In most warm tropical oceans there are thriving populations of the Black lip PINCTADA MARGARITIFERA. Throughout history this oyster, although substantially smaller and more abundant than PINCTADA MAXIMA, has been highly sought after for the beauty of its black mother of pearl shell. Pinctada margaritifera produces the world's finest and largest black natural pearls, their nacre displaying wonderful "peacock" greens and other exotic colors.

Following the successful culturing of the white South Sea pearl, a substantial industry has been developed around this black oyster. Unlimited by the availability of oysters, black pearl production far surpasses the white South Sea pearl. However, the total value of production is still substantially below that of the white South Sea pearl industry.

The black pearl industry began in Tahiti, where the finest examples of Pinctada margaritifera were thought to grow. However, following the success in Tahiti, and due to the abundant shell stocks throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the industry has now spread throughout French Polynesia, the Marshall and Cook Islands, and also recently the Solomon Islands and North Australia.

Due to their origins, these pearls are known as "Tahitian pearls" or "Tahitian Blacks", although they are sometimes mistakenly referred to as black South Sea pearls.

Tahitian pearls generally range from eight to 13 millimeters; however, some farms produce pearls up to 20 millimeters. Shapes are similar to white South Sea pearls, from rounds and drops to circles and baroques.

Significant advertising and promotion by the Tahitian Government and industry has dramatically raised demand for black pearls. However, as production is virtually unlimited, prices have fallen. As a consequence, pearl farmers have stayed with "low-tech" production systems, resulting in quality problems. To address this, the Tahitian Government has instituted export requirements tied to quality standards. Tahiti now requires a minimum of 0.8 millimeters of nacre before pearls can be exported. However, there are no such controls on black pearl production outside Tahiti.

Nacre quality, as is the case with white South Sea pearls, is the defining element in a top-quality Tahitian black pearl. Similarly, the quality of pearls varies from region to region and from farmer to farmer. The value of Tahitian pearls is significantly less than high-quality South Sea pearls.

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