Pearls Nurturing the finest mother-of-pearl reating the world’s most beautiful pearls Top photo: Paspaley’s pearl farms are dotted along the Crequires not only a pristine natural coast of North-Western Australia environment but also first-rate oysters such as Bottom photo: A Pinctada maxima mother-of-pearl shell the Pinctada maxima. The white mother-of-pearl Australia and in no other region more notably in these silver-lipped giants provides a lustrous than the 80-mile beach south of Broome. sanctuary for the organic gem to form, and “Australia produces the finest pearls because we an accurate barometer of the environmental have access to the best pearl oysters,” said Bracher. conditions and care involved in the pearl’s “It is the last region in the world whose production development. primarily comes from wild oysters hand-caught by But quite apart from the beautiful pearls it pearl divers. Almost all other pearls in the world produces, the mother-of-pearl shell itself has are produced from hatchery-grown oysters which long been treasured for use in buttons, jewellery are smaller in size and without the wild vigour of and inlay. Sustainable, easy to cut and use and Australian pearl oysters.” available in large sizes – due to the unusual size Paspaley’s pearl farms are also located in of the Pinctada maxima oysters – white mother- the wild oysters’ natural habitat, allowing them of-pearl is in consistently high demand. to thrive throughout the pearl farming process. Paspaley is a family-owned company that The remote waters of this virtually uninhabited has been involved in mother-of-pearl collection part of Australia are rich with nutrients and for almost 80 years. In the 1930s, founder Nick have enormous tidal flow to feed the oysters and Paspaley began his pioneering career by diving maintain their health. “The final ingredient is for wild oyster shells off north-western Australia. our pearl farming methods which set the world Today, the core of Paspaley’s business is the standard,” Bracher added. production of gem-quality cultured Australian He continued: “The pearl oysters used in the South Sea pearls, but the company is also the Australian South Sea pearl culturing process can world’s largest producer of white mother-of-pearl. be used several times, often spending as long According to Peter Bracher, executive director of as ten years on a farm, during which time they Paspaley Pearling Company, Paspaley’s average may produce up to three pearls. When their annual catch is between 300,000 and productive life is over, the mother-of-pearl shell 400,000 pearl oysters – about 90 is used in the manufacturing of high-quality percent of the Australian total. buttons and the meat is sold as a delicacy in many Paspaley mother-of- parts of the world. The Australian South Sea pearl is sourced from a pearl is a beautiful, emotionally evocative and sustainable wild natural socially responsible gem that people should be resource, making it suitable proud to wear and be seen wearing.” for creating high-end For more information on Australian South components. The silver- Sea pearls, Paspaley has created an educational lipped Pinctada maxima website set to launch in the coming months. oysters occur naturally Email [email protected] for an alert in the northern waters of upon launch. JNA 1 JEWELLERY NEWS ASIA May 2013.