 The Magnificent
Black
Pearls of Tahiti
The Tahiti-Polynesian islands are the leading exporter of fine black cultured pearls in the world.
It's now possible to enter this world of outstanding and enigmatic beauty of black pearls by taking tours of the countries various farms and observing the chronology and evolution and grafting of their oysters, and finally, the beauty of their crop.
The pearl is such an important part of the Polynesian economy and lifestyle that TST has created a seperate section for them.
Explore this section for all the information you need for learning about and obtaining the pearls of your dreams.
DEFINING THE TAHITI CULTURED PEARL:
(as established by GIE Tahiti Pearls)
Tahiti cultured pearls are pearl concretions that are secreted inside the black-lipped Pinctada Margaritifera species of pearl oysters cultivated mainly in the lagoons of French Polynesia. They consist of thick pearly layers containing organic substances and calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite.
Tahiti cultured pearls are characterized by a diversity of shapes, diameters, qualities and several shades of natural colors, ranging from pale gray to anthracite black.
In French Polynesia, the trade designation "Tahiti Cultured Pearl" is reserved exclusively for cultured pearls obtained from a grafting of the locally cultivated Pinctada Margaritifera pearl oyster. Such pearls have a continuous pearly layer over at least 80% of their surface and do not reveal either the nucleus or the seed of the nucleus.
Any other merchandise that does not satisfy such criteria may not be called a "Tahiti Cultured Pearl" and will be deemed a rejected pearl.
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In French Polynesia, the black pearl has always been synonymous with purity and power... |
Rejected pearls official criteria:
* pearls whose milky loss of normal pigmentation marks over more than 20% of its surface
* pearls with no luster, resulting in a dull surface
* pearls with deep imperfections on more than half of their surface
* pearls with both deep and light imperfections on more than half of their surface.
Copyright © 1996-2001 GIE Tahiti Pearls
images Copyright © Pacific-image 1997
G.I.E. TAHITI PEARLS:
In 1993, the French Polynesia Government created, together with three producers' associations, the Groupement d'Intérêt Economique Perles de Tahiti (ie GIE Tahiti Pearls in English), whose aim is to promote Tahitian pearls and their by-products in overseas markets.
The GIE Tahiti Pearls is a special non-profit economic interest group.
G.I.E. Tahiti Pearls
is located in Tahiti:
P.O.Box 20470 PAPEETE - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 45.03.03
Fax. (689) 45.04.50,
Web http://www.tahiti-blackpearls.com
Other Organizations:
There also are five other organizations working with G.I.E. Tahiti Pearls.
They are:
1) World Cultured Pearl Organization (WPO).
The address is: Akasaka KS. Building 5th Floor, 1-4-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107, Japan. Tel./Fax (81) 3-5561-9511.
2) Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The president is William E. Boyajian.
The address is: The Robert Mouawad Campus, 5345 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Tel. (760) 603-4567. Fax (760) 603-4550.
3)
GIA/ Gem Trade Laboratory. Thomas Moses is vice president of identification services. The address is: 580 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10036-4794. Tel. (212) 221-5858. Fax (212) 575-3095.
4)
Jewelers of America. Beverly Hori is the director of education. The address is 777 108th Avenue NE, Suite 600, Bellevue, Wash. 98040-5195. Tel. (425) 646-4858. Fax (425) 990-7938.
5)
Association of Jewellery and Pearl Professionals (CSBP), which promotes Tahitian cultured pearls in Tahiti & Her Islands. The address is: Centre d'Affaires Polynésien, 171 Ave. Prince Hinoï, B.P. 51561, Pirae, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
The cultured Pearls of Tahiti's information has been elaborated by the G.I.E Perles de Tahiti.
10 OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TAHITIAN BLACK CULTURED PEARLS:
1)
WHY IS THE TAHITIAN PEARL BLACK?
Because it is created in the womb of the special black-lipped mollusk found in French Polynesian waters known as the "Pinctada Margaritifera", or black-lip mother-of-pearl, for short. This mollusk naturally secretes a black pigment, which, depending on the quantity, gives the resulting pearl a basic color ranging from black to gray.
2)
WHERE IS TAHITI?
In the eastern South Pacific- 3,852 miles from Los Angeles, 3,541 miles from Sydney, 5,468 miles from Tokyo and 4,660 miles from Santiago, Chile.
(go here for more details)
3)
WHERE ARE TAHITIAN CULTURED PEARLS FOUND?
They are cultivated in pearl farms in the lagoons of the Tuamotu-Gambier Archipelago, a sprawling group of atolls and islands in French Polynesia.
4)
WHAT DO THE LIVING MOTHER-OF-PEARLS EAT WHILE CREATING CULTURED PEARLS?
Plankton, the microscopic animal and plant life found floating or drifting in the lagoons where the pearl farms are located.
5)
HOW MUCH DOES A TAHITIAN PEARL COST?
$100 for a small pearl of average quality and up to $10,000 for a round pearl of perfect quality with a diameter of 18mm.
6)
IS THE TAHITIAN PEARL NATURAL?
Yes and no. It is naturally cultured with man intervening in the place of nature. Strictly speaking, natural pearls are those created without any human intervention, as officially defined by the International Confederation of Jewelery, Silverware, Diamonds, Pearls and Stones (CIBJO).
7)
ARE TAHITIAN PEARLS TINTED?
Absolutely not! Whatever the color, it is 100% natural. The pearl may end up being white or a variety of shades of gray as well as black, bronze, greenish or purplish.
(go here for more details)
8)
DO NATURAL PEARLS STILL EXIST?
Yes, in one out of 15,000 pearl oysters!
9)
WHERE IS THE TAHITIAN PEARL CREATED?
Inside a large, well-developed gonad, or reproductive gland, of a pearl oyster, which is also known as the "pearl pocket".
10)
HOW ARE THE VARIOUS SHADES OF TAHITIAN PEARLS CREATED?
They result from the decomposition of light as it passes through the pearl layers, which act as a prism. The layers break up the light the same way as a raindrop does when light passes through it creating a rainbow.
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©
1998-2007 Tahiti Sun Travel Network (TSTN). All text, photos, and design rights
reserved.
For more detailed copyright information, click here
EXCEPTIONS: "Definition of a Tahiti Cultured Pearl", "G.I.E. Tahiti Pearls, and "10 F.A.Q's" by G.I.E. Tahiti Pearls and all four photos on this page used with permission from Pacific Image.
