BROOME’S LIVING GEMS

It takes a skilful hand to bring out the best in Australian South Sea pearls, and Jewels of the Kimberley’s award-winning jewellers are the best in the business.

The extraordinary Kimberley region, one of the most unique locations in the world, is famous for its ability to produce the highest quality pearls out of all producers on the planet. The enormous tides continuously flow past each oyster providing them with an abundance of nutrients and unpolluted, clean ocean water.

South Sea pearls from Broome grow to the largest size known to man, and exhibit a lustre that is unprecedented.

Jodi Penfold, Creative Director of Jewels of the Kimberley, ignited her career (after completing her Goldsmith and Gemmologist studies) in Broome grading pearls with one of the elite pearl farms, which is situated off the Broome coast. The company is not affiliated with any one pearl farm, which is a great position to be in as it gives designers the opportunity to select and showcase the best of the best quality gems from selected and preferred pearl farms.

Each pearl is carefully hand-selected according to the five virtues: lustre, complexion, shape, colour and size. Each comes with a certificate authenticating the five virtues and the origin. Whether you are purchasing Broome pearls online or in the studio, you can be sure that you are receiving pearls of unsurpassed quality.

South Sea pearls are saltwater pearls grown inside the largest pearl-producing oyster, Pinctada maxima. This oyster can produce pearls in silvery white, cream white or very occasionally gold, with subtle hues of pink, blue or green. Australian South Sea pearls, each so naturally beautiful, require no treatment of any kind. The pearls from Pinctada maxima have a thick and lustrous nacre coating that is known as orient and this results in pearls of the best quality, in sizes up to 18 millimetres and very occasionally exceeding 20. These pearls are amongst the world’s largest, and as such are highly sought after.

The waters off Broome’s coast in Western Australia is the only place in the world with naturally occurring commercial quantities of Pinctada maxima. Australian South Sea pearls are some of the most valuable and desirable pearls on the market. It is for this reason that Jewels of the Kimberley showcases Broome pearls in jewellery designs that enhances their unique characteristics. It takes local knowledge, careful consideration and a sophisticated aesthetic to allow each pearl to truly shine. This is what makes Australian pearl jewellery so distinctive, and is the reason Jewels of the Kimberley exhibits its pearl jewellery across Australia. www.jewelsofthekimberley.com.au

9ct white gold Grandé Soho French hook earrings, featuring a pair of Broome South Sea pearls. RRP $2350 18ct white gold Triple Embrace Pendant with white and gold South Sea pearls. RRP $13,750

18ct white gold Fishtale Ring with South Sea pearl and 11 white diamonds. RRP $6650