Cultivated primarily in Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and the islands of the South Pacific. They are produced by the oyster species Pinctada maxima.

South Sea pearls tend to be both the largest and the rarest of pearls. Their rarity is due to the fact that growing larger pearls requires a great deal of time, during which many things can go wrong: the oysters can die, the pearl can become misshapen, etc. Thus, South Sea pearls tend to be among the most expensive of pearls, commanding high prices for quality specimens. Their most common colors are white, silver, and gold.

History
Click on any of the following links for additional information:

History South Sea Cultured Pearls

Myanmar (Burma)

Australia

The Pearl-Producing Bivalve Mollusks

Philippines

Malaysia and Thailand

Market Situation  White South Sea Cultured Pearls

The Grading Procedure