Tahitian South Sea
Because the culturing of the Pinctada Margariftifera, more commonly known as the Black Lipped Oyster, has grown so fast in the last decade, most people do not realise that the only naturally black pearl is actually less valuable than the Australian variety. That is not to say it does not have a value. The Black Lipped Oyster is still harvested in significantly smaller numbers than the Japanese Akoya, which in itself makes them scarce. Production has grown to such a point that there is now a quality threshold for all pearl farms in which to grade whereas below standard pearls are actually thrown back into the water. Tahitian pearls range in colour from blue/silver through to musky yellow, touching on aubergine and peacock. The general rule is that the darker ones are more valuable, but now all colours are very popular.

Australian South Sea
The Pinctada Maxima Oyster is the largest mollusc of its kind and lives mainly off the coast of Western Australia. With sizes ranging up to 30cm, they are able to produce pearls from 9-18mm and occasionally even larger. An average pearl harvest contains pearls of many shapes from round to drop and even fancy shapes called baroques. Of this selection, the majority will be low quality or even below commercial quality and very few will be of gem quality. Colours range from cool silver to pale cream. Jewellery made with Australian pearls can often be found in auction houses next to natural pearls because, due to their rarity, they have a very strong resale value.

Indonesian South Sea
A close cousin of the Australian Pinctada Maxima, the Indonesian Oyster can be differentiated by its golden lip. Due to the difference in diet and the warmer waters, these indigenous oysters produce pearls in natural clear white through to the deepest gold. It is these golden pearls that are perhaps the rarest and most valuable of all pearls cultured today. Although a close cousin of the Australian oyster, very few of these pearls are produced above 16mm with even 14-16mm fetching a premium. The harvest is the smallest of all cultured pearls and this is evident in its desirability.