There are two types of Black colored pearls in pearl business. One is Pinctada margaritifera, Pteria sterna (rainbow-lipped oyster) and the other is Pinctada mazatlanica. These are famous and the only natural black color pearls. They are known for their name and people call them black pearls.
Among these oysters, Pincatada margaritifera is seldom used (widely) for culturing pearl in French Polynesia. This pearl entitled Tahitian pearl.
Several people ask or request for dark colored pearl, dyed or natural color i.e. the term “black pearl”. The natural back pearl is a eminent type of real natural black pearls.
Tahitian Pearls Grading System:
| Tahitian Pearls Grading Grading |
Round / Cirecle Drop |
| AAA |
luster : Excellent ; Blemish : 98% - 100% Free ; Smoothness : Very Good ;
Nacre : Very Thick ; |
| AA+ |
luster : Excellent ; Blemish : 95% - 98% Free ; Smoothness : Very Good ;
Nacre : Very Thick ; |
| AA |
luster : Good ; Blemish : 90% - 95% Free ; Smoothness : Good ;
Nacre : Thick ; |
| A+ |
luster : Moderate to Good ; Blemish : 85% - 90% Free ; Smoothness : Good ;
Nacre : Moderate to Thick ; |
| A |
luster : Moderate ; Blemish : 80% - 85% Free ; Smoothness : Moderate ;
Nacre : Moderate ; |
Tahitian Pearl Value:
Tahitian pearl value can estimated using these 6 qualities:
- Tahitian pearl Nacre
- Tahitian pearl Luster
- Tahitian pearl Surface
- Tahitian pearl Shapes
- Tahitian pearl Color
- Tahitian pearl Size
Tahitian pearl Nacre and Luster
Tahitian pearls luster is one variety of metallic shine. Judge luster in Luster and Nacre and better shine make Tahitian pearl further expensive.
Identical to South Sea pearls, the Tahitian pearls thickness must be at least 1mm of the radius. Any other black pearl’s nacre is slimmer than 1mm is not a Tahitian pearl. Moreover thin nacre will reduce the resilience of black pearls.
Tahitian pearl Surface
Tahitian pearl Surface quality can be divided into 4 types (A, B, C, D)
- Tahitian pearl Surface A Quality: High luster and clean surface (90% flaw-free surface +on the remained 10%, Tahitian pearl may have some slight concentrated imperfections).
- Tahitian pearl Surface B Quality: Medium to high luster and slight surface imperfection (70% flaw-free surface +on the remained 30%, Tahitian pearl may have some slight concentrated imperfections).
- Tahitian pearl Surface C Quality: Medium luster and medium surface imperfection surface (40% flaw-free surface + 60%, Tahitian pearl may some slight concentrated imperfections with 10% of deep imperfections tolerated).
- Tahitian pearl Surface D Quality: Heavily spotted (More than 60% has several deep flaws)
Tahitian pearl Shapes
Different Shapes of Tahitian pearl:
- round
- semi-round
- semi-baroque
- baroque
- ringed or circled
Tahitian pearl Color
Different body colors of Tahitian pearls:
- Peacock: greenish black
- Pistachio: greenish gray
- Cherry: purplish black
- Champagne: yellowish gray
- Lavender: bluish black
- Tahitian gold: golden black
- Pigeon gray: purplish gray
- Silver: gray
- Moon gray: pale gray
Tahitian Pearl Size
Tahitian pearls most common size range from 8mm to 14mm. Some Tahitian pears are 16mm and most rarely over 18mm and largest Tahitian pearl in world is 21mm for a round Tahitian pearl and 25mm for semi-round Tahitian Pearl. | 
