Pāua pearls are among the rarest and most striking pearls in the world. Sometimes called blue pearls, they are the ocean’s iridescent secrets – found only in New Zealand. These gems are formed within the shell of the native Haliotis iris abalone. Their vivid palette of electric blue, teal, violet and green is entirely natural, never dyed and utterly unmissable.
Unlike cultured pearls grown in oysters or mussels, Pāua pearls (also known as Abalone pearls) are half-nucleated natural pearls that grow in the muscle of the abalone. No two are ever the same. Each one is a swirl of deep-sea colour and organic shape, with a metallic sheen that makes them appear almost illuminated from within.
Sadly, rising ocean temperatures are threatening the delicate process by which these exquisite blue pearls are cultivated. This is particularly concerning for us at Coleman Douglas Pearls, as it challenges our core values of respecting nature and prioritising sustainability. Read on as we explore this growing issue in more detail.
Warming seas are threatening a national treasure
The gem of the South Pacific is in trouble. Rising sea temperatures and changing marine ecosystems are putting abalone populations under pressure. Warmer waters can cause stress, disease and reduced growth rates in the creatures that create these pearls – making them harder to find and harder to form.
New Zealand’s marine scientists are raising the alarm. Some predict that wild abalone stocks could shrink significantly over the next decade if temperatures continue to climb. While aquaculture efforts have had some success, there’s no easy way to replicate the vivid colours that Pāua naturally develop in the wild.
In short, Pāua pearls (also known as Abalone pearls) may soon become even rarer than they already are. This is obviously bad news for anyone who cares about sustainability in the pearl industry and the world more broadly. It’s also a big blow for those who love the unique charm of blue pearls.
At Coleman Douglas Pearls, our passion for pearls goes far beyond any one variety – we celebrate their diversity, beauty and the unique character each type brings. While rising sea temperatures are making Pāua pearls more difficult to source sustainably, there’s no shortage of stunning alternatives to explore. Below, we’ll look at some of the best options and how they offer their own ocean-inspired opulence.
Inspired by the ocean’s palette
For those enchanted by the look and story of Pāua, there are other pearl designs that echo their marine magic – capturing similar tones and moods, without compromising on quality or sustainability.
Take ourGrey-Black Freshwater Pearl & Blue Silk Bracelet, for instance. Threaded on sea blue silk, this piece blends peacock black and icy grey pearls into a cool, wave-washed palette. The design was inspired by fishermen’s nets observed in Tahiti – a nod to the blend of craft and nature that defines oceanic jewellery traditions.
Or how about theBlue-Grey Akoya 'The Original' Pearl Necklace? Crafted from baroque Akoya pearls harvested in winter months – when cooler waters yield pearls of exceptional lustre and depth – it offers the same subtle blue shimmer and grace that Pāua pearls are known for.
These are pearls with presence. Pearls that whisper of distant waters and shifting tides. Pearls that, like Pāua (or Abalone) hold the sea in their colour.
The architect’s eye: precision meets ocean-inspired beauty
For those captivated by the architectural elegance of ocean design, theBlue-Green Mabe Pearl and Green Tsavorite ‘The Architect’ earrings are a compelling choice. Encased in a clean yellow gold frame, each Blue-Green Butterfly Oyster Mabe pearl is perfectly symmetrical, luminous and vivid. Suspended from forest green tsavorites, they strike a bold balance between structure and spontaneity – like light filtering through kelp in shallows.
These pearls share a kinship with Pāua in their dynamic blues and greens, but they come from a different mollusc altogether – grown in controlled conditions that ensure longevity and sustainability in Northern Mexico. Their appeal lies in their mirror-like dome and saturated colour, evoking the depths of distant reefs. They offer an elegant solution for those seeking the colour story of Pāua in a refined, enduring design.
A vanishing gem, a lasting influence
As marine scientists continue to monitor the effects of ocean warming on abalone populations, jewellery lovers may begin to view Pāua pearls through a more urgent lens – not just as adornments, but as fragile artefacts of a changing world. Their beauty may one day be impossible to replicate, their stories spoken only through heirlooms and articles like this.
But their influence endures. The palette of the Pāua pearl – its smoky lilacs, silvery blues and greens tinged with violet – has shaped a generation of pearl jewellery that pays homage to the sea. In the hands of talented designers and sustainable pearl farmers, those colours are being reinterpreted with care and creativity.
Celebrating ocean-inspired pearls
AtColeman Douglas Pearls, we’ve always believed that a pearl is more than a gem – it’s a chapter of the sea. Whether it’s the frost-toned elegance of Akoya, the stormy sheen of Tahitian or the rich blues of Butterfly Oyster Mabe pearls, each piece we design carries the spirit of the oceans that shaped it.
The news about rising sea temperatures is a serious concern for admirers of not only Pāua pearls, but indeed for all pearl types around the globe – as it is for eco-conscious pearl jewellers like Coleman Douglas.
The blue-toned alternatives we’ve listed above bring their own stories and their own magic. In choosing them, you’re also helping to support responsible pearl farming and sustainable design – ensuring that our oceans can continue to inspire for generations to come.
If you would like more personalised advice on the best blue pearls to complement your style and natural beauty, don’t hesitate to arrange a consultation. We’ll help you select the perfect design in a 1:1 session.
