What every consumer should know about Tahiti Black Pearls

What is a "Tahiti Cultured Black Pearl?
A Tahitian cultured Black Pearl is a pearl that is obtained by means of a grafting operations performed by a skilled technician on the "Pinctada Margaritifera" or "Black Lipped Oyster" of French Polynesia.

Are there any natural Tahitian Pearls?
Natural (not cultured) black pearls still occur very rarely, about one in every 10,000 oysters.  It is illegal to dive for oysters for the purpose of finding a natural pearl, since the natural stocks would quickly be depleted.

Why are Tahitian Black Pearls "Black"?
Pearls are actually most often multicolored, with metallic steel gray being the most common color.  The color of the pearls is entirely natural and is imparted by the oyster, which secretes a dark multicolored mother-of-pearl.

What is the most desirable color?
There is no one most desirable color, since the choice of color is a personal decision.  However, certain rare colors do seem to be quite popular.  Among these is the famous "Peacock" color, which a combination of green and eggplant purple.

Why are Tahitian Pearls so much larger than white pearls?
The oyster that produces the Tahitian Black Pearl can grow up to 12 inches in diameter (and weigh 10 lbs.), as opposed to 3 inches for the "Akoya" oyster that produces white pearls, therefore allowing a larger nucleus to be implanted.  Also, the culturing time of a white pearl is only about 5 to 6 months.

How long does it take to culture a Tahitian Pearl?
From the grafting to the harvest of a Tahitian Pearl, a period of 18 to 24 months is necessary to achieve the desirable thickness (greater than 1.5 mm) of mother-of-pearl around the nucleus.

What criteria determine the value of Tahitian Pearls?
The main criteria are: size, shape surface quality, luster and color.  The most expensive pearls are rare colored, large, round, free of surface imperfections and highly lustered.

How are Tahitian Pearls graded for surface quality?
Tahitian Pearls are initially graded for surface quality (independently of shape and size) using a scale from A to D.  An "A Grade" pearl will have very minor surface imperfections limited to an area less than 10% of the total surface while a "D Grade" pearl will have imperfections on more than two thirds of  the surface.  The final grade of the pearl will depend on the pearls color and luster.

Are Tahiti Black Pearls only produced in Tahiti?
The first Tahitian Black Pearls were produced in French Polynesian in the mid-1960's, long before any other neighboring island.  However, the Cook Islands and Kiribati now produce about 3% of the world's supply.

Why should you purchase your Tahiti Black Pearls from Steven Lee?
The answer to that can be summed up in two words: quality and value.  Steven Lee searches the islands of French Polynesian to find the elusive Tahitian Pearls that will complement his exquisite jewelry designs.