WHAT MAKES TAHITIAN
PEARLS SO UNIQUE
Tahitian Pearls is known for its particular black colour that can vary from grey, green, blue, peacock and aubergine. This particular colour is essentially due to the mollusc that has a lustrous thick and dark, and also the quality of the ocean, the temperature and the depth. The lustrous plant is also called Pinctada Margaritifera.
Most of the pearl farms in French Polynesia are situated in the Tuamotu Island, one of the bigger parts of French Polynesia. This is also where Tahiti Treasure sustainably sources our pearls.
The Tahitian Pearl is categorised into 5 classes, which vary depending on the size, form and imperfections on the Pearl. The 5 classes of Pearl are: Colour, Size, Form, Quality and brightness. These classes will fall into Categories A, B,C or D.
Tahiti Treasure uses only the highest quality Tahitian Pearl: Round and Semi-Round, Category A&B.
The Creation of Tahitian Pearls
1. Collection of Lustrous / Spat
The Spat is the oyster in the larval and drifting state. The oyster is also called Pinctada Margaritifera, where they naturally live in the Polynesian Lagoon. A collector line is dropped in the lagoon 200 metre of depth, in order for the gamete male and female gamete to fertilise a spat. Once the spat is fertilised, they are drilled and hung on a nylon cord for at least 18months, allowing time for them to grow.
2. Breeding
The breeding process is carefully monitored in order to maintain their quality and to protect them from predators. Two to four times a year, the oysters are removed from the water and carefully cleaned. All shells, molluscs and algae which stick on the oysters shell are removed, as they can disturb the healthy growth of the oyster. The breeding process takes 3 years before being ready to be transplanted.
3. Transplantation
The transplantation is a delicate process, as approximately 30% of the oyster dies 45 days after the transplantation. This process consists of cutting a small part of the pearl pocket, in order to insert a transplant and a nucleus. Two years is required for a high quality pearl to be produced.
4. Harvest
During this process, the presence of the grafter/ transplanter is required. The grafter is the one who can judge the quality of the oyster and the pearl. After two years, the oyster is extracted from the ocean and the grafter extracts the pearl from the oyster. If the quality of the pearl is good and the oyster is still healthy, the oyster will be transplanted once again and the pearl will be replaced by a nucleus of the same size.
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