Pearl Buying Guide
Tahitian Pearls Fast Facts
| Shape: | Wide range of natural shapes |
| Size Range: | Between 8 – 14 mm |
| Colors: | Dark colors including silver, charcoal and gray |
| Rarity: | Rare |
| Origin: | Blue Lagoons of the South Pacific |
| Mollusk: | "Black-lipped" oyster |
| Grow Time: | 2-6 years |
How to Grade Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian Pearls are graded on an A-D system, also known as the Tahitian System
The highest rating for only the highest-quality pearls
Very high Luster
Less than 10% of the pearl’s surface is covered with minor imperfections
Slight, but highly concentrated imperfections cover 20% or less of the pearls surface
Can have only one or two deep inclusions
Luster is high or very high
High or medium luster
30% of the pearl’s surface shows some imperfections
Medium luster
Over 60% or less of the surface area has visible defects
Luster is irrelevant in this grade
Size Guidelines for Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian pearl size varies with the smallest at around 8mm and the largest at 16mm. 10 to 12 mm pearls are among the most popular size chosen.
9.0mm
10mm
11mm
12mm
13mm
14mm
Tahitian Pearl Colors
As the only naturally dark cultured pearl, Tahitian pearls usually boast colors of silver, grey and green with overtones ranging from pink to dark green.
Check out our braggin' rights.
