AN INNOVATOR AND WORLD LEADER IN PEARLING
Paspaley is the world’s leading producer of cultured South Sea pearls, supplying strands, pairs and loose pearls to the world’s leading jewellery retailers and wholesalers.
Paspaley operates the world’s last significant pearl diving operation and is the only source of natural pearls collected using regulated sustainable and environmentally responsible methods.
AUSTRALIAN SOUTH SEA PEARLS
Australian South Sea Pearls are the rarest and most valuable pearls in the world. They combine unrivalled size, nacre quality and natural colour and lustre.
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Paspaley’s Pinctada maxima oysters are obtained through a combination of wild pearl oysters hand collected by our divers and hatchery production.
The majority of Papsaley’s pearl production is derived from wild Pinctada maxima pearl oysters collected by our divers followed by hatchery produced shells. Both methods are regulated through a system of licenses and quota.
While the hand collection of wild Pinctada maxima pearl oysters by our divers is logistically complex, it is a sustainable collection method.
Paspaley voluntary seeks independent third-party sustainability certification from the Marine Stewardship Council, an international non-profit organisation that certifies under their Fisheries Standard.Â
The Marine Stewardship Council re-certified Paspaley’s pearls and mother of pearl in 2023 as sustainable, with Certificate Number: MSC-F-30005. This certification is valid to 2028. The certification process was independently evaluated by bio.inspecta and accredited by ASI under the ASI-ACC-041 voluntary sustainability standard.
HERITAGE AND AUTHENTICITY
THE AUSTRALIAN PEARLING INDUSTRY
The Australian industry has a long and unrivalled history as the source of the world's most valuable pearls and mother-of-pearl.
The 80 Mile Beach pearling grounds were discovered in 1861. These pearling grounds were the richest ever found, and supplied 75% of the world’s demand for mother-of-pearl for the following century. They were also the source of many of the most important natural pearls ever discovered.
By 1910 Broome had become one of the most important pearling centres in the world, with nearly 400 luggers and over 3,500 people employed in the pearling industry.
Paspaley pearl farms and the hand collection of wild Pinctada maxima oysters by our divers are regulated under the Western Australia’s Pearling Act 1990 and Northern Territory’s Fisheries Act 1988. This is implemented through a combination of licences and a quota system that sets out the maximum number of Pinctada maxima oysters that can be hand collected by our divers and farmed each year. Due to managed regulation, Australia’s Pinctada maxima oysters have followed relatively stable long-term trends.
Paspaley lugger, circa 1950
Nicholas Paspaley, MBE
A selection of Paspaley natural saltwater pearls
RARITY
The Australian South Sea pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) is the largest and rarest of all pearl oysters and produces the largest and most valuable of all pearls.
Australian production accounts for a mere 0.1% of global pearl production by weight but over 20% by value. Australia’s pearl production is regulated by way of a quota system enforced by the Australian Government.
QUALITY
White South Sea pearls with fine natural lustre and colour overtone (known as ‘orient’) are produced almost exclusively in Australia. Pearls from other regions are typically subjected to various treatments to replicate this appearance.
WILD PINCTADA MAXIMA OYSTERS
Australia has the world’s last pearling industry using wild oysters collected by pearl divers for pearl cultivation. All other countries use hatchery-reared oysters.
PASPALEY GUARANTEES NATURAL COLOUR AND LUSTRE
The beauty of a fine quality pearl is revealed the moment it is removed from the oyster. Such pearls require no colour or lustre enhancement.
As with other gemstones, lower quality pearls are commonly subjected to various processes to improve their appearance. Light processing will improve the lustre of a lower quality pearl. This type of treatment does not negatively affect the pearl’s structure but the lustre may fade after a few years.
Heavy chemical treatments may adversely affect the physical integrity of a pearl and can sometimes impart a coarse and chalky look and feel, diminishing the quality and appearance of the pearl over time.
Chemical enhancement is an acceptable practice when properly performed but enhancements must always be disclosed by the vendor as they do affect a pearl’s value.