They are called "Nanyo-dama" or South Sea pearls from the southern seas . These big white pearls were named like this because they were produced in the Palau Island (Micronesia), which was part of the Nippon territory before the war, and the Butung Island (Indonesia), considered the Pacific garden. Nowadays, these pearls are mainly produced in Australia and Burma, so that Indonesia, Filipinas, Papua, Nueva Guinea and Thailand less important resources. Depending on the lips colour of the oyster mother, the South Sea pearls are white, silver or gold. Until now, any artificial young oyster of silver lips has been obtained, which means that supply of oyster mother is limited. The combined projects with Japan were abandoned due to politic changes or instabilities and the price of the South Sea pearls has increased. Moreover, the lack of supplies and the high costs of the production have increased the prices, for example, when the Japanese production went down and caused the prices to shoot up.