Tahitian Black Pearls

The Black Pearl in French Polynesia A symbol A symbol The pearl of Tahiti, Te Poe in Tahitian, is, with the tiara, the symbol of French Polynesia.

 The legende The pearl oyster, “Te Ufi”, was offered to the men by the peace and fertility god Oro whom came down to the Earth riding on a rainbow. It is also said that he gave it to the princess of Bora Bora in order to prove his love.

Beginning of the culture of the pearl  In the time of the colonists Since their arrival in Polynesia, Polynesians always appreciated mother- of-pearl which they used as ornaments. In the arrival of the first Europeans, mother-of-pearls served as bargaining chip against different trinkets, knives, etc....

Pioneers in Tuamotu Pioneers in Tuamotu In the low sixties Jean Dommard, leader of the service of the fishing, was the first one to be convinced that one could obtain exceptional pearls of "Black-Lipped Oyster" (Pinctada Margaritifera).

In 1965, he proceeded to a harvest test; it was the birth of the pearl of Tahiti. But it was necessary to wait until 1970 for the black pearls to be known thanks to the perlicultors. Among them was Robert Wan, the emperor of the pearl, who possesses 50 % of all Polynesian production today. There was then a rush to the pearl culture and the development of a big number of pearl farms.

The production of pearls The gathering The gathering The gathering consists in collecting passively a naissain of Pinctada Margaritifera by the fixing of this one on a collector. The technique consists in stretching out a rope of 100 to 200m at a 3m depth, maintained by buoys and ballasts on which are settled the collectors.

The breeding The breeding The young oysters which were taken off from the collectors are brought up until the adulthood. After this growing period which lasts for 2 years the transplant occurs : Young mother-of-pearls of about 5 cm are placed in baskets or fenced in boxes until they reach the size of 8cm.Young mother-of-pearls of about 5 cm are placed in baskets or fenced in boxes until they reach the size of 8cm. Then they are drilled and threaded on rosaries from 10 to 20 mother-of-pearls until the transplant.Then they are drilled and threaded on rosaries from 10 to 20 mother-of-pearls until the transplant.

During all the growing parts, mother-of-pearls are regularly checked. They are also cleaned, under or out of the water.

The implant This operation consists in introducing a nucleus (ball of fresh water mother-of-pearl) and an implant (piece of intern “mantle” of a healthy oyster) in an oyster gonad.

The preparation The preparation They are cleaned just before the transplant to get rid of the present parasites on their shell. The grown- up oysters (from 2 to 3 years, 12cm minimum) are untied and then removed from their rosary. They are half- opened and maintained this way to receive the implant.

The grafting The grafting The greffor cuts implants from a piece of a healthy oyster mantle. Then he chooses a nucleus (according to the size of the oyster) which he pastes the implant all around of. He cuts the gonad of the oyster and places the nucleus and the implant there.

The oyster is sealed and placed in a tub, the aperture pointing at the top, so that the nucleus does not slide and dislodges.

The growing of the pearl The growing of the pearl At the end of 18 months, we obtain a pearl possessing a nacre layer with thickness superior to 1 mm.

Different pearls Pearls are classified according to their diameter mm by mm from 8 to 16mm.

Shape Shape  Round and semi-round: Round: almost perfect spheres with diameter variation inferior to 2%Round: almost perfect spheres with diameter variation inferior to 2% Semi-round: unperfected spheres with diameter variation include between 2 and 5%Semi-round: unperfected spheres with diameter variation include between 2 and 5%

 Semi-baroque: pearls possessing at least one axis of rotation, with a shape of pear, drop or ovals  Baroque or “keshi”: pearls without an axis of rotation

 Encircled: streaked pearls with regular and parallel rings on more than one third of the surface

Pearls quality Pearls quality The quality is appreciated according to the sheen and the peculiarities of the pearl surface.

Classification of pearls CategoryOrientGlareDefects top Very deep Very strong none A Very deep Very strong negligible B Very deep strongsome CDeepstrongnegligible DDeeppoorsome Keshiweakweakimportant Orientplay of light on a pearl Orient: play of light on a pearl

Colours Colours Colours are very varied, going from the light grey to the dark grey by way of pink, green, golden, blue...

Enjoy!