Mother Nature constantly identifies her creations, and these distinct inclusions and markings can function as an in-built ID system, identifying the pearls as yours and yours alone. Pure does not sell any AA+ Quality round loose or matched South Sea pearl pairs; all round pearl earrings, pendants, and rings offered on Pure are exclusively AAA Quality. There are no South Sea pearls of lower quality or rating so you can be confident that you are buying what they call "AAA" stones. The South Sea is an island group in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of four major islands: Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Pearl farming began in Samoa around 1870 and today accounts for nearly 100% of its exports. There are several varieties of South Sea pearls, but only two are considered "quality" because it takes a good pearl year after year to achieve this level of quality. These are the Tahitian pearl and the Malaysian pearl. The rest are called "spoiled" or "imperfect shells" and are not considered valuable. They may have some market appeal due to their unique appearance, but they would not be classified as diamonds or gold because they lack transparency and symmetry. Pearls are valued based on their color, shape, and luster. The better the grade, the higher the price. Tahitian pearls are by far the most popular type of South Sea pearl in the industry.