Tahitian pearl

The Tahitian pearl is classified as a gemstone. The designation as a gemstone, once reserved for precious stones, underscores the beauty of this pearl. The Tahitian pearl is produced by a type of bivalve mollusk: the Pinctada margaritifera pearl oyster. While most pearls are white, gray, or light-colored, the Tahitian pearl is unique with its black color. But what is the origin of this color?

The color shades of the Tahitian pearl range from black to gray, with various overtones such as green, blue, peacock, eggplant, copper, and bronze. Black is therefore the base color of the pearls found in the Polynesian lagoons.

It is important to note that the color of a pearl depends primarily on the nature of the mollusk that produced it. The pearls from Polynesian lagoons are primarily found in the Tuamotu Archipelago, the largest archipelago in Polynesia (76 atolls, including the well-known Rangiroa and Fakarava), as well as in the Gambier Islands, where the pearl farms of Mr. Robert Wan, the “Emperor of Tahitian Pearls,” are located.

They are also found in the Society Archipelago, which includes the islands of Tahiti with its capital, Papeete; Moorea, which has a bay named after the famous navigator James Cook; Bora Bora, celebrated for its postcard-perfect landscapes; as well as Raiatea and Huahine, among the better-known islands. Additionally, golden pearls are produced by pearl oysters in Australia (Pinctada maxima), and white pearls are produced by other varieties in several regions worldwide. Tahitian pearls, known as “Black Pearls,” are thus the product of mollusks with very dark, thick nacre.