Tahitian Black Pearls, or Black Pearls are so special because of their rarity. These pearls, ever though cultured, can never be mass produced (like freshwater pearls) because of the precise conditions required by the black pearl oysters (Pinctada margaritifera)
The Tahitian government has produced a set of pearl grading standards; the following characteristic are based on those.
Six Pearl Grading Factors
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Pearl Shape: Round, Semi-Round, Semi-Baroque, Ringed or Circle, Baroque.
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Pearl Size: 8MM to 21MM.
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Pearl Surface Quality: Clean-Very Lightly Blemished (A), Light Blemished (B), Moderately Blemished (C), Heavily Blemished (D).
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Lustre: Very high (AAA), High (AA), Medium (A), Soft (B).
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Nacre Thickness: Thick, Thin.
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Colour: Body colour plus overtone.
Tahitian pearls can take on all the colours of the oyster shell which produces it and have a wide range of body colours. The predominant basic colours are
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black,
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grey,
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blue,
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green and
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brown.
Tahitian pearls also have beautiful overtones in
- blue,
- pink,
- gold,
- silver,
- reddish purple/aubergine and
- peacock green.
These overtones may be present in a variety of combinations and are considered a definite plus factor.
Generally, the darker the Tahitian black pearl, the more valuable it is.
The finest and most highly sought after black pearls have a peacock green overtone.