Is Tahitian Pearl South Sea pearl?

Exotic South Sea pearls from the Black-lipped oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, are more commonly known as Tahitian South Sea pearls. These pearls are often referred to as black but have a remarkable colour range that covers the spectrum from light, creamy white and grey, to regal greens, aubergines and deep blacks.

What is the difference between Tahitian pearls and South Sea 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.

What are South Seas pearls?

South Sea pearls are the rarest of all the types of pearls. They are cultivated in saltwater and have thicker nacre layers than any other pear, averaging around 2-4mm thick. Like most saltwater oysters, they are bead nucleated. Their growth period is 2-4 years, about double that of Akoya pearls.

Where is Tahitian pearl from?

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.

What is authentic South Sea pearl?

South Sea pearls are generally much larger than other pearl types and have a unique luster quality – a soft reflection due to the large aragonite platelets that make up the pearl. They also have the thickest average nacre of all cultured pearls. These factors make South Seas both distinctive and valuable.

Cultured, Tahitian, South Sea Pearls

Are Tahitian pearls worth buying?

They are still the pearls with the most intrigue and value, but the pearl farming market has brought them down in rank in terms of rarity and value. Tahitian pearls are now affordable to a much wider demographic. They are absolutely worth buying if the black pearl look is what you desire and you can afford it.

Why are South Sea pearls so expensive?

Because South Sea Pearls form over longer periods of time, they are more costly to cultivate. For this reason, there are a limited number of South Sea pearl farms, making the truly prized South Seas exceptionally rare. Not all cultured pearls are good enough to become Assael pearls.

What color Tahitian pearl is most 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.

What is the most expensive South Sea pearl color?

Pearls produced by the gold-lip South Sea pearl oyster range is colors from a creamy white to a deep gold. The varying hues in between are often referred to as yellow and champagne. Each of the colors may be beautiful in their own right, but the most valuable is gold.

What is the difference between Akoya and South Sea pearls?

South Sea Pearls of 9.5 – 10.5 mm sizes are more common. But the smaller Akoya oyster has a hard time producing a pearl as large as 9.5 – 10.5 mm, making these pearls much rarer, hence the higher price. Akoya Pearls are preferred for someone wanting a bright white/pink lustrous strand in this “overlap” size range.

Are South Sea pearls valuable?

South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market. A strand of South Sea pearls can range from $1,000 to over $100,000.

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.

Are Tahitian pearls more expensive?

Tahitian pearls are considered to be the second most valuable commercially farmed pearls in the world. Unlike black freshwater and black akoya pearls, which have been irradiated or dyed, Tahitians come by their dark color naturally.

Which country pearl is best?

Japan is the acknowledged leader in Akoya pearl production – known to produce the best, most consistently beautiful Akoya pearls in the world.

Do South Sea pearls have flaws?

Damaging and Non-Damaging Blemishes

It's important to remember that some blemishes won't detract from the beauty or value of a pearl, and this is particularly true with South Sea pearls. That's because it takes these pearls 2 to 3 years to develop, and flawless or slightly flawed South Sea pearls are extremely rare.

What is the best Tahitian pearl color?

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.

How do you pick a Tahitian pearl?

The value of a Tahitian pearl depends on several criteria as such as its color, size, number of imperfections, the brightness of its shine and the thickness of its mother-of-pearl. A black pearl, which has no imperfection on the surface, is more expensive than one with imperfections.

Can Tahitian pearls get wet?

If possible, store them wrapped in a soft cloth or in a soft-lined container, pouch, or jewelry box, but not in an airtight container because the pearls need to "breathe". It is strongly recommended not to get your pearls wet by either showering or swimming (ocean, swimming pool or Jacuzzi hot tubs).

What color pearl is the most valuable?

The larger size makes South Sea pearls and black pearls the most valuable type of pearl. On Mikimoto's website, this strand of South Sea cultured pearls is selling for $32,000. The other notable difference between pearl types is the color.

How do you clean South Sea pearls?

Occasionally clean your pearls gently with a cloth dipped in alcohol diluted with warm water or in mild soapy water. Rinse the cloth in fresh water and wipe pearls clean. Dry with a soft cloth. Strands will require restringing from time to time, depending on how often they are worn.

What are fake pearls called?

Fake pearls are also called “faux”, “costume” or “imitation”. They can be made of glass, plastic, or fish-scale imitations. For example, "majorica pearls" are a form of fake pearls. There is nothing in them that rightly allow them to be called pearls.

What makes Tahitian pearls black?

The pearl is made up of the same luminous, iridescent substance that the oyster lines the inside of its shell with. Black pearls are formed when that piece of sand gets stuck in the body of a very specific type of oyster, the Tahitian black-lipped Pinctada margaritifera.

What do Tahitian pearls symbolize?

What Does Tahitian Pearl Mean? In Tahitian legend, the Polynesian god Lono came down to earth on a rainbow for a princess, bringing black pearls as a gift with him. The god offered it to the princess as a token of his undying love and affection.