In the warm tropical waters surrounding Indonesia the farming of South Sea Pearls produces many pearl varieties. The more expensive pearls are perfectly round in shape with strong metallic lustre and perfectly clean surface that is free from blemishes. The less expensive pearl varieties include Keishi, baroque, semi round and oval shape pearls. The pearl colours common in this region are gold, white, silver and pink.
Keishi pearls are those that are produced as a byproduct of seeded pearls. While the seed is being placed into the oyster grains of debris fall into the oyster and the same material that produces the pearls is deposited onto this debris to produce uneven shaped normally small keishi pearls. Baroque pearls are formed in a unsymmetrical manner which produced a pearl with noticable irregularities. The most common irregularity is the circle baroque which has a distinct circle pattern around the pearls perimeter.
The other major factor about South Sea Pearls is that they grow larger than other pearl varieties due to the warm tropical waters. Commonly Akoya pearls will reach a maximum size of 10mm while it is common to see South Sea Pearls 14mm or larger. As pearls are sold by weight it is worth noting that a 14mm pearl weight is approximately 4 grams while a 12mm pearl weight, which is only 2mm smaller in diameter is around 25% less in weight.
