Pearl History
"Of all the pearls in the world, none is rarer than the blue, grown not in an oyster, but in the single-shelled abalone."
Long before diamonds were prized, pearls were the world's most valued treasure, gifted to Chinese emperors, worn by Roman senators, sewn into the gowns of Renaissance queens. Unlike every other gem, a pearl cannot be cut from rock or extracted from the earth. It must be coaxed into existence by a living creature. Thomas Edison, who could synthesise almost anything in his laboratory, marvelled that neither pearls nor diamonds could be recreated. Pearls remain one of the few luxuries on earth that begin as an act of nature. Cultured pearls changed the world in 1893 when Mikimoto first succeeded with an oyster. But the blue pāua pearl follows a completely different, infinitely more difficult path, a path the Radon family has spent 30 years quietly mastering on a remote New Zealand island.
Paua and Māori Tradition
Forever entwined with ancestral knowledge and Māori legend, the story of the beautiful New Zealand paua is one of mystery, beauty and strength. The paua has long been recognised as a gift from Tangaroa, the god of the sea. Legends tell how the paua was given the colours that make it so special, and unique to the New Zealand abalone.
The oral histories not only explain how things came to be, but are imbued with traditions which care for both land and sea, and the creatures living there. These 'whakatauki', poetic proverbs containing pearls of wisdom, explain the relationship between the indigenous people and the natural world.
A precious 'taonga' (treasure), the paua takes the colours of nature, its blues and greens, pinks, purples, and a subtle yellow gold, and covers them with a shimmer of mother-of-pearl. It builds up layer upon layer of nacre in unique patterns to be discovered at the end of its natural life. Once the protective, camouflaging outer shell is removed, the beauty within the rock-like exterior is revealed. The paua relies on its dull, hard cover for survival in the rocks where it clings, because it has many predators seeking nourishment from the nutritious and very vulnerable flesh holding tightly to the rocks with its single "foot".
The shells of deeper blues and greens from the colder waters surrounding the South Island of New Zealand have slower-growing times and make these shells the rare treasures they are. The Greek name "Haliotis iris" means "sea ear", and, more than just listening, the shell also reflects the colours and harmonies of life and reminds us of earth's beauty.
Traditionally used to highlight the eyes in carved figures, the paua shell is prominent in Māori warrior images, reflecting light and drawing us nearer to study the figure. In some tribes, the most determined warriors were compared to paua, clinging steadfastly to the rocks with their single strong foot, never letting go no matter how strong their opponents were. In the carved images, these glowing, luminescent paua shell eyes are associated with the stars, the eyes of the ancestors who gaze down from the sky.
The paua itself gives so much more. When worn close to the heart, the shell is said to protect and strengthen the heart. It brings sensitivity, harmony, and strength to relationships too. The gift of a polished paua shell is given as a token of peace and love.
When in 1769 explorer Captain Cook first collected Māori artefacts, the paua shell inserted into carvings was introduced to Europe. Later paua shells were used to make buttons, but it was not until tourists began to take souvenir trinkets home that the unique Haliotis-iris shell became better known outside New Zealand. Paua is legally protected, and highly valued as the wonderful resource that it is.
The paua is also valued as 'kaimoana', food from the sea. Its rich bounty not only gives strength to all who partake of it, but was a food offered to high-ranking guests. Before fishing or diving for paua, Māori gave gifts and offered prayer to Tangaroa. Traditional Māori farmers of both land and sea always maintain sustainable balance, and 'tikanga Māori' teaches us that the right thing to do is to give back to Tangaroa, when we take his treasure from the sea.
Farming Abalone-Paua in New Zealand
Farming treasured abalone-paua blue pearls on a remote New Zealand island with your perfect partner is much more than romance and an idyllic lifestyle. Discovering a deep connection with a place, taking your desire for adventure to the next level, and embracing the challenges of a new life also come to mind. Arapaoa Island, and custodianship of the unique paua, are parts of a story that unfolds to reveal so much more.
For the Radon family, working with nature for almost three decades has meant developing resilience, trusting intuition, and creating flexible and innovative plans supported by proven science and trial and error. What a privilege it is that the Radon family members not only open their hearts and their home to visitors, but also share the secrets of producing the cultured pearls they are passionate about. This is a rare opportunity to learn from world experts in this field.
Abalone aquaculture is a demanding activity due to the delicate constitution of this mollusc. Paua is a marine snail that grows exclusively in New Zealand waters. The fertilisation of their eggs released into the water is so random that any given paua may successfully breed in the wild only once every six or seven years. The survival rate of paua is low because many juveniles do not find a suitable habitat to grow, and are subject to predation.
It is no secret that happy paua produce the best pearls. The trained team at Arapawa Blue Pearls uses a comprehensive grading system to help clients appreciate what makes their pearls unique. When looking for the perfect pearl, the Radon family and their team have developed the eyes of an artist, understanding the attributes of colour, hue, tone and chroma (saturation). Colours have a specific temperature too, and their distinctive greens, blues, pinks, and purples are all from the cooler side of the colour wheel. The colour of each pearl is influenced by many factors, from the original colour palette of the shells to how the paua has been fed, and even the precise spots where inserts are carefully placed in the shells. And timing is everything. You must allow the paua time to work its magic. The perfect moment for harvest is when the mollusc has completed the number of layers of nacre needed to create the pearl.
Arapawa Blue Pearls grow their farmed paua for four to 5 years before the harvesting of the well cared for abalone which produce beautiful exquisite durable blister pearls. After the harvest, the quality of the pearl nacre is assessed, and only the best pearls are selected for sale. The Pearls are never treated or over polished, making them ideal for clients who appreciate a natural earthy aesthetic and timeless that highlights the raw beauty & individuality of each piece.
This story is no fairy tale, but it is what dreams are made of. Blue, the most expensive and precious colour in art and fashion history, is the stunning colour of the most beautiful and rare cultured pearl. This luxurious gift from the rocky seashores of Arapawa Island is truly a wonder of nature, and a gift from the sea.