Tahiti cultured pearls are pearl concretions that are secreted inside the black-lipped Pinctada Margaritifera species of pearl oysters cultivated mainly in the lagoons of French Polynesia. There are some Tahitian pearl grading standards that are accepted by most jewelry professions, even though each individual company may have its own description of the grading standards. These Tahitian grading standards are base on Tahitian government regulation related to Tahitian pearl farming and what pearls can be exported
There are six grading factors of Tahitian pearls:
- Shape: Round, Semi-Round, Semi-Baroque, Ringed or Circle, Baroque.
- Size: 8mm to 16mm.
- Surface Quality: Clean-Very Light Blemished (A), Light Blemished (B), Moderately Blemished (C), Heavily Blemished (D).
- Luster: Very high (AAA), High (AA), Medium (A), Soft (B).
- Nacre Thickness: Thick, Thin.
- Color: Body color plus overtone.
Shape of Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian pearl technicians sort tahitian pearls in five different shapes: Round, Semi-Round, Semi-Baroque, Ringed or Circle, Baroque. Round pearls are almost perfect spheres whose diameter variation rate is less than 2%. The round pearl is the most sought after and the most rare of Tahitian cultured pearls. The most beautiful and, therefore, the most in demand are perfectly round pearls. To determine whether a pearl is round, a professional tester rolls it across a table. If it rolls straight, it is round. If the pearl veers off more than slightly, it is semi-round. Semi-round pearls are slightly imperfect spheres whose diameter variation rate is greater than 2% but less than 5%. Also called as off round or near round. Semi-baroque pearls exhibit at least one axis of rotation (can be spun on a table top) and are subdivided into four shapes: drop, button, pear and oval. Ringed, or circled pearls are characterized by regular streaks, rings or grooves that are perpendicular to an axis of rotation and cover more than a third of the pearl's surface. Ringed pearls generally account for 25-30% of a Tahitian cultured pearl harvest. Baroque pearls do not have any axis of rotation (cannot be spun on a table top).
Size of Tahitian Pearls
Pearls are classified from millimeter to millimeter (no fractional millimeters). Round and off round pearls are measured by the shortest diameter. All pearls in other shapes are measured along two diameters (the longest and second longest). Tahitian pearls generally range between 8mm and 14mm. Some pearls reach 16mm and very exceptionally 18mm. Pearls that reach the extraordinary size of 21mm, which no matter what their color make them exceptional gems. To visualize how big an 8mm to 14mm Tahitian pearl is, visit
OUR COLLECTION page.
Surface Quality of Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian cultured pearl farmers generally use four ratings for surface quality: Clean-Very Lightly Blemished (A), Lightly Blemished (B), Moderately Blemished (C), Heavily Blemished (D). All surface grading is done with the naked eye (no magnification device like a jeweler's loop). Quality A pearls are clean to very lightly blemished (A-). These pearls are entirely smooth or are marred with just one or two tiny ripples or indentations (often hidden later by a drill hole) that are visible to the naked eye but are confined to less than 10% of the surface. If these pearls also have very good luster, they are very rare. Their extreme rarity adds significantly to their cost. Quality B pearls are lightly blemished. These pearls are have some imperfections concentrated over less than a third of their surface. Quality C pearls are moderately blemished. These pearls have light concentrations of imperfections over less than two-thirds of their surface. Quality D pearls are heavily blemished. These pearls have light imperfections over more than two-thirds of their surface and no deep imperfections; or deep imperfections over half of their surface. Under Tahitian government regulation, Tahitian pearls below D quality are not allowed to leave Tahiti, but they can be sold in Tahiti.
Luster of Tahitian Pearls
Luster is also a factor of pearl surface quality. Tahitian pearls are famous for their high gloss luster. We have four grades of pearl luster: Very High (AAA), High (AA), Medium (A) and Soft (B). This is the quality of the light reflections from the pearl's surface. Pearls are said to have high, or very high, luster when the reflections are bright and sharp. When the light reflections are weak and fuzzy (or diffused), the pearls are described as soft or dull. Dull luster pearls are rejected.
Nacre Thickness of Tahitian Pearls
Nacre thickness affects the durability and sometimes the beauty of a Tahitian cultured pearl. Tahitian pearls have a reputation of having thick nacre due to their long time culturing period. Under official classification regulations, a Tahitian cultured pearl must have at least 80% of its nucleus' surface covered with successive layers of pearl material. Thin nacre pearls are rejected.
Source: http://www.blackmoonpearls.com/grading.htm
