrina was purchased by actor Richard Burton for a mere $37,000, as a gift for his wife, Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth Taylor, a pearl lover and a catalyst of Tahitian pearl popularity, owns La Peregrina to this day.
La Pellegrina (Spanish: The Incomparable)

The published history of the ‘La Pellegrina’ pearl does not discount the claims of the French that the pearl was originally part of the French crown jewels. The historical records of La Pellegrina simply state a description of the pearl similar to that of La Reine De Pearls, and states that the saltwater pearl was found off the coast of South America. Once a part of the Spanish crown jewels, La Pellegrina was brought to Russia from India in the 18th century, and was known as the Zozima Pearl. As the true stories of La Reine De Pearls and La Pellegrina will probably never be proven, this will continue to be a mystery of pearl history.

La Pellegrina disappeared for a number of years, quietly tucked away by a collector, only to resurface and to be auctioned off at Christie’s auction house in 1987. The pearl sold at auction for $463,800.

La Reine De Pearls
This large round pearl of a reported 27.5 carats was once a part of the French crown jewels. It was listed in the crown jewel inventory in 1791 for an astonishing 200,000 francs. It had been purchased for 40,000 livres from a gem dealer in 1961. The listed description of the pearl describes it as, “a virgin pearl, perfect, round, and of fine water.” The majority of the French crown jewels were stolen from the Garde-Meuble in 1792, and the thieves also made away with a pearl, many of which believe was ‘La Reine De Pearl’. It is also believed that this pearl made its way into the possession of the Zozima Brothers (jewelers of the Czar of Russia), who promptly renamed the gem ‘La Pellegrina’.

Pearl Grading for Earrings, Necklaces, and Bracelets

Pearls have several general grading factors. Size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and matching.

1- Size- Pearls usually range from 2mm to over 20mm in pearl earrings black rare occasions. Pearls of larger
size are generally more expensive due to the longer creation times. More information on pearl sizes can be found by clicking the link.

2- Shape- Roundness is accepted as the most valuable and rare type of pearl. Irregular pearl shapes, however, are becoming increasingly more popular in recent years and are commonly used in fashion pearls design jewelry. In your pearl shoppingPearl Ringadventures you
will come across near round, off-round, and almost-round, and perfectly round shapes of pearls. These all refer to being round in shape in general.

Oval pearls are shaped like eggs. You will also run into baroque pearls which indicates being irregualr in shape. Oddly enough these pearls are commonly found to be more expensive than round pearls. You will see this in Tahitian pearls which are some of the most expensive and rarest on the market.

3- Color- Pearl colors are generally softer colors, in subtle hues of soft colors. A uniformed color all the way around the pearl is most sought after. Pearls with this factor make a unifrom looking set. Often pearls are dyed to meet the demands of fashion. Special treatments ensure that the pearls will never fade or run. If you are looking for quality this is one pearl factor you should be looking for.


4- Luster- A thick luster and the translucency of the pearl are most important steps leading to excellent luster. Luster is defined as the amount of light reflected off the surface. For simplicity let's break luster down to two categories. Low luster and high luster. Low luster appears "murky" whereas a high luster will have a uniform mirror shine. Excellent luster is achieved when the pearl or pearls reflects light brightly and sharply.

5- Surface Quality- A smooth surface with out bumps, gaps, spots or other imperfections are very rare in Pearl Necklacepearls as they are a creation of nature. Of course these are the types of pearls that are most desirable. At Aloha Pearls we only carry pearls with very good to excellent surface quality.

6- Nacre Quality- Thick nacre is imperative to the beauty and value of the pearl. Thick nacre adds to the beautiful luster of a pearl. It is classified as the coatings of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that covers the nucleus.

7- Matching- Matching pearls was covered a little in the colors paragraph #3. Matching is very important when creating a strand of pearls. If the strand is not matched correctly it will look odd. Matching doesn't only refer to colors, shape of pearls is also looked at when making a strand. There are many strands that utilize more than one color of pearls but they still look uniform. You can view a beautiful tahitian necklace we have that uses this technique. This matching of pearls makes the strand more uniform and valuable.Pearl sizes vary depending on the type of oyster or mussel that they come from. Generally speaking pearl size is one of the most important factors of value, although color suchs as pink, black, and whites, can also influence price. Naturally, the larger the pearl, the more valuable it is. The reason behind the size of the pearl can be of many factors, mainly the time the mollusk was under water but there are several other factors. These include the health of the mollusk, the size of its nucleus, climate, and nutrients in the water, and or pollution. Pearls are usually between 2mm to 20mm, these are of course extremes on both ends. Some are known to reach a size of 50mm in length! Refer to the chart below to get a good idea about sizes.

Source from Aloha Pearls