Tahitian Black PearlsTahitian Black Pearls

The Black Pearl in The Black Pearl in French French PolynesiaPolynesia

• A symbolA symbol

The pearl of Tahiti, Te Poe in Tahitian, is, with the tiara, the symbol of French Polynesia.

The legendeThe legende

The pearl oyster, “Te Ufi”, was offered to the The pearl oyster, “Te Ufi”, was offered to the men by the peace and fertility god Oro whom came men by the peace and fertility god Oro whom came down to the Earth riding on a rainbow.down to the Earth riding on a rainbow.

It is also It is also said that he gave it to said that he gave it to the princess of Bora the princess of Bora Bora in order to prove Bora in order to prove his love.his love.

Beginning of the culture of the Beginning of the culture of the pearlpearl

In the time of the colonists In the time of the colonists

Since their arrival in Since their arrival in Polynesia, Polynesians always Polynesia, Polynesians always appreciated mother-of-pearl which appreciated mother-of-pearl which they used as ornaments.they used as ornaments.

In the arrival of the first In the arrival of the first Europeans, mother-of-pearls served Europeans, mother-of-pearls served as bargaining chip against different as bargaining chip against different trinkets, knives, etc....trinkets, knives, etc....

• Pioneers in TuamotuPioneers in Tuamotu

In the low sixties Jean Dommard, leader of the In the low sixties Jean Dommard, leader of the

service of the fishing, was the first one to be service of the fishing, was the first one to be convinced that one could obtain exceptional pearls of convinced that one could obtain exceptional pearls of "Black-Lipped Oyster" (Pinctada Margaritifera)."Black-Lipped Oyster" (Pinctada Margaritifera).

In 1965, he proceeded to a harvest test; it In 1965, he proceeded to a harvest test; it was the birth of the pearl of Tahiti.was the birth of the pearl of Tahiti.But it was necessary to wait until 1970 for the But it was necessary to wait until 1970 for the black pearls to be known thanks to the black pearls to be known thanks to the perlicultors.perlicultors.

Among them was Among them was Robert Wan, the emperor of Robert Wan, the emperor of the pearl, who possesses 50 the pearl, who possesses 50 % of all Polynesian % of all Polynesian production today. production today.

There was then a There was then a rush to the pearl culture rush to the pearl culture and the development of a and the development of a big number of pearl big number of pearl farms.farms.

The production of pearlsThe production of pearls

• The gatheringThe gathering

The gathering consists in collecting passively a The gathering consists in collecting passively a naissainnaissain of Pinctada Margaritifera by the fixing of of Pinctada Margaritifera by the fixing of this one on a collector.this one on a collector.

The technique consists in The technique consists in stretching out a rope of 100 stretching out a rope of 100 to 200m at a 3m depth, to 200m at a 3m depth, maintained by buoys and maintained by buoys and ballasts on which are ballasts on which are settled the collectors.settled the collectors.

• The breeding The breeding

The young oysters which were taken off from the The young oysters which were taken off from the collectors are brought up until the adulthood. After this collectors are brought up until the adulthood. After this growing period which lasts for 2 years the transplant growing period which lasts for 2 years the transplant occurs :occurs :

•Young mother-of-pearls of about 5 cm are Young mother-of-pearls of about 5 cm are placed in baskets or fenced in boxes until they placed in baskets or fenced in boxes until they reach the size of 8cm.reach the size of 8cm.

•Then they are Then they are drilled and drilled and

threaded on threaded on rosaries from 10 to rosaries from 10 to

20 mother-of-20 mother-of-pearls until the pearls until the

transplant.transplant.

During all the During all the growing parts, growing parts,

mother-of-pearls are mother-of-pearls are regularly checked. regularly checked.

They are also cleaned, They are also cleaned, under or out of the under or out of the

water.water.

The implantThe implant

This operation consists in introducing a nucleus This operation consists in introducing a nucleus (ball of fresh water mother-of-pearl) and an (ball of fresh water mother-of-pearl) and an implant (piece of intern “mantle” of a healthy implant (piece of intern “mantle” of a healthy oyster) in an oyster gonad.oyster) in an oyster gonad.

• The preparationThe preparation

They They are cleaned just are cleaned just before the before the transplant to get transplant to get rid of the present rid of the present parasites on their parasites on their shell. shell.

The The grown-up grown-up

oysters (from 2 oysters (from 2 to 3 years, 12cm to 3 years, 12cm

minimum) are minimum) are untied and then untied and then

removed from removed from their rosary. their rosary.

They They are half-are half-opened and opened and maintained maintained this way to this way to receive the receive the implant.implant.

• The graftingThe grafting

The greffor cuts The greffor cuts implants from a piece of a implants from a piece of a

healthy oyster mantle. Then healthy oyster mantle. Then he chooses a nucleus he chooses a nucleus

(according to the size of the (according to the size of the oyster) which he pastes the oyster) which he pastes the

implant all around of. implant all around of.

He cuts the He cuts the gonad of the oyster gonad of the oyster

and places the and places the nucleus and the nucleus and the

implant there.implant there.

The The oyster is oyster is

sealed and sealed and placed in a placed in a

tub, the tub, the aperture aperture

pointing at pointing at the top, so the top, so

that the that the nucleus does nucleus does not slide and not slide and

dislodges.dislodges.

• The growing of the pearlThe growing of the pearl

At the end of 18 months, we At the end of 18 months, we obtain a pearl possessing a nacre obtain a pearl possessing a nacre layer with thickness superior to 1 layer with thickness superior to 1 mm.mm.

Different pearlsDifferent pearls

Pearls are classified according to their diameter Pearls are classified according to their diameter mm by mm from 8 to 16mm.mm by mm from 8 to 16mm.

• ShapeShape

Round and semi-round: Round and semi-round:

•Round: almost perfect Round: almost perfect spheres with diameter spheres with diameter

variation inferior to 2%variation inferior to 2%

•Semi-round: Semi-round: unperfected unperfected

spheres with spheres with diameter variation diameter variation include between 2 include between 2

and 5%and 5%

Semi-baroqueSemi-baroque: : pearls possessing pearls possessing

at least one axis of at least one axis of rotation, with a rotation, with a shape of pear, shape of pear, drop or ovals drop or ovals

Baroque or Baroque or “keshi”“keshi”: pearls : pearls without an axis without an axis

of rotationof rotation

EncircledEncircled: : streaked streaked pearls with pearls with regular and regular and parallel parallel rings on rings on more than more than one third of one third of the surfacethe surface

• Pearls qualityPearls quality

The quality is appreciated according to the The quality is appreciated according to the sheen and the peculiarities of the pearl surface. sheen and the peculiarities of the pearl surface.

Classification of pearlsClassification of pearls

CategorCategory y

OrienOrientt

Glare Glare Defects Defects

top top Very Very deepdeep

Very Very strongstrong none none

AAVery Very deepdeep

Very Very strongstrong

negligiblnegligible e

BBVery Very deepdeep strongstrong some some

CC DeepDeep strongstrong negligiblnegligible e

DD DeepDeep poor poor some some

KeshiKeshi weak weak weak weak importanimportantt

OrientOrient: play of light on a pearlplay of light on a pearl

• ColoursColours

Colours are very varied, going from the Colours are very varied, going from the light grey to the dark grey by way of pink, green, light grey to the dark grey by way of pink, green, golden, blue...golden, blue...

Enjoy!Enjoy!