Why South Sea Pearls Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

South Sea pearls are the largest cultured-pearl variety, sometimes reaching over 20 millimeters in diameter. The Pinctada maxima oyster can take up to five years to produce a single South Sea pearl, whereas more common freshwater oysters can take as little as three months and create dozens of pearls. This long cultivation process makes South Sea pearls rarer — and more expensive. A single South Sea pearl can cost $1,500, and a necklace can reach over $200,000. So, how are these pearls grown? And what makes them so expensive?

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Why South Sea Pearls Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

[StopMotionMakr]

When you consider it took 9 years to collect the pearls for that one necklace, 36, 000 is basically stealing.

[luxuryhub]

My mom found a purple pearl in an oyster she was eating and they valued it at like $750

[xwtek]

As a native Indonesian, the translation is quite off. The farmer said that they cleaned the oyster of moss, dirt, bacteria, and worms. They didn't talk about snails or insects.

[izzatihassan]

A lot of people love the classic pearly whites, but I love the pinkish tint ones like in 5:40. Even better if it's misshapen and made into an assymetrical jewellery!

[querube]

Me:"Who the hell is willing to wait 5 years for 1 godamm pearl"
**Remembers we Mexicans wait 7 years for 1 tequila plant**

[ganangnursatriaji]

As an Indonesian, I am happy to see that local people in Lombok can make the most of their natural wealth. With this video, I hope the Ministry of Home Affairs can open their eyes about state assets in Lombok, apart from the Mandalika GP circuit, to be developed with assistance in the form of education or investment.

[onebigdarkroom]

The import of the precursor is what they will always use to control the cost and value of the pearls. If they increase production, then the price gets driven down because they aren't nearly as rare.

[anyascelticcreations]

This is really interesting to me. I work with pearls as a designer but there is a lot that I learned in this video. For example, I didn't realize that pearls could be reshaped and shined like that. And I didn't realize that the nucleus was as big as it is. I wonder if I could learn to shape and buff some of my pearls that have flaws.

[ThyLoverly]

tbh i prefer the irregular shaped ones, they look more unique than the perfectly round ones which are copied too much.

[borabangtan]

I really hope this reaches some gov officials who actually care about the people and get them to support these local businesses either by giving them more chances to get better deals, more resources and or thru financial help. These people deserve more support from the country themself so that more locals develop interest in working with or for other locals

[alrighty]

That necklace has about 45 pearls and only cost $36k which means each pearl is less than $800. That’s still a lot for each. I wonder how much the guy sells his to the lady for it. The pearls are expensive because of its scarcity, increasing supply will bring down its cost

[hannahrobertson]

My mother has a pearl necklace grown in the shape of a cross, which a Chinese family of pearl farmers made by inserting a cross shaped base.

[cassandralyris]

I actually prefer wonkier pearls myself. There's something appealing about them to me. Like, a reminder that this is a natural object, a real one of a kind.
Also, can't they produce their own nuclei in Indonesia? I assume they're just rounded mussel shell, right? Or, does having the more expensive Japanese nuclei contribute to their appeal for some people? Either way, I can definitely see why these are so expensive.

[jacobw]

Dang, only 36, 000? I figured they were missing a zero somewhere considering that process.

[sweetpotato]

One of my favourite analogies is the oyster and the pearl. It secretes a solution around something foreign, as its unable to expel it. So even if we struggle with a problem, if we act kindly and positive with the situation, we can turn it into a pearl, which will say a lot about us :D

[Bretzel]

I always find it fascinating how they do ocean farming like this. The oysters look natural, as if they live in the sea when they are in the lab yet they aren’t; the oysters have algae and other microbes growing on them the same as if they were growing in the ocean. So interesting

[HANDY_WAND]

I work before from a pearl farm in the phillipines producing golden pearls.... love this video... it remind me of my passion...

[Kiki-D-Kimono]

I worked in a fine jewelry store for a while and sold an incredibly beautiful and expensive Tahitian black pearl ring that was several thousand dollars.

While I love pearls, my favorites are the cheaper freshwater variety, because I love those imperfections and differences of color.

[johnbroe]

Fascinating. The lengths we go to for shiny little things. 💎

[mzhlop]

As Indonesian and birth and grew up in Lombok. I am so glad that Bussiner insider took this story into the world.

Keep the good work!