Black Pearls, Black Pearl Jewelry from Tahiti and Tahitian Black Pearls

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F & Qs

Tahia 1. What is a "Tahitian Cultured Black Pearl"?
A Tahitian Cultured Black Pearl is a pearl that is obtained by means of a grafting operation performed by a skilled technician on the "Pinctada Margaritifera" or "Black Lipped Oyster" of French Polynesia.

2. Why are Tahitian Black Pearls "black"?
" Black" Pearls are actually most often multicolored, with metallic steel gray being the most common color. The color of the pearls is entirely natural and is imparted by the oyster, which produces dark, multicolored mother-of-pearl secretions.

3. Are there any natural Black Pearls?
Natural (not cultured) black pearls still occur very rarely, about one in every 10,000 oysters. It is illegal to dive for oysters for the purpose of finding a natural pearl, since the natural stocks would quickly be depleted.

4. How long does it take to culture a Black Pearl?
From the grafting to the harvesting of a black pearl, a period of 18 to 24 months is necessary to achieve the desirable thickness (1.5 mm and up) of mother-of-pearl around the nucleus.

5. Are black pearls only produced in Tahiti?
The first Black Pearls were produced in French Polynesia in the mid-60's long before any other neighboring island. However, the Cook Islands and Kiribati now produce about 3% of the world's supply.

6. Why are Black Pearls so much larger than white pearls?
The oyster that produces the Tahitian Black Pearl can grow up to 12 inches in diameter (and weigh 10 lbs), as opposed to 3 inches for the "Akoya" oyster that produces white pearls, therefore allowing a larger nucleus to be implanted. Also, the cultivating time of a white pearl is only about 5 to 6 months.

7. What criteria determine the value of a Black Pearl?
The main criteria are: size, shape, surface quality, luster and color. The most expensive pearls are rare colored, large, round, free of surface imperfections and highly lustered.

8. What is the most desirable color?
There is no one most desirable color, since the choice of color is a personal decision. However, certain rare colors do seem to be quite popular. Among these is the famous "Peacock" color, which is a combination of green and eggplant purple.

9. How are Black Pearls graded for surface quality?
Black Pearls are graded for surface quality (independently of shape and size) using a scale from A to D. An "A Grade" pearl will have minor surface imperfections limited to less than 10% of the total surface; a "B grade", less than one-third; a "C Grade", less than two-thirds, and; a "D Grade" more than two-thirds of the Black Pearl's surface will have such minor imperfections.