How can you tell if a pearl is Tahitian?

The perfect Tahitian pearls, the ones with no imperfections, are very rare. Most of the black pearls have irregularities. A fake Tahitian pearl is often sold with a perfectly spherical surface, smooth and matt under the light. Always remember that a real Tahitian pearl has to reflect the light !

What distinguishes Tahitian pearls from other pearls?

They are distinguished by the marked contrast between the surface colour and the brightness in depth (orient), shades of blue, blue-green, violet and green-pink. This green-pink orient, called "peacock", is the rarest and most expensive. Tahitian pearls grow in sea water for 4 to 5 years.

What color of Tahitian pearls is more valuable?

Prized Colors of Tahitian Pearls

With such a variety of colors displayed by the Tahitian pearls, there are some which are highly prized. Those with iridescent peacock and cobalt blue colors have the most value on the market.

Are Tahitian black pearls valuable?

Black, or Tahitian pearls, are some of the most beautiful gems on this planet. They carry a unique color that cannot be found naturally in any other pearl hence making them one of the most valuable pearls on Earth.

Are Tahitian pearls worth it?

Tahitian pearls were once the rarest, most valuable cultured pearls in the world. They are still much more valuable than freshwater and akoya pearls, but the farming enterprises are no longer relegated to small groups of atolls.

Are These Tahitian Pearls?

How do you test pearls to see if they're real?

Rub the pearls to check surface feel

Both natural and cultured pearls have textured surface due to their layered nacre structure. So when you rub the pearls lightly against each other or on your front teeth, they feel a little gritty. Fake or imitation pearls, however, usually feel smooth or glassy.

How much does Tahitian pearl cost?

Tahitian Pearl Value

Tahitian pearls are exotic, with dark colors. Depending on their size and quality, a strand of Tahitian pearls can cost from $500 to more than $25,000. These magnificent beauties come in a variety of qualities and pearl sizes, as well as some of the most stunning pearl colors.

Do Tahitian pearls have dents?

Pearls graded C are usually still attractive because Tahiti pearls are such a generous size and have beautiful 'color plays' and/or gorgeous dark tones. Quality D pearls have a soft satin luster and deep dents and flaws over less than half of their surface.

What is the difference between South Sea and Tahitian pearls?

South Sea pearls are naturally delicate pastel in hue and color. They range from being soft white to creamy champagne and pink. Tahitian peals, on the different side of the spectrum, are bold and dramatic, since the natural color is black. Tahitians are very rare.

How do I know if my pearls are worth anything?

The qualities that determine the overall value of a natural or cultured pearl or a piece of pearl jewelry are size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and—for jewelry with two or more pearls—matching.

What makes a good Tahitian pearl?

Description. Tahitian pearls come in a range of colors from white to black. They can contain various undertones and overtones of green, pink, blue, silver and yellow. The most valuable of these are of the darker variety, as the naturally dark tones of the Tahitian pearls is a unique quality among pearls.

What is good quality Tahitian pearl?

Tahitian Pearl Grading

Pure Pearls uses the 'A-AAAA' Grading Scale for all Tahitian pearl jewelry. On the A-AAAA Scale, 'A' represents the lowest, commercial grades, and 'AAAA' represents the best pearl quality available.

How do I tell what kind of pearls I have?

The Tooth Test: Simply rub the pearl against your tooth, softly. If the pearl is natural or cultured, you will feel the surface as gritty. If the pearl is a faux gem, then the surface will feel smooth. FACT: While observing pearls under a magnifier, specialists can easily tell whether they are a fake or a real gem.

Why are Tahitian pearls so expensive?

These stunning pearls were only ever worn by nobles and royals because of their immense value and because of how rare and exotic they used to be. What is this? Even though they are still considered to be rare and valuable, they are now cultivated on man-made farms, so the market has more pearls than ever before.

Why are Tahitian pearls black?

Depending on the type of pearl, black pearls are either created using treatments(dyes, irradiation) or in the case of Tahitian pearls,the black-lipped Pinctada margaritifera is responsible for the mysterious dark coloration. Interestingly the color of pearl produced is influenced by the host oysters shell color.

What is the rarest pearl in the world?

The most rare pearl in the world is the Melo Melo, which is produced by a sea snail and not an oyster or a mollusk. The Melo Melo differs in appearance compared to a classic pearl, having a shimmery surface with swirling patterns in the light.

Which pearl is best quality?

White South Sea and Golden South Sea pearls are the most sought-after cultured versions of the gems in the world. That's because they are the rarest, and offer the most luster and greatest pearls sizes. Both Golden South Sea and White South Sea pearls are cultivated in saltwater.

Can you tell if pearls are real by rubbing them on your teeth?

The Tooth Test: To find out if a pearl is real, lightly rub it against the front of your tooth — not against the edge, which can scratch the pearl. If natural or cultured, rather than simulated, the pearl should feel gritty.

What is the best color for Tahitian pearls?

The most highly prized Tahitian pearls are those with iridescent peacock and cobalt blue colors. In addition to peacock pearls, rainbows, grays and golds are also incredibly popular.

Are yellowed pearls worth anything?

Yellow vs Yellowed Pearls

Pearls come in a range of colors, including yellow and golden. They have been cultivated to acquire this color and are sold as yellow pearls. These pearls are beautiful in their own right and are highly valuable and sought after.

Where are Tahitian pearls found?

Grown primarily in the clear, warm waters of Tahiti / French Polynesia in the South-Central Pacific Ocean (1), Tahitian Pearls receive their unique colors from the Pinctada Margaritifera or black-lipped oyster.

How can you tell the difference between natural and cultured pearls?

It's pretty much impossible to tell the difference between a natural and cultured pearl by just looking at its outer appearance. The only way to make absolute certain whether a pearl is natural or not is to perform an x-ray of the internal structure of the pearl.

Do real pearls discolor?

If there is no air circulation and moisture where pearls are kept, their organic composition begins to change, which results in that yellowing. Typically, the way pearls are stored can lead to them becoming dried out, which in turn leads to yellowed pearls.

Do real pearls flake?

Unfortunately, because pearls are delicately formed layers of calcium, they can flake if they're damaged. To prevent your precious pearls from peeling, keep them away from harsh chemicals or cosmetics and don't allow the pearls to rub against each other.

How can you tell the difference between freshwater pearls and South Sea pearls?