Lombok Pearl Farms: Visiting Autore and Understanding South Sea Pearls

Lombok has been producing South Sea pearls commercially since the 1990s and is now one of the most significant pearl-producing regions in the world. The pearls cultivated here — from the Pinctada maxima oyster — are among the largest and most valuable produced anywhere, distinguished by their size, lustre, and the range of natural colors they come in.

Most of this industry operates offshore in the waters around Sekotong and West Lombok. The Autore Pearl Farm is the main operation that opens its doors to visitors.

The Autore Pearl Farm

Autore is an Australian-Indonesian company that has been farming pearls in West Lombok since the mid-1990s. Their visitor program covers:

• **The cultivation process:** How oysters are collected, how nucleus implantation works, the harvest cycle, and what determines quality and grading
• **The farm itself:** Depending on the tour, you may see the floating farm platforms and the oyster maintenance operations
• **The showroom:** A retail space selling Autore-branded pearl jewelry directly from the producer. Prices are lower than retail jewelers but this is not a budget market — genuine South Sea pearls are expensive anywhere.

The tour is genuinely informative if you have any interest in how pearl farming works. It is not a lengthy commitment — typically 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.

What to Know Before You Go

• **Book ahead:** Walk-ins may not always be accommodated. Contact Autore directly to confirm tour availability and times before making the drive.
• **The showroom is commercial:** You will be shown the jewelry retail operation. That's part of the visit. You are under no obligation to buy.
• **Pearls as souvenirs:** Loose pearls and simple settings are available at a range of price points. A single loose pearl can be an affordable and genuinely local purchase. Full jewelry pieces run significantly higher.

Practical Info

• **Location:** Near Sekotong, West Lombok — on or near the southwestern peninsula
• **Distance from Kuta:** Approximately 80–90km west, around 1.5 to 2 hours by car
• **Getting there:** Hired car is the most practical option. Confirm the exact address when booking — GPS routing in this area is occasionally unreliable.
• **Best time to visit:** Any day during the dry season. Morning tours are typically available.
• **Combine with:** The Sekotong Islands boat trip — both are in the same area and can be combined in a full day out west. See the [Sekotong Islands guide](/blog/tour-the-sekotong-islands).

The Spot in Kuta is well positioned for this trip — it's about 1.5 hours west, and pairing it with a Sekotong island hop makes the drive worthwhile. See [accommodation and coworking options](/cowork) if you're basing yourself in Kuta.