Home & Lifestyle winter 2018

Broken Bay Pearls

Originally famous as the host to the Japanese cultured pearl, the Australian Akoya oyster is native to the east coast of Australia. It is only natural these pristine waters produce a more radiant pearl than found anywhere else in the world. Unlike the pearls of Asia, the Broken Bay Australian Akoya pearls are not bleached or artificially coloured. They are naturally lustrous and uniquely pure. An Australian Akoya cultured pearl is produced by a pearl oyster and by the normal processes of pearl growth. The only difference between a natural pearl and the cultivated variety is that a nucleus has been placed into the oyster to enable the pearl to have a good start. It ensures a larger and more evenly shaped pearl is produced. Pearls that were taken from the water in ancient times were natural. Today naturally occurring pearls are extremely rare. Australian Akoya cultured pearls from Broken Bay are special because they can be found in a wide variety of natural colours that range from classic white and silver over more unconventional colours like yellow, orange, pink and blue. The pearls are allowed to grow for 18 months before they are harvested, which is above average for most Akoya farms. The pearl-oysters needed to produce these pearls are also native to the local shoreline and have produced fine quality pearls since around 1999. The Akoya cultured pearls industry goes back to the early 1900s when Kokichi Mikimoto produced the first fully round Akoya cultured pearls in Japan. Cleaning your pearls As a general rule with pearls, they should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. This is to help prevent spritzing your perfume or other products on your pearls and accidentally damaging them. Every now and then you’ll need to give your pearls a more thorough clean. Use mild soaps, warm water and a soft cloth. Don’t immerse pearls in water, use a dab technique. After you have washed your pearls and rinsed them in clean water, wrap them in a cotton towel to dry. Never use cleaning solutions intended for silver or other jewellery, detergents or ammonia-based cleaners to wash your pearls. Pearls, symbolise loyalty, purity and faith. They are also the birthstone for June and used to celebrate the 30th Wedding Anniversary. Broken Bay Pearls are available at Seaspray Jewellery Umina . Come in store to see these beautiful pearls to choose your very own and create your one of a kind design. Seaspray Jewellery, the home of Broken Bay Pearls.

314 West Street, Umina 2257 02 4341 2223 | 0422 635 439 david@seasprayjewellery.com.au www.seasprayjewellery.com.au