Tahitian pearls, symbols of luxury and perfection, are long sought for their exceptional beauty and value. Tahitian pearls are valued as queen of pearls and creation of the sea. Tahitian pearls are named after the tropical island of Tahiti. Tahiti's black lipped oysters yield a unique array of iridescent black, gray and greenish black Pearl Jewelry . Employing Japanese cultured akoya pearl cultivation techniques, farmers in French Polynesia began cultivating large black pearls in 1965. Nowadays, Tahitian pearl farming has spread over thousands of miles around this island. Due to Tahiti's government promotion, demand for black Tahitian pearls rise 5-10% a year. Tahitian Pearl Quality
Six factors determine Tahitian pearl quality: luster, nacre thickness, surface, color, size, shape. Nacre Thickness
Pearls occur naturally when certain mollusks are infected with parasitic organisms or other such irritants, usually when they burrow through the shell into the tissue underneath. The mollusk's immune system triggers the secretion of a mucus like substance called nacre, which coats the irritant to protect the mollusk from damage. Over time, the layers of nacre coating build up, resulting in the formation of a pearl within the shell. Pearls tend to retain the shape of the original irritant, and so most natural pearls are not round.
Naturally occurring pearls are rare, and many thousands of mollusks can be killed in the search for one pearl. This is why natural pearls command the highest prices, as the yield is unpredictable. As pearls are so desirable and so rare, pearl farmers have worked out ways to stimulate the pearl formation process, greatly increasing the yield of pearls. Originating in Japan in the early 20th century, pearl farming involves the artificial introduction of an irritant to the pearl yielding mollusk, followed by its return to its aquatic habitat. The pearls are then given between 2 and 6 years to grow, depending on the size of pearl required, before harvest. Each mollusk can produce up to 32 pearls.more:pearl necklace jewelry
Six factors determine Tahitian pearl quality: luster, nacre thickness, surface, color, size, shape. Nacre Thickness
Pearls occur naturally when certain mollusks are infected with parasitic organisms or other such irritants, usually when they burrow through the shell into the tissue underneath. The mollusk's immune system triggers the secretion of a mucus like substance called nacre, which coats the irritant to protect the mollusk from damage. Over time, the layers of nacre coating build up, resulting in the formation of a pearl within the shell. Pearls tend to retain the shape of the original irritant, and so most natural pearls are not round.
Naturally occurring pearls are rare, and many thousands of mollusks can be killed in the search for one pearl. This is why natural pearls command the highest prices, as the yield is unpredictable. As pearls are so desirable and so rare, pearl farmers have worked out ways to stimulate the pearl formation process, greatly increasing the yield of pearls. Originating in Japan in the early 20th century, pearl farming involves the artificial introduction of an irritant to the pearl yielding mollusk, followed by its return to its aquatic habitat. The pearls are then given between 2 and 6 years to grow, depending on the size of pearl required, before harvest. Each mollusk can produce up to 32 pearls.more:pearl necklace jewelry
