Overview
Black Tahitian cultured pearls are exotic gems that always make a bold statement. These pearls wake up with a stunning spectrum of colour the moment light kisses the surface of these smouldering treasures; displaying colours like, pink, green, blue, aubergine, silver and bronze.

Black Tahitian cultured pearls are the only naturally occurring black pearls. They are a variety of South Sea pearl produced by the Pinctada Margaritifera mollusc, or the Black-Lipped Oyster, and are farmed primarily in French Polynesia. It is mistakenly thought these stunning gems are farmed in Tahiti; however this is not the case. Tahiti is the primary commercial center for the trade of Black Tahitian pearls. The French Polynesian government tightly regulates the quality standards of all Tahitian pearls exported for commercial trade. For example, any pearl exported must have a minimum nacre thickness of 0.8mm.

Tahitian pearls are cultured through a process of bead nucleation, where a tiny incision is made to the gonad of the host Oyster and a small round mother of pearl bead, accompanied with a tiny piece of donor mantle tissue, is inserted. Tahitian pearls typically range in size from 8mm to 16mm. They can occur in larger sizes 18mm+, but this is extremely rare. Tahitians are known for their exotic dark body colour, but they can be very pale in colour as well.

Size
Black Tahitian cultured pearls typically range in size from
8.0mm - 16.0mm in diameter, and much more rarely in the largest possibles sizes up to 18.0mm+ in diameter.

Colour
Black Tahitian cultured pearls naturally occur in different intensities of charcoal and naturally have overtones of peacock, silver, bronze, aubergine, blue, aqua, and green, in varying degrees and combination. This is apparent when you look at the Mother of Pearl that lines the oysters' shell. As with all pearls, the parent lining is a clue as to the expected colour of pearl the oyster will produce.

Tahitian pearls found in other colours such as chocolate brown, red, etc., have been colour treated and dyed. Often Tahitians are dyed to appear much darker than they naturally were, so it would be prudent to ask any retailer you consider purchasing from if the pearls are colour treated or natural.

Shape
Black Tahitian cultured pearls occur in a variety of shapes; such as round, near-round, off-round, and baroque. All factors being equal, the more perfectly round the pearl is, the more valuable it is.