At a new international pearl auction in Hong Kong last weekend, Burmese golden pearls were among the most highly valued and their sales generated US $4 million for Burma’s government, according to the South China Morning Post. The natural golden pearls come from Burma’s Mergui Archipelago, some 800 islands that stretch along the country’s southeastern coast. Most buyers were from mainland China and their bids for Burmese pearls far exceeded the floor price. A 19mm golden pearl, known as the “New Dawn of Myanmar,” was for auction at $4,300, but an anonymous buyer took it for an undisclosed amount thought to be between $30,000 and s$40,000.