If you love jewelry and travel, combining pearl shopping with travel probably sounds like a match made in heaven.
But before you get caught up in the romantic whirlwind of a new country and splurge all your money on the first pearl piece you come across, you will want to be aware of the best places to shop for pearls on your travels.
That is exactly what we are covering in this article: the travel destinations where you will find the most beautiful pearls in the world.
Australia
The northern coast of Western Australia is where some of the largest and most valuable South Sea pearls are produced. Broome has a long history with the pearl trade and you will find some of the oldest pearling companies still operating there.
If you are staying pretty central to a city, some high street shops will offer what you are looking for—like http://freyapearls.com.au/, with a store location in Sydney, which offers Freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian, and Australian South Sea pearls.
French Polynesia
If you are after Tahitian pearls, you will want to head straight to French Polynesia to buy them at the source. These pearls grow in black-lipped oysters and are pretty distinctive from others, with deep green or grey tones.
You can check out Papeete Market in Tahiti, but keep in mind that a lot of sellers there only stock wholesale pieces. If you are after something special, have a look for small jewelers who can tell you exactly which farm their pearls came from.
Japan
For anyone who prefers pearls with a more traditional white tone, these are known as Akyoa pearls, and they are mainly farmed in Japan. The best ones come from areas like Mie and Ehime.
Tokyo has plenty of high-end jewelry shops that sell these pearls, but, if possible, it is worth going closer to the source to get a cheaper deal from a family-run business.
The Philippines
The Philippines is one of the few places where you can find golden South Sea pearls, with Palawan in particular being popular for pearl shopping.
There are malls in Manila that sell genuine pieces, but it is better to head towards small designers who work directly with local divers and growers. If you are after a really special shopping experience, some of these workshops will even show you how the pearls are harvested.
A Final Word Before You Buy
If you are traveling somewhere that is known for pearls, do not just assume that every market or shop sells quality pieces that are worth your money.
To make sure you spend your money wisely, you will want to spend time talking to sellers about where the pearls were grown and how they were graded. If they have a website, even better—you can use it to learn about their offerings without being pressured into a sale.
Buying from a company that sources its own pearls means you are getting better quality control and, most likely, a lower cost because there are fewer middlemen between the grower and the seller. So do not just buy from the same seller you come across.
