FAQ

Tahiti pearl’s 10 most Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Tahitian pearl black ?
Because it is created in the womb of the special black-lipped mollusk found in French Polynesia waters known as the “Pinctada Margaritifera”, or black-lip mother-of-pearl, for short. This mollusk naturally secretes a black pigment, which, depending on the quantity, gives the resulting pearl a basic color ranging from black to gray.

Where is Tahiti ?
In the eastern South Pacific at 3,852 miles from Los Angeles; 3,541 miles from Sydney, 5,468 miles from Tokyo and 4,660 miles from Santiago, Chile.

Where are Tahitian cultured pearls found ?
They are cultivated in pearl farms in the lagoons of the Tuamotu-Gambier archipelago, a sprawling group of atolls and islands in French Polynesia.

What do the living mother-of-pearls eat while creating cultured pearls?
Plankton, the microscopic animal and plant life found floating or drifting in the lagoons where the pearl farms are located.

How much does a Tahitian pearl cost ?
$100 for a small pearl of average quality up to $10,000 for a round pearl of perfect quality with a diameter of 18mm.

Is the Tahitian pearl natural ?
Yes and no. It is naturally cultured with man intervening in the place of nature. Strictly speaking, natural pearls are those created without any human intervention, as officially defined by the International Confederation of Jewellery, Silverware, Diamonds, Pearls and Stones (CIBJO).

Are Tahitian pearls tinted ?
Absolutely not! Whatever the color, it is 100% natural. The pearl may end up being white or a variety of shades of gray as well as black, bronze, greenish or purplish.

Do natural pearls still exist ?
Yes, in one out of 15,000 pearl oysters!

Where is the Tahitian pearl created ?
Inside a large, well-developed gonad, or reproductive gland, of a pearl oyster, which is also known as the “pearl pocket”.

How are the various shades of Tahitian pearls created?
They result from the decomposition of light as it passes through the pearl layers, which act as a prism. The layers break up the light the same way as a raindrop does when light passes through it creating a rainbow.


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