French Polynesia Pearls

Beads in French Polynesia

During the 1930s, Francois Herve, then manager of the Tuamotu Isles, had unsuccessfully tried to make experiments with the cultivation of pearls on the Apataki Toll. Inspired by Jean-Marie Domard in Bora Bora, the first refined pearls were not produced until the 1960s, and the first bead factory was established by the Rosenthal family on Manihi in 1968.

However, it was not until the 1980s that the growing of pearls became an important industrial activity in French Polynesia and especially in the Tuamotu Gambier Archive, where large and small pearls were cultivated, which helped to populate the more remote isles. Pinctada Magaritifera is the only pearly oyster used in French Polynesia.

This oyster has unusual colors ranging from pale gray to darkgreen with endless hues in between. This oyster produces pearls that are often mistakenly referred to as "black pearls" but are formally referred to by industrial organizations such as GIA and CIBJO as "naturally colored Tahitian cultured pearls".

From the 1980s onwards, French Polynesia began to cultivate pearls. It' an industrial sector that grew quickly and gave the Tahitian culture its name.

The best place to buy pearls - moorea/Bora Bora - French Polynesia Forum

Pai Moana Pearls on Moorea for a great choice and affordable rates. The Tahia Collins Pearls is also very dependable for pearls of outstanding qualitiy, although they are usually more expensive. Don't miss the Tahiti airport pearls store (called Mareiti), just outside custom or migration.

You also have some beautiful pearls at good prizes! When you spend a full outing in Papeete, visit the Tahiti Pearl Market, which has 3 levels of bulk pearls that you can customize (or take home). You' ll be saving by choosing bulk instead of assembled beads, because the FP setting is so expensive.

Take them home to be assembled by your jeweller and perhaps take a few pictures of the shots you like there. But as is customary with Tahiti pearls, a particular bead will "wink" at you and you will fell in lov..... Concerning the evaluation system (A, B, C grade, etc.), I have a tendency to take it with a grit of brine.

Valuation rules are not standardised by governments or industries - each enterprise has its own - and sometimes you see a "C" bead that you find much more attractive than an "A" bead. Like stated above, small changes in form or small imperfections can be compensated for by the way the bead is placed in an earring or necklace, so remember.

More information on purchasing Tahiti pearls can be found on this website: