TAHITIAN PEARLS
Tahitian pearls are bead-nucleated pearls grown in the gonad of the Pinctada margaritifera mollusk in French Polynesia.
Tahitian Pearls – Among The Most Beautiful In The World
Tahitian pearls are produced in the black-lipped oyster ‘Pinctada margaritifera’, in and around Tahiti and the French Polynesian islands. This oyster itself is quite large - sometimes over 12 inches across and weighing as much as 10 pounds - which often results in much larger-than-average pearls. The pearls are unique because of their natural dark colors. Most "black" Tahitian pearls are not actually black, but are instead silver, charcoal, or a multitude of colors with the dominant color being green. Truly black pearls are among the most beautiful pearls in the world, and are extremely rare.
Almost Hunted To Extinction
Not only are the pearls beautiful, but the black-lipped oyster's mother-of-pearl inner shell is also extremely attractive. By the early part of the 20th century, before conservation and repopulation efforts began, the Tahitian pearl oyster had almost been hunted to extinction for its shell alone.
Tahitian Pearls – Not From Tahiti
Although Tahitian pearls are thought by many to be solely a product of Tahiti, this is in fact not true. Tahiti is the commercial center and trading hub for the bulk of the industry, however Tahiti does not have any pearl farms actually located on the island. The farms are instead scattered throughout French Polynesia, as far east as the Gambier Islands, and beyond French Polynesia to the west into the Micronesian Islands. Australia, the Seychelles and Vietnam have all produced black pearls as well, but those cannot be referred to as Tahitian pearls.
Tahitian Pearl Farming Begins
Tahitian pearl farming has much later commercial origins than its other cultured pearl cousins. In the early 1960's a man by the name of Jean-Marie Domard began experimenting with the ‘Pinctada margaritifera’ using Japanese culturing techniques. In 1962, Mr. Domard successfully nucleated 5,000 oysters, and after 3 years harvested more than 1000 high-quality Tahitian pearls.
GRADING TAHITIAN PEARLS
| A-D (Tahitian) Grading | A-AAA Grading | Grading Description and Criteria |
|---|
| Top Gem | Gem Grade | Gem Grade Flawless pearl with excellent luster Pearl exhibits no inclusions or imperfections prior to setting or drilling |
| A | AAA | Flawless on at least 90% of pearl’s surface Only 10% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Only a single deep inclusion allowable Pearl should drill or set clean to virtually clean Luster is very high |
| A/B | AA+ | Flawless on at least 80% of pearl’s surface Only 20% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Only one or two deep inclusions allowable Pearl should drill or set clean to nearly clean Luster is high to very high |
| B | AA | Flawless on at least 70% of pearl’s surface Only 30% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Pearl should drill or set nearly clean Luster is high to very high |
| C | A+ | Flawless on at least 40% of pearl’s surface Up to 60% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections Deep inclusions are limited to 10% of pearl’s surface Luster is medium to very high |
| D | A | At least 60% of pearl’s surface will exhibit flaws Deep inclusions and/or white spots within inclusions on up to 20% of pearl’s surface Luster is poor to very high |
*Cultured Tahitian pearls that do not fall into a category above, or do not meet the minimum nacre depth requirements of 0.8 mm per radius, do not pass the mandatory examination of the Ministere de la Perliculture of Tahiti. Those pearls are refused for export and destroyed. |