Tahiti Sea Pearls
Tahitian sea pearls from the Pinctada margaritifera or Black-lip pearl oyster, are more commonly known as Tahitian sea pearls. These pearls are often referred to as black, but have a remarkable color range that covers the spectrum - from light, creamy white and grey, to regal greens, peacock and deep black.
Tahitian sea pearls are bead nucleated many of them are round, or near round, with other shapes expressed in drops, baroques, button and circled pearls.
Tahitian sea pearls are considered to be the second most valuable commercially farmed pearls in the world. Unlike black freshwater and black akoya pearls, which have been irradiated or dyed, Tahitians come by their dark color naturally. Tahitian sea pearls are bead-nucleated, but unlike akoya pearls, the nacre is typically very thick. The thinnest nacre allowed by French Polynesian law for export is 0.8 mm, which is a depth that would be considered.
