Jewel of The Sea
If the diamonds rough hewn from the earth beneath us become 'a women's best friend'...what then can be said of these most natural of gems, the South Sea Pearl?   These moonlit orbs enhance, beautify and win the hearts of all like no other treasure. Pearls, described as nature's most perfect gem, are the lustrous wonders created by and emerging from a living oyster. They are adored in their natural state and without the need for crude faceting or polishing as required by other precious stones.

Nature's most precious gems, pearls and Mother-of-Pearl.

Perfect blends of nature's finest gifts.

Witness pearl seeding and harvesting demonstrations on tours.

South Sea Pearls, often times described as the 'queen of gems', stand alone amongst the world's many variations of pearls as the most valuable and sought after. Atlas South Sea Pearls, a major producer of South Sea Pearls, has its extensive breeding, research and training activities focused on the island of Bali. The company's Indonesian headquarters are also located here due to the excellent access to communication, transport and manufacturing facilities.

There are three main production centers in Bali. Penyabangan on the north coast is the main breeding and grow-out centre. Almost all of the company's annual pearl oyster production comes from Penyabangan and then is shipped to other locations for pearl seeding. The site is also home to a number of logistical support functions including the manufacturing of boats and other pearling equipment.

Two other sites located on Bali's southeast coast are also being developed as seeding and pearl growing centers. Karang Asem on the mainland and Nusa Lembongan Island supplement the Penyabangan farm. Despite the difficulties experienced in Bali in recent times due to terrorist acts, it remains a very popular tourist destination and has been voted the world's best island destination. As a result, Atlas has used this opportunity to develop tourism and retail ventures associated with the Bali based pearl farms.

The value of pearls is determined by the combination of the "virtues" of luster, color, size, surface quality and symmetry. Among these attributes, luster is the most important differentiator of pearl quality according to jewelers. All factors being equal however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large, perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued, and the irregular shaped or baroque pearls are often used in exquisite custom designs.

Pearls come in six basic shapes: round, near-round, drop, button, baroque, and circle. Perfectly round pearls are the most expensive and are generally used in necklaces or strings of pearls. Near-rounds are also used in necklaces or in pieces where the shape of the pearl can be disguised to look like it is a perfectly round pearl. Drop or teardrop shaped pearls make for ideal pendants and earrings whilst button shapes (slightly flat on one side) are perfect for rings.

Baroque pearls have a unique appeal as they are irregular in shape and rarely are two such pearls alike. They are often used in designer pendent sets or rings. Circle pearls are characterized by concentric ridges (or rings) around the body of the pearl.

Atlas has introduced to Bali the modern and highly technical capacity to selectively breed and cultivate the largest and most rare of pearl oysters, Pinctada maxima - the producer of the magnificent South Sea Pearl. Bali is now headquarters to one of the world's most successful producers of these living gems, the Atlas South Sea Pearl. After more than a decade of successfully exporting world class pearls, Atlas has opened its doors to guests by providing a unique tourism opportunity with tours at two of their pearl farms.

Nestled between Lovina and Pemuteran on Bali's northern beaches lies North Bali Pearls, whilst closer to the southern tourist hub is the Lembongan Pearl Farm. An overland trip through Bali's beautiful hinterland delivers you to North Bali Pearls. Your tour includes refreshments, lunch and the North's best espresso coffee in addition to an educational experience at the pearl farm that takes in the oyster breeding program, cultivation cycle and ultimately a demonstration of pearl seeding and harvesting! Alternatively, you may join a Bali Hai Cruises day trip to be part of the Lembongan Pearl Discovery. The Pearl Discovery Centre within Bali Hai's Beach Club houses Atlas' pearl seeding and harvesting program along with audio-visual displays including a short documentary on the pearl cultivation process and a fantastic pearl and jeweler showroom. From Bali Hai's pontoon you can join the free semi-sub tour of part of Atlas' pearl farm and see these amazing pearl oysters underwater.

Both tours offer visitors a unique pearl buying opportunity. The best of Atlas' pearls, selected from the more than 250,000 harvested each year, are on display either as beautifully designed and crafted jewelry pieces or as loose pearls. Be one of the lucky few to select your own Atlas pearl and have it custom designed into the jewelry of your choice, resulting in a unique, personal and affordable memento of your time in Bali.

This month, Atlas will open its latest showroom in Sanur. The new center caters to pearl enthusiasts that wish for an intimate and very personalized buying experience. As a company with an international reputation for quality, Atlas naturally provides guests with a guarantee statement as well as a pearl grading certificate to ensure complete satisfaction.

By Nyoman Ari Gunadi, photos by Hary Subastian

ATLAS SOUTH SEA PEARLS
Pertokoan Sanur Raya No 18-19, Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai, Sanur
(0361) 284-455; www.atlassouthseapearl.com
North Bali Pearls, 081 2387 7012
Lembongan Pearl Discovery (Booking through Bali Hai Cruises), (0361) 720-331