Founded in 1995, the South Sea Pearl Consortium is a non-profit organization created by Nicholas Paspaley and several like-minded people to educate jewellery designers and retailers, as well as the consumer, to the special qualities of the South Sea cultured pearl. The Consortium now has a presence in Europe and the United States as well as in Asia, providing information to the press, retailers, designers and consumers.

The SSPC programme includes holding seminars for retailers to educate them about South Sea cultured pearls and how to make them a part of their shop inventories. The Consortium also provides materials to help train retail staff to enable them to answer their customers’ questions concerning white South Sea pearls. A regular newsletter, press releases and promotional events, as well as representing the South Sea pearl at industry forums, completes the SSPC programme.