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UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural organic and biogenic materials · Organic or biogenic material · Cultured formation; treatments recorded separately
White South Sea Cultured Pearl
Also known asAustralian white pearl (not to be used as a name)
A white South Sea cultured pearl, mostly from Pinctada maxima; the name "Aobai" (Australian white) additionally claims an Australian origin, which requires evidence. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How White South Sea Cultured Pearl forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale; where its colour and optical effects come from, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify White South Sea Cultured PearlIdentification points from the research literature; how far lab testing can go
- Treatments and enhancements of White South Sea Cultured PearlThe enhancements and treatments the GB/T and JJA/AGL tables list
- Caring for and wearing White South Sea Cultured PearlCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them
- Hardness, density and refractive index of White South Sea Cultured PearlEach value with its source and check date
- White South Sea Cultured Pearl in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name; and: Has any of GIA, FTC, CIBJO or Gem-A put a name for it on record here?
- Listing and disclosing White South Sea Cultured PearlThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Layers, outside to centre:
- nacre
- shell bead
White South Sea cultured pearl (“Aobai”) is a marine cultured pearl grown in the Pinctada maxima oyster with a whitish bodycolor; its genetics and formation match South Sea cultured pearls, and it is a type defined by mollusk species and bodycolor, while “Aobai” is a commercial abbreviation further claiming Australian origin. In formation, a technician inserts a shell bead together with a small piece of mantle tissue into the gonad of P. maxima; the mantle epithelium forms a nacre sac and secretes nacre inward and onto the bead layer by layer, and the colour of the oyster's nacre edge (gold- or silver-lipped) often influences the cultured pearl's nacre colour. Authoritative sources describe white South Sea pearls and Australia's producer status but do not define “Aobai” as a formal name, so its claimed origin must be treated with care and verified by provenance.
Scope: Applies to explaining the host mollusc, producing areas and bodycolour of white South Sea cultured pearls; no formal definition is given for the commercial shorthand 'Aobai' (Australian white).
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Spring 2015 · G&G Fall 2021 +1
- CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 (Pearl Commission) — Blue Book
- Cultured Pearl Market Update (Gems & Gemology, Spring 2015, Vol. 51, No. 1)
- Internal Structures of Known Pinctada maxima Pearls: Cultured Pearls from Operated Marine Mollusks (Gems & Gemology, Fall 2021, Vol. 57, No. 3)
- Pearl Description (GIA Gem Encyclopedia, Simplified Chinese edition)
Where it forms
The gonad and nacre sac inside the Pinctada maxima oyster
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021
Farms in tropical waters such as Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021
How it forms, step by step
A shell bead together with a small piece of mantle tissue is inserted into the gonad of P. maxima.
The mantle epithelium forms a nacre sac and secretes nacre inward and onto the bead.
Nacre is deposited layer by layer; the colour of the oyster's nacre edge (gold- or silver-lipped) influences the nacre colour.
After a long growth period the pearl is harvested, yielding a whitish bodycolor.
Link to appearance
A white to silvery bodycolor, sometimes with pink overtones; thick nacre and large size, regarded as a hallmark of fine pearls.
Sources GIA Pearl Description (Chinese edition)
Timescale
Cultured pearls from P. maxima generally require a minimum growth period of about two years to yield thick nacre layers (a general growth period for this species).
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Spring 2015 · G&G Fall 2021 +1
- CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 (Pearl Commission) — Blue Book
- Cultured Pearl Market Update (Gems & Gemology, Spring 2015, Vol. 51, No. 1)
- Internal Structures of Known Pinctada maxima Pearls: Cultured Pearls from Operated Marine Mollusks (Gems & Gemology, Fall 2021, Vol. 57, No. 3)
- Pearl Description (GIA Gem Encyclopedia, Simplified Chinese edition)
Related base materials
- South Sea cultured pearl: This material is the white type of South Sea cultured pearl
- Cultured pearl: Saltwater pearls cultured in Pinctada maxima, belonging to cultured pearls
Supporting findings
White 'South Sea' cultured pearls come from the Pinctada maxima oyster. The largest source of the white (silver-lipped) kind is Australia, whereas Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines are the chief producers of the 'golden' (gold-lipped) kind.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes the mollusk and producer status, not a formal definition of the “Aobai” abbreviation.
Recorded localities
This is an organic material; its localities are the harvest or culture areas (waters or species ranges) recorded by authoritative sources.
Asia
- Indonesian waters
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · GIA Pearl Description
- CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1)
- Pearl Description
- Philippine waters
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · GIA Pearl Description
- CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1)
- Pearl Description
- Myanmar waters
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · GIA Pearl Description
- CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1)
- Pearl Description
Seas and coasts
- North-western and western Australian waters
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · GIA Pearl Description
- CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1)
- Pearl Description
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Causes of colour and optical effects
South Sea cultured pearls range in tone from white through silver to golden; the nacre colour of a cultured pearl is often affected by the colour of the oyster's mother-of-pearl layer.
Evidence grade AScope: A general statement of colour origin, not tied to the “Aobai” name.
Sources GIA Pearl Description (Chinese edition)
How it is identified
Cultured, natural and imitation pearls can look alike, so the unaided eye cannot fix their category or whether a pearl was treated. Laboratory identification combines standard gemmological testing with advanced equipment: real-time X-ray radiography and microradiography gauge nacre-layer depth in bead-cultured pearls, UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) help determine pearl type and detectable treatments, and computed micro-tomography (micro-CT) may be used when finer data are needed. Limitations: classification depends on comparison with reference master sets, thin nacre makes instrumental measurement still more necessary, and the final conclusion must be issued by an accredited pearl laboratory through testing.
Evidence grade AScope: Identification and classification points; testing must be performed by an accredited pearl laboratory, and no self-test thresholds are given.
Sources GIA: How GIA Identifies Pearls · CIBJO Pearl Book 2024
Other research findings
“Aobai” is a commercial abbreviation claiming Australian origin; authoritative sources do not define it as a formal grading name, and its claimed origin must be treated cautiously and verified by provenance.
Evidence grade CScope: A naming-boundary judgement; the sources do not define this abbreviation.
Sources GIA Pearl Description (Chinese edition) · G&G Spring 2015
For judging fine pearls, white South Sea cultured pearls still serve as the benchmark, and the finest Australian South Sea necklaces are usually made of pearls ranging from white to pink.
Evidence grade BScope: A market opinion rather than a formation fact, hence rated B.
Sources G&G Spring 2015
CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 includes and defines 'South-sea cultured pearl' (5.186) but does not include a 'white South Sea / Aobai' name, so that name still lacks a dedicated authoritative definition (retained at C).
Evidence grade CScope: Naming-boundary judgment; CIBJO has no dedicated 'white South Sea / Aobai' clause, and 5.186 must not be treated as its dedicated definition.
Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024
Pearl quality is usually assessed through lustre, nacre thickness, surface, shape, colour and matching (GIA summarises the pearl value factors as seven: size, shape, colour, nacre, lustre, surface and matching). White South Sea cultured pearls are saltwater cultured pearls known for their large size, thicker nacre and soft, deep lustre. The market generally prizes large size, a strong yet soft lustre, white to silvery-white colour (possibly with pink or green overtones), a clean surface and a round shape, along with close matching within a strand. Category and any treatment must be determined by an accredited laboratory through testing.
Evidence grade AScope: This describes the pearl quality characteristics the market generally prizes; it is not a grade for any specific specimen and is neither price nor investment advice; pearl category (natural or cultured) and any treatment must be determined by an accredited laboratory on the specific specimen.
Sources GIA: How GIA Identifies Pearls · CIBJO Pearl Book 2024
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- “Aobai” is a commercial abbreviation emphasising origin that the available authoritative sources do not formally define, so this judgement is rated C.
- The sources describe white South Sea pearls' producer status but give no criteria for judging the origin claim itself.
- CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 does not include a 'white South Sea / Aobai' name; it defines only 'South-sea cultured pearl' (5.186).
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- White South Sea Cultured Pearl (use the Australian white designation only with evidence)
GB/T 16552—2017 5.1.1 c), 5.1.2.3 c)
Construction or treatment status
Cultured formation; treatments recorded separately
Treatments recorded for this material: Bleached (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material)
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
"White South Sea Cultured Pearl" is a market name rather than a mineral species name; before using it, verify: Biological species must be confirmed.
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "White South Sea Cultured Pearl (use the Australian white designation only with evidence)" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- This entry's exact material identity is not fully settled.
- See “Disclosure and cautions” above
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Trade-name ruling
- Biological species must be confirmed.
- Suggested listing name
- White South Sea Cultured Pearl (use the Australian white designation only with evidence)
Care and wear
The normal and special care that applies to all natural and cultured pearls, and so to White South Sea Cultured Pearl (CIBJO Pearl Book §7.1, §7.2; the source says this advice counts as normal across the whole range and should be passed on to the buyer), is set out in full under care on the Pearl entry.
Care
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Treatments and identification leads
One row per treatment, with three standards side by side: how often it occurs and how stable it is (CIBJO), its category in GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (this site's paraphrase) and how the JJA/AGL 2025 table lists it. Each CIBJO value links to its entry under “Testing and market”, where the wording and source are given in full.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bleaching | — | — | Optimization | — | — |
| Dyeing | — | — | Treatment | — | — |
| Irradiation | — | — | Treatment | — | — |
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (row for Cultured Pearl)
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
For White South Sea Cultured Pearl, "Australian white pearl" must not be used as a name (16 CFR Part 23 §23.21(k); CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 §4.4.1.1.2); one further name in a non-Latin script is listed in the name register below (1 with no restriction recorded on use as a name).
Names in four languagesThe four-language names for White South Sea Cultured Pearl cover Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (White South Sea Cultured Pearl) and Japanese. Chinese standard nameThe corresponding national-standard name (the name itself is not listed in the original) is saltwater cultured pearl, from the “Saltwater cultured pearl (saltwater pearl)” row of GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3. Trade and mineralogical namesTrade names and synonyms include a Chinese name meaning Australian white pearl and Australian white pearl. Recommended listing nameThe suggested listing name is White South Sea Cultured Pearl (with “Australian white” used only where there is evidence). Institution usageThe wording of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A for this name is not yet verified by this site; White South Sea Cultured Pearl is the entry's own English name and does not represent the position of GIA, FTC, CIBJO or Gem-A. Japanese namesThe GSJ (Japan) wording for this name is not yet verified, and the entry's own Japanese name is shown. Sub-names and unacceptable namesAustralian white pearl is a name that may not be used, with “Pearl” as the related high-risk name; the Chinese “Australian white pearl” is a market name, and “Australian white” is a market short form, not a material species, with related high-risk names including the Chinese terms for Australian white, heavenly maiden, aurora and baroque.
Name register
Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Name | Type | Matching | Use as a name | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no restriction recorded (1) | ||||
| 澳白珍珠Simplified Chinese | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Related high-risk name “Australian white, Tennyo, Aurora, Baroque”: “Australian white” is a market abbreviation, not a material. |
| not to be used as a name (1) | ||||
| Australian white pearlEnglish | market name | matched automatically | not to be used as a name | 16 CFR Part 23 §23.21(k); CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 4.4.1.1.2; Note: Related high-risk name “Pearl”. |
How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- 白色南洋養殖真珠／白蝶養殖真珠 (not yet checked for this body — the entry's own Japanese name is shown)
- GB/T naming counterpart (this name is not in the standard)
- 海水养殖珍珠 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3, row “Saltwater Cultured Pearl”)
- Mineralogical name
- White South Sea cultured pearl, generally from Pinctada maxima; “Aobai” (Australian white) additionally claims Australian association
- Trade names and synonyms
- Not to be used as a name: Australian white pearl (market name)
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 白色南洋养殖珍珠（澳白）
- 繁體中文
- 白色南洋養殖珍珠（澳白）
- English
- White South Sea Cultured Pearl
- 日本語
- 白色南洋養殖真珠／白蝶養殖真珠
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural organic and biogenic materials
- Browsing family
- Pearl and molluscan shell materials
- Identity tier
- Organic or biogenic material
- Mineral chemical class
- Not applicable
- Construction or treatment status
- Cultured formation; treatments recorded separately
Treatments listed by standards
White South Sea Cultured Pearl is assigned the treatment classification of the cultured pearl row of GB/T 16552—2017 Annex B, Table B.1: bleaching is an enhancement, and dyeing and irradiation are treatments. Applying Table B.1 in this way is this site's note; the standard itself does not register White South Sea Cultured Pearl in Table B.1. The effects recorded for bleaching, dyeing and irradiation are on the Cultured Pearl page; the notes to Table B.1 and the definitions of each grade are on the Gem treatments page.
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Under the “Cultured Pearl (Pearl)” row of Table B.1: Bleaching Optimization; Dyeing Treatment; Irradiation Treatment. The full row, with the effect column, is on the Cultured Pearl page.
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
What it is and how it's identified
Among the registered material facts for White South Sea Cultured Pearl, density takes the value for saltwater cultured pearl (the whole class), while structure, Mohs hardness, cleavage, stability, refractive index, birefringence and the quality factor (lustre) take the values for cultured pearl (the whole class); none of these are data measured on White South Sea Cultured Pearl on its own. For cultured pearl (the whole class), the structure has an inorganic part of radiating aggregates, with aragonite orthorhombic and calcite trigonal, and an amorphous organic part; Mohs hardness is 2.5–4; cleavage is generally not seen on an aggregate; when untreated it effervesces on contact with acid; refractive index is 1.53–1.68, which this site's registration notes is a spot-method reading, a typical value rather than an absolute limit, and also notes that the clause has finer sub-ranges, with the overall value taken; birefringence cannot be measured on an aggregate; and when untreated the quality factor (lustre) is pearly. For saltwater cultured pearl (the whole class), density is 2.72–2.78 g/cm³.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Luminescence, UV-visible spectrum, infrared spectrum, magnification: these whole-class features are given in the cited clause for cultured pearl (the whole class), so they are not repeated on the White South Sea Cultured Pearl page; see the material facts on the Cultured Pearl entry.
Items below that name the class they cover give the cited clause’s value for that whole class, not a measurement of White South Sea Cultured Pearl (how to read class-level values).
Structure
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — structure (overall): inorganic part: aragonite (orthorhombic) and calcite (trigonal) in radiating aggregates; organic part: amorphous.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Durability
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — Mohs hardness: 2.5–4
GB/T 16553—2017
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — cleavage: generally not seen on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — stability: effervesces in acid
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Physical properties
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — density: 2.72–2.78 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- saltwater cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 Density · Saltwater cultured pearl (locator checked 2026-09-28)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — feel (texture): feels gritty when two surfaces are rubbed together
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Optical
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — optic character: aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — refractive index: 1.53–1.68
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives this as a value read by the spot (distant-vision) method. It is a common value, not an absolute limit.
- General note
- the clause has finer ranges
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — birefringence: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — pleochroism: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Quality factors
White South Sea Cultured Pearl — quality factor (lustre): pearly
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- What this covers
- cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.605 / 2.75; Closest values: 1Larimar 1.62 / 2.82, 2Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl 1.595 / 2.84, 3Aquamarine 1.58 / 2.79, 4Turquoise 1.63 / 2.65, 5Prehnite 1.625 / 2.88
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Pearl-producing molluscs (CIBJO Annex D)
Pearl-producing molluscs (CIBJO Annex D): §9.10 Australian south-sea pearl oyster · §9.60 Pinctada maxima · §9.78 Silver-lipped pearl oyster
Testing and market
The CIBJO laboratory protocol covers White South Sea Cultured Pearl under “Pearl” (§6.2.19): see identification on the Pearl entry; the required tests are listed on the CIBJO laboratory protocol table for Pearl.
How far testing can go
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Pearl Book (Blue Book), 2024.
- GIA – Gemological Institute of America (United States). Gem Encyclopedia: Pearl Description.
- eCFR (United States). 16 CFR Part 23 — Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries.
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
Related-entry tree for Pearl on this site: 17 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (White South Sea Cultured Pearl) is marked.
- Pearl
Sub-entries (16)
- Abalone Pearl
- Akoya Cultured Pearl
- Baroque Cultured Pearl
- Blister Pearl
- Circled Cultured Pearl
- Cultured Pearl
- Freshwater Cultured Pearl
- Freshwater Natural Pearl
- Keshi Cultured Pearl
- Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl
- Natural Pearl
- Saltwater Cultured Pearl
- Saltwater Natural Pearl
- South Sea Cultured Pearl
- Tahitian Cultured Pearl
- White South Sea Cultured Pearl
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Pearl and molluscan shell materials | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Bleached (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material) | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the White South Sea Cultured Pearl entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.