Tahiti's cultured pearl
"All the colors of black"
DID YOU SAY BLACK?
You may have noticed: Tahitian black pearls aren't... black! Well, not really, or very rarely. They can even be dazzlingly colorful: gray, silver, green, blue, yellow, eggplant, gold, pink... The Tahitian cultured pearl can have it all: it's the only natural pearl in the world to possess this sumptuous dark nacre adorned with iridescent pigments, a gift from its mother oyster, the Pinctada Margaritifera, privileged host of Polynesian lagoons.
UNIQUE AND RARE
The Tahitian cultured pearl is born from a nucleus and a graft introduced into a Pinctada Margaritifera by the pearl grower, part surgeon, part magician. Nature, time and... luck do the rest. Because only 30% of grafted oysters produce pearls. And of these, only a few are perfectly round, uniformly colored and of remarkable size. Yes, a Tahitian pearl is always unique and rare. And so often magnificent.
AUTHENTICALLY YOURS
An authentic Tahitian black pearl is grown in the lagoon of an island or atoll in French Polynesia, most often in the Gambier or Tuamotu archipelagos.
COCOBLANC gives you a certificate of origin and authenticity with your purchase. This guarantees the natural, Polynesian origin of your pearl, according to official classification criteria >.
THE SHAPE
A Tahitian pearl can be:
Round: an almost perfect sphere (less than 2% variation in diameter). Obviously the rarest and most sought-after shape.
Semi-round: almost round (between 2% and 5% variation in diameter). Almost perfect is also very good.
Button: a sphere just slightly flattened, with at least one axis of symmetry.
Semi-baroque: teardrop, pear or oval-shaped. Not round at all, but with at least one axis of revolution. A little originality never hurts.
Ringed: with rings or grooves perpendicular to an axis of rotation over more than 1/3 of its surface. For non-conformists.
Baroque: totally irregular, with no axis of symmetry, in short, it looks like nothing (else). But it can be incredibly charming!
SIZE
Tahitian pearls vary in size (diameter or width, depending on shape) from 8 to 12 mm. Exceptional pieces reach 16mm, very rarely more.
CLASSIFICATION
Specific to Tahitian pearls, it is assessed with the naked eye according to two criteria: surface condition (quantity and distribution of imperfections) and luster (quality of the reflection of light on the pearl's surface):
Top Gem category: no imperfections and excellent lustre. In short, the exception!
Category A: no imperfections on at least 90% of the surface. Light, concentrated imperfections on the remaining 10%. Deep imperfections tolerated. Very good gloss at least.
Category B: surface free of imperfections on at least 70%. On the remaining 30%, the pearl may present light, concentrated imperfections, with a tolerance of two deep imperfections. Good luster minimum.
Category C: surface free of imperfections on at least 40%. On the remaining 60%, the pearl may present light, concentrated imperfections with a tolerance of 10% deep imperfections. Minimum average luster.
Category D: slight imperfections over more than 60% of the surface, with a tolerance of no more than 20% of deep imperfections and/or white pitting. Low gloss minimum.
COLOR
This is a secondary criterion, the characterization of which is subjective. Unlike the previous ones, it should not influence the price of the pearl, except in the case of very rare and intense uniform hues (white, black, blue, for example). But it's often the color that triggers the "coup de coeur"!
WHAT ABOUT THE KESHIS?
A Tahitian keshi ("poppy seed" in Japanese) is a baroque mass of mother-of-pearl produced by an oyster that has rejected its nucleus. Long scorned as abortive transplants, Tahitian keshis have gradually earned their letters of nobility. Today, they have been adopted by the greatest jewellers for their singular shapes. Small in stature but big in effect, keshis can measure up to 15 mm in diameter and feature striking colors.
At COCOBLANC, we particularly like them as bracelets, earrings or pendants.
Tahiti's cultured pearl
OUR OPINION
Each pearl is born of a whim of nature, which is what makes it so beautiful and unique. With the exception of the very rare "perfect" pearl, it is therefore normal for a Tahitian pearl to reveal imperfections, more or less visible, more or less acceptable according to one's criteria. But there's no such thing as a "bad" Tahitian pearl!
As they say in Polynesia: "It's not you who chooses your pearl, it's the pearl that chooses you". At COCOBLANC, we agree with this delicious saying. So, in our boutique, let your heart speak, let yourself be seduced: whatever its shape, size or color, a pearl will be yours. Unique. Timeless.