Black pearls: where do these iconic pearls come from?

Famous throughout the world for their unique beauty and rarity, Tahitian pearls, also called “black pearls”, are cultivated in the seas of French Polynesia, more precisely in pearl farms located in the islands and atolls of this paradise region.

Very fashionable, their colors vary according to the nature of the graft and the geographical origin of the pearl. Thus, depending on the lagoon where the oysters are cultivated, the shade of the pearl varies: some varieties adopt very light shades, almost white, while others approach gray, blue, green, gold or a dark purple reminiscent of the color of eggplant.

Despite what their name suggests, Tahitian pearls do not come from Tahiti. This name comes from the time when pearl farmers from other islands of French Polynesia traveled to Tahiti to sell their wares, popularizing the region for this iconic black pearl.

There are five types of shapes: round (the sphere is almost perfect), semi-round (the pearl has the shape of a sphere, its diameter varies from 2 to 5%), semi-baroque (the pearl has the shape of a drop, pear, oval or button), baroque (the pearl is very irregular) and finally circled (the pearl has one or more concentric circles around its surface).

The Tahitian pearl comes from the Pinctada margaritifera oyster and is considered the cousin of the South Sea pearl, which comes from the Pinctada maxima oyster.

The price of the Tahitian pearl is directly linked to its rarity. Round pearls, for example, represent on average 5% of a harvest compared to 30% for circled pearls. These are the rarest pearls and therefore the most expensive.

Today, Tahitian pearls are among the most sought after in the world.

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If you would like a custom-made piece of Tahitian pearl jewelry, please contact us:

• by email: info@melaniestones.com
• by phone: 514-715-7035