Paspaley Pearls

Paspaley Pearls are born from the elusive Pinctada Maxima oyster, known for producing the finest Australian South Sea Pearls.
Paspaley pearls are cultivated through a respectful partnership with nature in the remote and nutrient-rich waters of the Northern Kimberley coast of Australia, a World Heritage marine park.

Yes. A foreign object is introduced into the mussel or oyster and the animal coats the irritant with a substance called nacre, the same material with which it builds its shell. Layers of nacre build up to produce a pearl.

A Pinctada Maxima oyster can take two to three years to cultivate a single pearl.

Discovering the ideal match can demand years of dedication from Paspaley master graders.

Our seeding and harvesting takes place from May – September each year.

Only nature can decide what shape and colour a pearl will be. While the small nucleus or seed implanted in a pearl oyster is round in shape; due to the thickness of the South Sea oysters nacre, the pearls emerge in a wide range of shapes.

Symmetry is rare in nature, and therefore round shapes are the most highly valued.

We invite you to discover more about The Five Virtues here.

The colour of South Sea cultured pearls is determined only by nature and can be any of the colours of the mother-of-pearl oyster in which it forms. The finest Australian South Sea pearl oysters can display a magnificent array of all the colours of the rainbow, and as such, Australian South Sea cultured pearls are found in a myriad of colours from golds though to silvers and, of course, white. Pearls may also have many different coloured overtones, which sometimes combine with a translucent lustre to produce the effect known as orient.

Birthmarks and slight complexion variations are naturally occurring features of pearls, which are unique as they are the only gem produced by living organisms. They are not considered faults.

It is exceedingly rare to find a pearl boasting a flawlessly smooth surface.

We invite you to discover more about The Five Virtues here.

A Keshi pearl is a cultured pearl without a solid nucleus. Keshi is a Japanese word that means "poppy seed" and is used to describe small pearls. These rare pearls are highly sought-after due to their beautiful, intense lustre and typically freeform shapes. Keshi pearls generally range in size from 2mm to 8mm but are occasionally found in larger sizes. Keshi account for approximately 1%, a tiny fraction, of Paspaley pearl production.

Pearls represent only 2% in value of total jewellery sales in the world. Cultured Australian South Sea pearls account for just 1% in volume of the global production of all cultured pearls, yet they account for nearly a third of the value.

This obvious preference for quality has increased the demand for high quality pearls worldwide, thus pearls of a certain quality will remain scarce, as increases in production take years in lead times, and quantities cannot be easily or cheaply increased by alternative sources.

The durability of all pearls cannot be described as if all pearls are homogenous. Untreated pearls are much more durable than treated pearls. Treatments and processes such as dyeing, bleaching and enhancing lustre by chemical treatment affect the durability of a pearl.

Good quality Australian South Sea pearls have on average at least 2mm of nacre. The natural pearl nacre of Australian South Sea pearls will respond well to body oils, etc. Being made primarily of calcium carbonate, it is softer than diamonds and will react adversely to acids which destroy calcium carbonate.

The Paspaley E-boutique offers an extensive range of Paspaley jewellery, and our boutiques offering may differ depending on your location.

Each boutique will carry a selection of unique Strands and High Jewellery which varies throughout the year.

Our Personal Shoppers have visibility to all Strands and High Jewellery and will happily assist in the sourcing process for you.

We endeavour to have pieces from our core collections available at all boutiques.

Due to the intricate nature of the Paspaley business; the rarity and difficulty in sourcing multiple pearls of the same type and quality, and the quality of our craftsmanship, with all pearls being hand-set in Australia, our stock availability may vary between boutiques.

We invite you to contact your nearest boutique to check product availability or contact our Personal Shopper to assist in the sourcing process.

If the product you are interested in is no longer available, please contact our Personal Shopper to register your interest here.

Paspaley will provide a Certificate of Authenticity with online and in-boutique purchases that contain an Australian South Sea Pearl(s), which guarantees the provenance and quality of the pearl(s) delivered to you.

Jewellery containing only Mother of Pearl, does not have an accompanying Certificate of Authenticity.

In the event your Certificate of Authenticity is misplaced, please contact your nearest boutique here for items purchased in boutique, or Customer Care here for items purchased online.

We do not provide digital copies of Certificates of Authenticity.

Visit your nearest Paspaley boutique and our Sales Associates will happily assist in determining your best ring size. A list of our boutique locations and contact details can be found here.

Alternatively, you can measure your ring size using our Ring Size guide here.

As ring sizes are not universal, please be advised that there may be slight variances between our sizes and those by other brands.

The Paspaley E-boutique carries a standard ring size range – sizes 52 – 56.

If your ring size is not immediately available, we will happily provide your first ring resize free of charge, within 3 months of purchase.

Alternatively, contact our Personal Shopper to have your preferred size created by our craftsmen. This process can take up 10 weeks.

Please note, most Paspaley Rings can be resized +2 or -2 sizes, although there are some exceptions. If you are unsure, please speak with your Sales Associate or our Personal Shopper.

We are unable to exchange or provide a refund for a ring that has been altered from its original size.

No. Paspaley is unable to offer a valuation service.

No. Paspaley is unable to buy back jewellery.

Paspaley Australian South Sea Pearls are sustainably sourced. Paspaley Australian South Pearls are certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council under their Fisheries Standard, with Certificate Number: MSC-F-3005. This certificate is valid from 2023 to 2028. Paspaley voluntarily seeks this independent third-party certification by the Marine Stewardship Council that assesses a number of metrics including the manner in which Paspaley cultivates and farms its South Sea Pearls.

Paspaley is proud to donate 20% from each Kimberley Bracelet purchase to the Garvan Institute.
To read more about our support of the Garvan Institute click here.
If you would like your donation directed to a particular cancer, please contact our Personal Shopper here.