---
title: Tahitian Black Pearls
description: Discover the versatile beauty of Tahitian black pearls and their rich history in this heartfelt story of love and exquisite jewelry creation.
image: https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5218-2.jpg
---

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# Tahitian Black Pearls

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5218-2.jpg)

# Tahitian Pearls

 

I LOVE pearls….love, love, love them.  I’m crazy about them, actually.  I think everyone should have at least one strand of quality pearls to wear for any occasion.  If you have the mindset that pearls are worn only for formal cocktail parties or weddings….you would be limiting yourself!  Pearls can be worn with just about anything you have in your closet.  

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_D054E3DB2490-1-300x300.jpg?width=300&height=300&name=IMG_D054E3DB2490-1-300x300.jpg "IMG_D054E3DB2490-1")

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_7606-1-225x300.jpg?width=225&height=300&name=IMG_7606-1-225x300.jpg "IMG_7606")

Perceptions about pearls have also changed….Men are wearing pearls now!  And they look amazing on them.  I recently came across this photo of Machine Gun Kelly wearing a strand of South Sea pearls…. it worked great with his style.  Surprisingly, pearls look edgy chic when worn on men——I really like the look.

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5198-213x300.jpg?width=213&height=300&name=IMG_5198-213x300.jpg "IMG_5198")

I have many strands of pearls in my collection, but I have never had a Tahitian pearl, until recently.  Jim took me on a trip to Tahiti a few weeks after our second anniversary, that was so spectacular, that I will remember it for the rest of my life.  To celebrate our anniversary and to remember our trip, Jim offered to gift me a strand of Tahitian pearls.  He always reminds me that it is very difficult to buy me jewelry when I am a jeweler myself.  Instead of trying to surprise me, we went and met with my pearl dealer to look at Tahitians.

![](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_3858-300x225.jpg?width=300&height=225&name=IMG_3858-300x225.jpg "IMG_3858")

![](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_3884-300x225.jpg?width=300&height=225&name=IMG_3884-300x225.jpg "IMG_3884")

After looking at quite a few strands, nothing was really capturing my interest.  I eventually chose ONE absolutely perfect Tahitian black pearl.  It is a 13.5 mm perfectly round, blemish free, with excellent luster…..an exceptional gemstone.  It was so gorgeously perfect, we didn’t want to drill it!!  But I did…  I kept it in a soft pouch on my desk for several weeks just to admire its grey color with pink and green undertones. Until I decided what I wanted to do with it, I let it sit on my desk so I could admire it as I went about my day.

![](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_4874-300x281.jpg?width=300&height=281&name=IMG_4874-300x281.jpg "IMG_4874")

I wanted something chic and contemporary so that I could wear it all the time.  I typically wear white gold, but I felt that setting this pearl in a white metal would be too cool in color, too monochromatic and not allow the pearl to stand out and be noticed.  I chose a 1.8 mm yellow gold twisted cable wire for the necklace and set the pearl on a pin which would allow the pearl to turn on an axis.  The warmth of the yellow gold paired well with this pearl and was the perfect setting for this gem.  I prefer 15.5 inch length rather than the standard 16 inches so the necklace sits right at the base of my neck.  I am SO very happy with the results.

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5220-300x161.jpg?width=300&height=161&name=IMG_5220-300x161.jpg "IMG_5220")

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5218-2-300x269.jpg?width=300&height=269&name=IMG_5218-2-300x269.jpg "IMG_5218 2")

The Tahitian pearl market has been gaining speed since the 1970’s and were called “black pearls” because of their color.  In reality, Tahitian pearls come in a variety of colors:  creamy white, green, silver, purple, brown black, peacock green, blue, iron ore, blue black and deep black.  They generally take 24 months to form and are grown not in Tahiti, but in the surrounding islands of French Polynesia—-specifically, the lagoons of the Tuamotu Archipelago and Gambier Islands.   Pearls are French Polynesia’s largest export—-I saw the majority of the local women in Tahiti wearing some beautiful pearl jewelry.  They were EVERYWHERE!!  The prettiest strand I saw during my stay happened to be around the neck of the United Airlines gate agent as we were leaving.  She had an extraordinarily beautiful strand of multicolored baroque pearls at which I couldn’t stop looking.

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_3913-225x300.jpg?width=225&height=300&name=IMG_3913-225x300.jpg "IMG_3913")

The mollusk responsible for producing Tahitian pearls is the Black-lipped Mollusk named because the inside edges of the shell are black.  Pearls harvested closer to the lip of the mollusk are generally darker in color than those found deeper inside the mollusk.  Even though this type of mollusk can be found in other regions, to carry the name Tahitian Pearl, the mollusk must be farmed from one of the islands in French Polynesia.  

![Tahitian Black Pearls- Leslie Herbert Jewelry](https://leslieherbertjewelry.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_A664A8E595FB-1-300x234.jpg?width=300&height=234&name=IMG_A664A8E595FB-1-300x234.jpg "IMG_A664A8E595FB-1")

The legend of the Black Pearl is said to involve Oro, the Polynesian god of fertility and peace.  He gifted the Black Pearl to his beloved, Princess Bora Bora.  Giving someone you love a Tahitian black pearl is said to represent everlasting love and symbolize that love persists.  It is also the symbol of hope for wounded hearts.  This is a very special gem which should be given to someone you adore.  I think it was kismet that I met Jim, so this pearl is symbolic and an ever present reminder of our relationship, the two years we have been together and the years to come.

 

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