Taking the Plunge: Celebrating New Nautical Creations by Paspaley

November 1, 2024

By Sarah Jordan

8 min read

Australian luxury jewellery company Paspaley recently extended an invitation to “enter the world of the Master Pearler”, and we simply couldn’t say no! Its new campaign – Anchored in Paspaley – celebrates new designs in the Dive and Lavalier collections, which draw inspiration from the anchors, ropes and chains that are the natural accoutrements of pearl diving vessels. Let’s get ‘all aboard’ for an adventure on the bejewelled high seas…

Imagine the vast expanses of sandy beaches and endless ocean views around Australia’s North Coast in the late 1920s. This is where Nicholas Paspaley Snr began diving for natural pearls after crossing more than 8,000 miles from his native Greek island of Kastellorizo, kickstarting a family pearling legacy. When the industry changed in the 1950s, Nicholas turned his attention to cultured pearls, using the same Australian pearl beds that had yielded such high-quality naturals. Today, Paspaley is the last of the original Australian pearling families specialising in both natural and cultured varieties. Second-generation Executive Chairman Nick Paspaley Jnr has spent much of his time at sea pioneering new pearling techniques, many of which have been adopted throughout the world’s pearl supply chain. He’s joined in the business by Christine Salter, the third generation of the Paspaley family, who serves as Creative Director. 

Models wear jewels by Australian brand Paspaley for its new Anchored in Paspaley campaign, including new additions to the Dive collection

Models wear jewels by Australian brand Paspaley for its new Anchored in Paspaley campaign, including new additions to the Dive collection

My grandfather went to sea in a wooden boat in search of the most lustrous pearl oyster in the world, guided by a compass, instinct, and the map of the moon and stars. Now in its third generation, Paspaley has the most sophisticated pearling operation in the world – but my grandfather’s obsession with beautiful pearls still lies at the heart of everything that we do, Christine Salter, Creative Director, Paspaley.

It is easy to forget that pearls are the result of a natural, organic and temperamental process. Changing temperatures, storms, water salinity and crashing waves are highly unlikely to impact sapphire deposits that are millions of years old, but they can wreak havoc on living molluscs. Part of Paspaley’s expertise is navigating these changing conditions and nurturing the world’s rarest, largest and most lustrous pearl oyster, the Pinctada Maxima. Only with ongoing care and attention do these oysters produce a single pearl every two to three years! Remember that when we explore the new additions to the brand’s Lavalier and Dive collections below. 

Paspaley Double Pearl Split rings from the Dive collection with button Australian South Sea pearls, blue sapphires (left), and white diamonds, set in 18k yellow gold

Paspaley Double Pearl Split rings from the Dive collection with button Australian South Sea pearls, blue sapphires (left), and white diamonds, set in 18k yellow gold

 Paspaley Diamond Sea Buoy pearl earring enhancers from the Dive collection with semi-round Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds in 18k yellow gold, pictured here with Keshi pearl studs, sold separately

Paspaley Diamond Sea Buoy pearl earring enhancers from the Dive collection with semi-round Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds in 18k yellow gold, pictured here with Keshi pearl studs, sold separately

 Paspaley Dive Chain necklace from the Dive collection with an attached Diamond Anchor Link pearl pendant featuring a Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl and white diamonds, both in 18k yellow gold

Paspaley Dive Chain necklace from the Dive collection with an attached Diamond Anchor Link pearl pendant featuring a Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl and white diamonds, both in 18k yellow gold

 Paspaley Diamond Sea Buoy pearl earring enhancers with semi-round Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds from the Dive collection, shown here with blue sapphire Bollard stud earrings, both in 18k yellow gold

Paspaley Diamond Sea Buoy pearl earring enhancers with semi-round Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds from the Dive collection, shown here with blue sapphire Bollard stud earrings, both in 18k yellow gold

 Paspaley Diamond Sea Buoy pearl earring enhancers with semi-round Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds from the Dive collection, pictured here with diamond-set ear clips, both in 18k yellow gold

Paspaley Diamond Sea Buoy pearl earring enhancers with semi-round Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds from the Dive collection, pictured here with diamond-set ear clips, both in 18k yellow gold

 Paspaley Black Spinel Dive chain necklace from the Dive collection with black spinels set in 18k white gold

Paspaley Black Spinel Dive chain necklace from the Dive collection with black spinels set in 18k white gold

 Paspaley Diamond Anchor Link pearl earring enhancers with Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds from the Dive collection, pictured here with diamond-set ear clips, both in 18k white gold

Paspaley Diamond Anchor Link pearl earring enhancers with Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearls and white diamonds from the Dive collection, pictured here with diamond-set ear clips, both in 18k white gold

 Paspaley Turquoise Dive Chain necklace from the Dive collection with turquoises in 18k yellow gold

Paspaley Turquoise Dive Chain necklace from the Dive collection with turquoises in 18k yellow gold

To showcase its new crop of pearl jewels, Paspaley has created a new nautical-themed campaign, titled Anchored in Paspaley, to really highlight the history and craft of South Sea pearl farming. It has really romanticised the “operational intricacies” that sustain the cultured pearl farming industry, right down to the divers in wetsuits and the twisted ropes, bollards and nets that hang over the side of boats. Christine explains: “A pearler’s life at sea is one of adventure and romance, but our story of beauty and treasure-seeking doesn’t exist without the tools and hardware that are used on pearling vessels. In bringing them to life in the form of luxury jewellery – rendered in precious metals and exquisite gems – we’re honouring them, but above all, we’re honouring the Paspaley story.” 

Archival pearl diving images from Paspaley including Nicholas Paspaley Snr (left) in 1937

Archival pearl diving images from Paspaley including Nicholas Paspaley Snr (left) in 1937

What drives young men and women into a life of pearling has always fascinated me. Some of our divers are second, third and fourth generation pearl divers, and this is a testament to the contagious passion that the pearling industry elicits in those predisposed to adventure, Christine Salter.

There are 22 new pieces in total, including long-line necklaces, beautiful buoy-inspired pearl drop pendants, and minimalist rings with coloured gemstones and diamonds. Some are innovatively constructed to be worn in different ways, such as the pearl earring enhancers that can be looped onto diamond-set hoops and studs. Let’s start with the new pieces in the Lavalier collection, which have large South Sea pearls encased in mesh-like pendants. These are inspired by antique glass buoys encased in rope nets that were once used to mark the pearl oyster beds. What I especially like about this golden net design is that it can be opened and closed with an innovative mechanism, allowing the pearls trapped inside to be released, changed and secured in place. This allows a pearl to be worn in its purest form, undrilled and unchanged in any way, exactly as it emerged from the ocean. 

Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl, white diamonds, turquoise, blue sapphire and rainbow moonstone, set in 18k yellow gold

Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl, white diamonds, turquoise, blue sapphire and rainbow moonstone, set in 18k yellow gold

 Designing the Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl, white diamonds, turquoise, blue sapphire and rainbow moonstone, set in 18k yellow gold

Designing the Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl, white diamonds, turquoise, blue sapphire and rainbow moonstone, set in 18k yellow gold

 The new Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace features a golden net that can be opened and closed to allow the wearer to change pearl at the heart of the pendant

The new Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace features a golden net that can be opened and closed to allow the wearer to change pearl at the heart of the pendant

 Finer details in the new Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace include cabochon turquoises, sapphires, pear-shaped moonstones and diamonds, set in 18k yellow gold

Finer details in the new Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace include cabochon turquoises, sapphires, pear-shaped moonstones and diamonds, set in 18k yellow gold

 The Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl pendant attaches to a necklace with a diamond-set Bollard motif, also seen in new additions to the Paspaley Dive collection

The Paspaley Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pearl pendant attaches to a necklace with a diamond-set Bollard motif, also seen in new additions to the Paspaley Dive collection

“The complexity of creating an evenly balanced net in gold that delicately wraps around the pearl and holds it securely in place, with a mechanism that allows you to remove the pearl so you can hold it in your hand, was so innovative that we were able to get a worldwide patent on the design,” Christine says. “Aside from its innovation, it’s simply a stunning piece and is worn by women around the world.”

There are three new necklaces to discover. The first is the Turquoise Anchored Lavalier pendant with an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl, diamonds, turquoise, blue sapphires and rainbow moonstones. This cage is designed to encase pearls of 18mm and over, giving the piece a full, round look. All this can be suspended from the Hero Dive Lavalier chain necklace that mirrors the shape of anchor links in diamond and turquoise set rondelles. These elements can be clasped at different lengths to give the wearer more flexibility, and entire sections can also be taken apart and worn as bracelets. A key feature to note is the elevated T-bar fastening that connects the chain to the pendant. Paspaley calls these ‘Bollard’ elements, and they’re inspired by the posts used for mooring a boat… who said these can’t be luxurious!?

Paspaley drew inspiration for its new Lavalier and Dive additions from the tools associated with pearl diving, including antique glass buoys, rope nets, anchors, and posts used for mooring boats

Paspaley drew inspiration for its new Lavalier and Dive additions from the tools associated with pearl diving, including antique glass buoys, rope nets, anchors, and posts used for mooring boats

The second launch is the Tassell Anchored Lavalier with details that are reminiscent of the frayed ropes found on Town Beach in Broome. These relics of another time have been coloured by weather and natural patination processes, which is why the tassel on this pendant gradually changes with ruthenium plating (to ease the yellow gold from its traditional hue to metallic black). This piece blends yellow, rose and white gold with pear-shaped diamonds, Sri Lankan black spinels, blue sapphires and rainbow moonstones. The Hero Dive Lavalier chain featured here is similarly crafted with anchor links, set with custom-cut black spinel rondelles and white diamond pavé, while the Bollard attachment is given a lift with blue sapphires. 

Paspaley Tassel Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with white diamonds, black spinel, blue sapphires and rainbow moonstone in 18k yellow, rose and white gold

Paspaley Tassel Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with white diamonds, black spinel, blue sapphires and rainbow moonstone in 18k yellow, rose and white gold

 The new Paspaley Tassel Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace decorated with white diamonds, black spinel, blue sapphires and rainbow moonstone in 18k yellow, rose and white gold

The new Paspaley Tassel Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace decorated with white diamonds, black spinel, blue sapphires and rainbow moonstone in 18k yellow, rose and white gold

Finally, there’s the Moonstone Anchored Lavalier necklace with a sleek combination of 18k white gold, an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl drop, white diamonds and rainbow moonstones with a subtle blue sheen. Again, this pendant can be worn on a third iteration of the Hero Dive Lavalier chain with diamond rondelles and a diamond-set bollard fastening. Paspaley imagines this piece with a plump South Sea pearl with a feminine pink lustre, although we can imagine it worn with peacock and golden pearls to create a striking contrast. Of course, it’s the opening and closing mechanism that makes this possible! 

Paspaley Moonstone Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl, white diamonds and rainbow moonstone in 18k white gold

Paspaley Moonstone Anchored Lavalier pearl necklace with an 8mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl, white diamonds and rainbow moonstone in 18k white gold

The second half of the Anchored in Paspaley story is new additions to the Dive collection, including Anchor Link chains, new Bollard designs with channel-set sapphires and diamonds, and earring enhancers with lovely pearl drops. All take seafaring motifs and transform them into something cool and wearable for day-to-night dressing, notably the Bollard Split Pearl ring with a 14mm semi-round Australian South Sea pearl and an asymmetric line of channel-set diamonds that sit on either side of the finger. Elsewhere, the Diamond Sea Buoy earring enhancers are a great way to add interest to a pair of classic pearl studs. These detachable ear pendants are set with two 12mm semi-round South Sea pearls and white diamonds and can loop onto the Bollard studs with sapphires or diamonds for a mix-and-match look. Finally, a selection of Anchor Link pendants completes the offering perfectly with baroque and oval-shaped pearls suspended from diamond-set anchor motifs – the same one that appears in the Lavalier line.

Paspaley Bollard Split pearl rings from the Dive collection with 14mm semi-round Australian South Sea pearls, blue sapphires and white diamonds in 18k yellow gold (left) and white diamonds in 18k white gold (right)

Paspaley Bollard Split pearl rings from the Dive collection with 14mm semi-round Australian South Sea pearls, blue sapphires and white diamonds in 18k yellow gold (left) and white diamonds in 18k white gold (right)

 Paspaley Black Spinel Anchor Link pearl earring enhancers (left) with 11mm oval-drop Australian South Sea pearls, pictured with the diamond-set Bollard stud earrings (also shown right without the enhancers), both in 18k white gold

Paspaley Black Spinel Anchor Link pearl earring enhancers (left) with 11mm oval-drop Australian South Sea pearls, pictured with the diamond-set Bollard stud earrings (also shown right without the enhancers), both in 18k white gold

 Paspaley Diamond Anchor Link pearl pendant with a 15-16mm oval pearl, a 4mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl and white diamonds, set in either 18k white or yellow gold, and attached to a wetsuit black silk rope or precious metal chain

Paspaley Diamond Anchor Link pearl pendant with a 15-16mm oval pearl, a 4mm Keshi baroque Australian South Sea pearl and white diamonds, set in either 18k white or yellow gold, and attached to a wetsuit black silk rope or precious metal chain

Anchored in Paspaley isn’t just about introducing new fine jewellery designs to the world; it’s about celebrating the generational expertise of pearlers, the materials they use, the lives they lead, and the shapes, textures and patterns that surround their days on the ocean. These pieces are an ideal investment if you want to celebrate not only South Sea pearls but also the people and provenance that bring them to the wider world.   

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