It has been 100 years since founder, Nicholas Paspaley Sr, first arrived in Australia.

With his beginnings in Kastellorizo, a tiny island of Greece, the late Nicholas Paspaley fled as a refugee with his family, crossing the world’s oceans to arrive on the northwest coast of Australia.

At 17 years of age, Nicholas founded a company that would evolve to become the source of the most valuable pearls in the world.

He acquired his first boat during the early 1930s.

After World War II he purchased four luggers from the navy and became the first man back into pearling out of Darwin.

His fleet prospered, as well as pearling could, until the crash of the pearl shell market in the late 1950s with the advent of plastic.

Yet this was not the end of Paspaley’s romance with the sea but rather a new beginning.

His course was now set on becoming a master pearler in commercial pearl cultivation. The pearl would replace the pearl shell as the central focus of his activities, though the shell would be retained as a by-product for the inlay market. Cultured pearl farming had arrived in Northern Australia in a large manner with the establishment in 1956 of a joint Australian and Japanese cultured pearl farms at Kuri Bay, some 420 km north of Broome.

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Nick Paspaley examines his pearl. Photo: Supplied

Under the guidance of Japanese businessman, Tokuichi Kuribayashi (after whom Kuri Bay is named), the venture developed into the largest pearl culture farm in the world.

In 1963, the Paspaley Pearling Company entered into a working arrangement with a Japanese firm, Arafura Pearling Company, and commenced cultured pearl operations at Port Essington, part of the Cobourg Peninsula east of Darwin.

Paspaley never looked back.

Nicholas died in 1984 in his late 60s, but the company continued to prosper under his son Nicholas Paspaley Jnr, who managed the enterprise with his sisters Roslynne and Marilynne.

The company is now owned by his three children, whereas grandchildren have also entered the business.

By the early 1990s the Paspaley Pearling Company was said to control some 60% of Australia’s cultured pearl industry.

To mark a centenary of adventure, Paspaley recently launched ‘Megisti’, a high-jewellery collection symbolising the journey from the family’s origin to the Kimberley, the home of the most beautiful pearls in the world.

The collection tells a story of an adventurer, who would eventually become the founder of the world’s leading pearling company.

“This year’s collection is based on a journey between two worlds. The designs exhibit a potent combination of Greek culture and the natural, rugged beauty of the Kimberley – the birthplace of our pearls, honouring my grandfather’s momentous journey from Greece to Australia 100 years ago,” explains Paspaley Creative Director Christine Salter.

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‘Megisti’ is the ancient name for the Greek island of Kastellorizo where the Paspaley adventure began. The sculptural forms seen in ‘Megisti’ reference geometric patterns of rock formations that are found in the Kimberley. At the same time, the collection takes cues from Ancient Greek jewellery and reimagined in a contemporary way.

Colours are inspired by the jewel-toned waters of the Mediterranean, as well as the warm tonal hues of the Kimberley escarpments.

“Precious gemstones have been selected for their distinct colours, but equally for their unique natural textures. Paspaley pearls and mother-of-pearl are paired with pink opal, ruby, turquoise, lapis and sapphire,” continues Ms Salter.

‘Megisti’ is designed to be multi-faceted, representing the versatility of the modern woman.

Capturing the spirit of a journey between Paspaley’s two worlds, this high-quality jewellery collection takes inspiration from unique rock formations and the intense blue waters that surround them.

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Nick in a diving suit. Photo: Supplied

Above all, ‘Megisti’ showcases exceptional craftsmanship and design, featuring innovative techniques developed by Paspaley’s artisan jewellers and combines timeless contemporary luxury with a unique history.

“This was all my father’s dream that came true and we have been working hard since to keep it alive,” concludes Nicholas Paspaley Jnr.