TAHITIAN PEARLS
Tahitian pearls
have recently caught the eyes of many jewelry lovers who were looking for pearls other than classic white. Tahitian pearls are named after the island of Tahiti and they are highly prized for their beauty and the unique charm of their darker metallic tones. Tahitian pearls have become one of the most sought-after gems in the world. These pearls are valued as queen of pearls. Often tourists visit Tahiti and other nearby tiny islands for their picturesque natural beauty and come back will all kind of souvenirs including the pearls.
Tahitian pearls are grown and harvested in Tahitian Island and other neighboring French Polynesian islands that are well known for its crystalline pristine seawaters and exotic sunbathed beaches.
Black lipped oyster - pinctada margaritifera produces these Tahitian pearls. Tahitian pearls are also popularly called the ‘black south sea pearls’. Tahitian pearls, symbol of luxury and perfection, have become very famous because of its natural metallic black color.
A combination of the body color and overtone is used to describe a pearl. Tahitian pearls have overtones of gray, peacock, blue and magenta. The real quality Tahitian pearls have a faint reddish glow when viewed through filters. Among many colors, peacock (greenish black) and Pistachio (greenish gray) are the most popular colors. The great luster, brilliant natural color and thick nacre of Tahitian pearls make these pearls extraordinary, much sought after and very much in vogue now. The popularity of these Tahitian pearls is not limited to US customers only but Japan and Hong Kong jewelers are the two major importers of Tahitian black pearls.
Tahitian black pearls come in many colors. The most common are the black or gray. Overtone colors can come in shades such as lunar blue, silver, gold, gray-pink, with the most valuable colors coming in shades of peacock green, eggplant and rainbow.
Tahitian pearls come in various shapes and sizes besides the exotic colors and they are round, semi-round, baroque and semi-baroque like pear shaped, teardrop, oval or button shaped. The perfect circle or round shape pearls are very expensive and many can’t afford them but baroque or semi-baroque are well sought after for the sheer uniqueness of asymmetrical shapes and well within the reach of many pearl jewelry lovers.
The size, luster and shapes determine prices of Tahitian black pearls. Most Tahitian black pearls measure between 8mm and 13 millimeters across. The rare and more valuable pearls measure between 12 and 18 millimeter across.
