Our Materials

At Pearls of Australia, each piece of jewellery is created with care by our artisans. From recycled materials to innovative materials like silk, leather and ceramic, we believe that the beauty of our jewellery is amplified by the integrity and quality of its story.

This guide introduces the materials that we use, whether it's gold, silver, or diamonds, every piece from Pearls of Australia carries with it the assurance of authenticity, traceability and craftsmanship.

Precious Metals

Hand-crafted in gold, sterling silver and vermeil, Pearls of Australia jewellery is made to last.

Gold Jewellery

Gold has been treasured for centuries, but not all gold is the same.

Its purity is measured in carats (ct) and is marked by a gold hallmark stamped into each piece.

  • 9ct Gold (375 Hallmark) - 37.5% pure gold with alloy metals for strength and everyday wear.
  • 14ct Gold (585 Hallmark) - 58.5% pure gold, offering a balance of durability and richness.
  • 18ct Gold - (750 Hallmark) - 75% pure gold, with a deep colour and long-lasting quality for heirloom pieces.

We work with yellow gold, white gold and rose gold, allowing you to choose the tone that suits your personal preference.

9ct Gold Jewellery
14ct Gold Jewellery
Shop 18ct Gold Jewellery

Silver Jewellery

We use 925 sterling silver, an alloy composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% strengthening metals. Each piece bears the 925 hallmark, your assurance to authenticity.

Our sterling silver jewellery is rhodium plated for brilliance and tarnish resistance.

Both the sterling silver and gold used in our creations is recycled, reducing environmental impact without comprising quality.

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Gold Vermeil vs Gold Plated

Our gold vermeil jewellery is made with a base of 925 sterling silver plated with a 3 microns of 9ct gold.

This is far more durabe than gold plated jewellery, which is often under 0.5 microns in thickness.

The result is an elegant finish that is designed to last.

Shop Gold Vermeil Jewellery

Precious Gemstones

Stunning gemstones and ethically sourced, natural diamonds accent our Australian grown South Sea and Akoya pearls.

South Sea Pearls - Grown at our Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (WA), our pearls feature stunning size, colour and lustre, totally natural in their beauty.

Akoya Pearls - Grown at our Broken Bay Pearl Farm (NSW), our pearls have a high lustre, making them the perfect choice for a vibrant beauty.

Mother of Pearl - Grown at our Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (WA), our Mother of Pearl shell represents who we are as farmers - utilising every aspect of our shell to create unique jewellery.

To complement the natural lustre of our pearls, we use carefully selected diamonds and gemstones.

Diamonds - All of our diamond jewellery is certified under the Kimberley Process, ensuring every stone is conflict free and ethically sourced.

Gemstones - We select natural gems, including malachite, onyx, tiger's eye, rhodonite, etc. These add vibrancy and individuality to some of our pieces.

Every gem is responsibly sourced, chosen to represent sustainable sophistication.

Leather Jewellery

Our leather jewellery is made from responsibly sourced leather, chosen for its natural strength and tactile beauty.

Designed to compliment our ethically sourced Mother of Pearl, leather adds a contemporary edge to traditional jewellery.

Silk Jewellery

We incorporate silk jewellery elements into select designs, pairing the softness of 100% silk cords with the elegance of pearls.

Our commitment to sustainable and ethically sourced is exemplified by our use of OEKO-TEX certified silk, ensuring our silk cords and rigorously tested and free from harmful substances.

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Neoprene Jewellery

Innovative and modern, neoprene jewellery provides a sleek and durable base for pearl jewellery designs.

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Ceramic Jewellery

Ceramic jewellery offers a bold aesthetic, offering durability and unisex designs when paired with pearls - a truly refined yet contemporary look.

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Hallmarks & their meaning

So, what is a hallmark? A hallmark is a stamped mark that certified the precious metal content of your jewellery. It ensures authenticity and protects customers by verifying the quality of their investment. With any Pearls of Australia jewellery you will have both the metal hallmark and the Pearls of Australia hallmark on the piece to ensure authenticity.

  • 375 - 9ct gold - 37.5% pure gold
  • 585 - 14ct gold - 58.5% pure gold
  • 750 - 18ct gold - 75% pure gold
  • 925 - sterling silver - 92.5% pure silver

Diamond Classifications

You might notice that our natural diamonds are either H/SI or G/Si, but you might be wondering what that means?

There are 4 C's when talking about diamonds:

  • Cut - Excellent / Very Good / Good / Fair / Poor
  • Colour - D (colourless) to Z (brown)
  • Clarity - Flawless / VVS / VS / SI / I
  • Carat - weight of diamond

As our diamonds are classed as H or G, this means they are near colourless.

The "SI" next to this refers to "slightly included", a clarity grade indicating very minor internal inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye, and are only noticeable under a 10x magnification loupe.

Discover our collection of pearl jewellery complemented by natural diamonds, gemstones, and other stunning materials.

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Learn more about how to care for your jewellery with our product care guide.

Product Care