Tahitian Pearls

Beautifully rich with dramatic black coloring, Tahitian pearls are both magnificent and intriguing. Exclusively cultivated in the Tahitian waters of French Polynesia, these incredible black gems are harvested in this tropical paradise before being made into exquisite, statement-making pearl jewelry.

These sea-dwelling gems are much larger than Akoya or freshwater pearls—which are often used in high‐end jewelry—and offer other advantages and characteristics that set them further apart and make them a unique choice for your pearl collection.

Appearance and Rarity of Tahitian Pearls

Genuine Tahitian pearls range in color from pure white to black—the only naturally black pearl in the world. Pure black, along with other shades that fall in between like cool gray, are the most valuable. Just as dazzling in their own way, the white and light gray gems offer a completely different aesthetic with all the incredible luster and impressive size of the black variety.

Tahitian pearl jewelry often features black pearls with subtle undertones of deep green, silver and dusky bronze. Because of these variances, color‐matching among black Tahitian pearls can be a challenge, and a pure black gem is considered a rare and valuable find. Even so, the more common mix of slightly different black shades still creates a beautifully unique necklace or bracelet that is just as captivating.

In terms of size, Tahitian pearls grow to be between 7‐12mm, on average, making them ideal for statement pieces such as pendants or drop earrings. While slightly heavier, they are a fine choice for larger designs over more petite freshwater or Akoya pearls.

Tahitian Pearl Farming

Tahitian pearls come from the black lip oyster which lives in the tropical seas of French Polynesia. These oysters can grow up to 10lbs. in size, making them ideal for farming large pearls. Not surprisingly, Tahitian pearls are French Polynesia's largest export. These rare gems account for over 50% of the country's annual exports, valued at nearly $20M per year.

Typically, black lip oysters are harvested from the Tuamotu‐Gambier Archipelago and then brought to farms where they can begin cultivating pearls. Most Tahitian pearls are "bead nucleated," which means a mother‐of‐pearl bead is surgically implanted to encourage the pearls to grow more efficiently. These beads are perfectly round to encourage round pearl production, however in some circumstances, it could form into drop, button, or baroque shapes. The oysters will cultivate it for nearly two years before they are ready to be harvested.

As an added benefit, pearl harvesting is typically more environmentally conscious than processes for acquiring other precious gemstones. Once the oyster has created a Tahitian pearl, it can then be used for food, and the shells can be ground into "mother‐of‐pearl," or the material used to make new pearls. This makes farming practices more sustainable while simultaneously creating beautiful pieces of pearl jewelry. A wonderful win‐win!