South Sea Pearls

Gold, silver, white, black and pink balls and jewelry.

The country has a long tradition in producing fine south sea pearls since very long time. Before cultured were invented the Salone pearl divers harvested them from the ocean floor in the Myeik Archipelago. 

Today "pearl farms" at the same location which is between there and Kawthaung at the south end of the country produce them and most are top quality.

It took a long time to get this going, because during the communist days the State made a joint venture with a Japanese company but finally they split.

They have gorgeous jewelry made from them such as rings, bracelets, pendant, baroque pearls, earrings, necklace plus pretty mother of pearl items. Small shops at Bogyoke Market also offer freshwater pearls from India, this items are rather cheap but give beautiful necklace chains from rose to white. 

The biggest pearl ever. 

On the seabed at Mukkalauk oyster exploration area north-west of Zadetgyi Island in KawthaungTownship >, Taninthayi Division. That was 6.2 cm in length, 5.3 cm in width and three cm in height, exceeding the measurements of the Hope Pearl recorded as the world's largest. The weight is 45.06 mommes, 845 carats, 169 grams and 929.50 yatis. 

According to Gemological Institute of America, the Hope Pearl found in about 1800, was 5.71 cm in length and 90 grams in weight. The silvery sphere was found in an oyster of Pinctada Maxima species. Myanmar Andaman PearlCo. Ltd. found it and handed it over to the State. here are more pearls pictures >.

Selling loose spheres.

Either white, gold, silver and black come from the Andaman Sea around the unspoiled Myeik (formerly Mergui) archipelago in the south.  They are available either as cultured or natural and baroque. The most coveted are gold pearls. This recious items can be found at numerous shops in the Bogyok Aung San Market >. There are all kind of jewelry made from this pretty spheres.

They make very pretty compositions with diamonds and other precious stones.

For other items such as high quality bracelet, earrings, necklace or wholesale freshwater pearls better contact a bigger jewelry shop or wholesale company at the Bogyoke Market. Loose spheres with white or rather cream color are also available, this includes baroque forms.

There are other types of loose fake ones which are somehow compressed from pearl dust which is collected when making jewelry, which means they are from the same material like normal but a composite.

Beads together with jade or other semi-precious stones > are creatively crafted into some nice native ethnic jewelry. Cultured freshwater spheres are much lower in price than the other from seawater.

The products come in various designs such as rain, tear or dew drop, lustre, grace, charm, elegance, etc. In local fables, folktales, folklores, language, literature and songs even in the Buddha Mamma they play no small role.

Superstition is still alive.

Long time ago they thought this are coveted treasure with supernatural power worth waging a war to possess. It is a gift to the king or queen to win royal favor, a reward for excellent service or bravery, a bribe to win lawsuit or to escape from capital punishment or as military tactic to divert or delay the enemies in hot pursuit by spraying pearls on their trail or even as an essential ingredient in the concoction of elixir of life, panacea for longevity or aphrodisiac drug.

This jewelry combined with ruby, amethyst, jade, sapphire and various semi precious stones plus with mother of pearl is pretty and popular.

Classification of this pretty jewelry.

Thus, Nawarat Kopa or Nine Precious Gems are (1) Ruby, (2) Pearl, (3) Coral, (4) Emerald, (5) Topaz, (6) Diamond, (7) Sapphire, (8) Garnet and (9) Cat's eye (Moonstone).

Best or good pearls are assessed by five standards, say pearl experts. They are (1) size, (2) shape round, baroque or irregular, (3) color silvery white, creamy, pink or gold (4) surface, smooth, no flaw or no blemish or rough and (5) luster which is the most important quality.

Silver Pearls >

No other gems, diamond, ruby or sapphire, can produce luster. Unlike stones they and corals are not hard sub-stances. They are sea products of calcium carbonate, very fragile and are not immune to sweat, perfume, lipsticks, all kinds of cosmetics and chemicals. They are also sensitive to dampness, heat and light. Due to their unique luster and texture they gained popularity with both wearers and collectors.

The Myeik Anchipelago > in the southernmost part of the country comprising over 800 beautiful islands became well-known as "mines of good natural pearls" as well as "the best fertile marine soil' for cultivating them.

The Salone Pearl Diver >

The start of the Jade and Gem Emporium. 

In Myanmar (Burma) a biannual emporium is held in Naypyidaw gemstones, jewelry and pearls. Before it was held in Yangon our decades ago stepped up the industry, notably Myanmar Pearl Enterprise. At these yearly emporiums, rubies, sapphires and jades were highlighted and other semi-precious stones were second priority items.

Not only Myanmar but also international auctioneers and buyers focused on this type of pearls as well since the demand for these sea treasures increased every year. Today, sale and auction are held separately to meet the demands of pearl lovers and the yields are encouraging. The best for buying them is to visit Bogyoke Market in Yangon they have the widest selections of freshwater and seawater cultured items.

In the Gem Museum on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road.

Yangon City > has countless shops selling precious and semiprecious stones plus pearls of superlative size and quality are on display. Among the largest fine ruby, sapphire, jade, peridot, topaz, garnet aquamarine, etc., a natural pearl of 9.3 mommy weights is given place of honor on the coils of a jade statue of Naga serpent with its hood sheltering above and its two ruby eyes glaring at you.

The Museum has additions of super-size, shape and quality that are recent discoveries. For example, up to now ranked as the biggest natural pearl in the world, extracted from an oyster of Myeik seas is in the shape of a round pincushion, weighing 845 carats or 45.06 mommy and 62 x 50 x 31 millimeters. It has the silvery luster.

Next is the biggest cultured sphere from Myeik. It has an irregular shape, weighing 9.8 mommy, 32 millimeter wide and 41 millimeter high, many more are yet to turn up.

Jade Bangles >

Other items sold are jade, ruby, sapphire, gold, diamonds and the whole range of semi precious stones.

Jade Pendants >