Characteristic Features of Black Pearls

A Little Piece of Information about the Origin and Uniqueness of Tahitian Black Pearls

One of the most beautiful parts of the world, a place of dreams, the island Bora Bora is located in the archipelago of French Polynesia. It gained its name from the Polynesian word "Pora Pora", which means firstborn. Thank to the most beautiful lagoons in the world that place is the aim of many travellers. The rocky peak of Mt. Oteman dominates beautiful sandy beaches and evergreen mountains full of vegetation.  Mt. Oteman is the highest point of the island because its height is 727 metres.

pirog in the middle blue lagoon

It is said that perhaps for its beauty, perhaps because of smiling natives with their peaceful way of life, Oro, the god of fertility descended through the rainbow to the earth and devoted a pearl as a gift of love to the daughter of the goddess Okano and the sand god Vara. Another legend says that the moon shone rays on the surface of the sea to pull pearl oysters on the surface and sanctified them with the dew. The pearls are born from this unique harmony of heaven influence and earth beauty. Perhaps all of these unique bright colours, scents and sounds of the island are absorbed into the uniqueness of the Tahitian pearls.

Colour and Shinepalm trees in the lagoon

Tahitian pearls offer a wide range of colours and unique shades: cherry, purple, cream, rainbow, peacock green, blue, metallic gray...

Shine and luster of pearls is influenced by the degree of penetration of light on the surface of pearls. A sign of beauty is an attribute when the light is reflected in pearls like in a mirror. Weaker brightness causes a dimmer effect.

exellent luster good luster weak luster

Surface

First-class surface of Tahitian pearls is recognizable to the naked eye. Like all natural products some pearls may have certain drawbacks.

Five basic categories of quality:

• TOP GEM: Top quality, no defects

imperfection

• Category A: tiny, almost invisible flaws

infimes inperfection

• Category B: very slight imperfections

minimal inperfections

• Category C: defects to less than 2/3 surface

inperfections

• Category D: relatively visible defects

important inperfection

Size and Shape

Tahitian pearl has a diameter of 8-16 mm. Some pearls exceptionally exceed 18 mm and they are considered as a rarity.

8 mm 16 mm

The original shapes of Tahitian pearls, which are created by nature, are divided into six basic categories:

• Round / semi round

roundsemi round

• Oval / button

buttom

• Drop shape

drop

• Ring/circle

cercled

• Semi baroque

semi baroque

• Baroque

baroque

Exceptional shapes include:

• Keishi

• Mabe