孕育頂級南洋珍珠的珍珠島 Islands which cultivate top qualities South Sea pearls

在馬來西亞沙巴的斗湖，擁有Pulau Silumpat 和Pulau Timbun Mata二個 [珍珠島] ，

這裡是培育世界僅有的百分之零點三稀有珍貴的 ~ Edward Kong South Sea Pearl南洋珍珠，這裡以前只是一座荒島，但因優異的水域環境，十分利於養殖最高品質南洋珍珠，即是孕育學名Pinctada Maxima，俗稱Gold Lip金唇蚌(貝)的搖籃，自1987年Edward Kong父親即和日本人技術合作開始了養殖南洋珍珠的事業，但剛開始養殖的成功率只有25%，因此只能夠供應外銷，每年產量的都只銷往頭號珍珠大國日本以及澳洲和歐美國家。自1994年Edward Kong從父親手上接手後，經過7年的自行研發，目前的養殖技術已經可以達到75~80%的成功率，並且已是世界南洋珍珠十大供應商之一。南洋珍珠在純淨富含微生物的水域中，風平浪靜的海灣, 保證了置於海底的南洋珍珠的金唇母蚌，在至少4年的養殖期間健康地生活，更保證了Edward Kong South Sea Pearl生產的南洋珍珠圓潤光滑，不含任何雜質，它獨特的金色光澤令人炫目，尤為特別的是，它的金光之上有一層閃爍的彩色珠光，美豔而神秘，使佩帶它的主人在珠光寶氣的隆重場合中，更顯得耀眼奪目與眾不同。”產銷合一”是Edward Kong South Sea Pearl的特色，除了擁有[珍珠島]得天獨厚的環境和自然條件，及日本和澳洲高超技術為根源之外，加上23年的珍珠養殖的豐富經驗，是Edward Kong South Sea Pearl南洋珍珠產品高品質的保證。

Two islands named Silumpat Island and TImbun Mata Island, found nearby a small town known as Tawau, in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, are where 0.3% of the world’s rarest pearls are cultivated, commercially known as “Edward Kong South Sea Pearls”. These islands used to be uninhabited. The islands’ supreme waters made them natural habitats for farming top grade South Sea pearls. South Sea pearls are pearls produced by mollusc belonged to a type of large oyster known scientifically as Pinctada Maxima, or colloquially known as the golden-lipped oyster.

Mr. Edward Kong’s father started the family’s pearl farming legacy from 1987 with the help of Japanese. The farm initially enjoyed only 25% success rate for all harvests. Therefore all pearls harvested were exported to major pearls consumption countries like Japan, Australia, Europe and USA. Mr. Edward Kong inherited the business from his late father in 1994. After seven years of gruelling self-initiated and self-funded research and development efforts, the current pearl farming has reached a success rate of 75 – 80%, making Mr. Edward Kong one of the top ten South Sea pearls suppliers in the world.

Pure and microbes rich waters found in calm sea bays around the islands ensure healthy 4 years growth of the golden-lipped oyster, guaranteeing all Edward Kong South Sea Pearl produced are of top qualities and free of impurity. South Sea pearls have several distinct characteristics which are unique to this gem. The nacre is thicker than other type of pearls and its satiny lustre are a result from the rapidly deposited nacre and warm waters of the South Seas. South Sea pearls also have a subtle array of colours, typically white, silver and golden which are rare in other pearl types. The golden colour South Sea pearls are especially bedazzling with a hint of mysterious beauty making its wearers standout in every occasions. Produced from farm and handed directly to consumers is the distinguishing feature of Edward Kong South Sea Pearl brand.

Edward Kong South Sea Pearl’s supreme qualities are guaranteed by: (1) the two pearl farming islands’ unbeatable natural oyster habitat; (2) combined Japanese and Australian pearl farming techniques; and (3) twenty three years of rich pearl farming experience. 

珍珠養殖起源 The Origin of Cultured Pearls

南洋珍珠是珍珠中的極品，它的圓潤、純淨、碩大、與生俱來的自然美和令人炫目的金色光澤，表現出無可比擬的高雅和浪漫，使其成為世界上最受歡迎的珍珠之一。因為海洋污染的問題，所以已經很難找到天然海底生成的珍珠，因此日本人開始用人工方式養殖天然珍珠，珍珠養殖起源於1892年，目前市面上所有珍珠99%都是人工養殖方式而成。日本人傳統習慣都會送女兒一串珍珠項鍊做為成年禮，而中國皇族及英國女皇和王妃，以及許多國家的總統或首長夫人也都經常選擇珍珠配戴，或喜歡用珍珠做為皇冠及裝飾品，顯示大家都認為帶珍珠的女人比較高貴有氣質，且含蓄中帶出珠寶的優雅和美感，而不同於戴鑽石般，過於炫耀奢華的感覺，而南洋珍珠的獨一無二和獨有百年不退的天然色澤，是流傳千古和世代相傳的珍寶。在香港「蘇富比」曾拍賣一對天然生成的珍珠耳環，每顆15mm，即拍賣出港幣650萬的高價。

South Sea pearls are considered as the most valuable type of pearls. Its inherent aesthetic value, natural large size, spherical perfection, lustre, dazzling golden splendour coupled with unparalleled elegant and romantic qualities, render South Sea pearls to be one of the most favoured pearls in the world.

Due to the ocean pollution getting worse and wore now, naturally formed pearls found in seas are hard to find which ultimately caused the Japanese to start pearl farming. Pearl farming was started in 1892. Currently, 99% of pearls found in markets all over are cultured pearls.

In Japan, it is customary to give pearl necklaces to daughters for celebration of adulthood. Pearls have been prized for their beauty and rarity and traditionally favoured by many past and current royal families around the world like China, the British royal family, as well as first ladies and wives of various head of states as jewelleries and ornaments. Royal crowns are usually seen adorned by pearls. Ultimately, these show that pearls wearing undoubtedly convey the message of nobleness and elegancy. Besides, the inherent qualities of pearls in being able to bring out refined and implicit beauty of all jewelleries crafted, is unlike those made from diamonds which usually convey the message of showing off one’s wealth.

South Sea pearls’ colours and lustres do not fade, making it a unique treasure which can be handed down to countless generations. In Hong Kong, there was a pair of naturally formed pearl earrings with each pearl’s diameter measured at 15mm was successfully auctioned off by Sotherby’s for HKD6.5million.