"Know it better to sell it better: the Tahitian black pearl": the Tahitian cultured pearl is one of the most precious jewels of French Polynesia. This makes it the only cultured pearl that is "Made In France".
This pearl is harvested from the pearl oyster known as " Pinctada margaritifera ", which is farmed in the warm, clear waters of the Polynesian lagoons.
The production of Tahitian cultured pearls is a major industry in French Polynesia, employing many people and generating significant income for the local economy.
Pearl farming is a complex process that requires a great deal of care and attention.
To obtain the best possible harvest, pearl farmers must follow several important steps. First, they must select the healthiest and strongest oysters for cultivation. These oysters are placed in mesh bags suspended in the lagoon (see photo). The oysters are fed and protected from predators.
Once the oysters have reached a certain size, the pearl farmers make an incision in the oyster's flesh and insert a small spherical mother-of-pearl nucleus.
This process, known as "grafting", stimulates the oyster to produce a layer of nacre around the nucleus, thus forming a pearl.
The pearl farmers closely monitor the oysters throughout the cultivation period, which can last from 18 to 24 months. They must ensure that the oysters are kept in a healthy, parasite-free environment, and they must also carry out regular cleaning to maintain water quality.
Once the pearls have reached maturity, the oysters are harvested and the pearls are removed. The pearls are sorted according to their size, their shape, their colour and their characteristic lustre. Tahitian cultured pearls are prized for their natural colour, ranging from dark grey to black, as well as for their exceptional size and lustre.
The rarest pearl is one whose shape is perfectly round. These account for less than 5% of a harvest. Naturally, they are the most expensive.
Pearl farming is practised in various regions of French Polynesia, notably the Gambier Islands, the Tuamotu Islands and the Marquesas Islands. Each region has its own particularities in terms of farming techniques and the types of pearls produced. Pearls produced in the Tuamotu Islands, for example, are renowned for their round shape and exceptional lustre.
In conclusion, the Tahitian cultured pearl is a precious product obtained through a complex and meticulous pearl farming process. Polynesian pearl farmers work diligently to produce pearls of superior quality, which are admired worldwide for their beauty and uniqueness.