Tahitian Pearl Gemstone & Information | Gemopedia by JTV | Gemopedia™

Tahitian Pearl

Tahitian pearls, grown around Tahiti and French Polynesia, display a shimmering orient or overtone that is green, blue, pink or violet in color. These orient colors are in striking contrast to their silver to black body color and are sometimes given specific names (e.g., deep green is called fly wing; peacock is used for the combination of green and pink; eggplant is a dark toned body color combined with pink).

Colors

Silver, Cream, Brown To Black, Gray, Blue, Green, Yellowish Green, Purple With Green, Rose Overtone.

  • Tahitian-pearl classification

    CommonName
    Tahitian Pearl
    Species
    NA
    Variety
    Tahitian Pearl
    Colors
    Silver, Cream, Brown To Black, Gray, Blue, Green, Yellowish Green, Purple With Green, Rose Overtone.
    AlternateNames
    Black Pearl
    GemstoneGroups
    KeySeparations
    Appearance, RI, birefringence blink and magnification. A "tooth test" is commonly used in which a pearl is rubbed against a tooth; if gritty, this is an indication that the surface is nacre, versus plastic and glass imitations that feel smooth.
    ClassificationComments
    Typical size of Tahitian pearls run 8 to 14mm. They are produced by black-lip mollusk Pinctada margaritifera in French Polynesia.

  • Tahitian-pearl chemistry & crystallography

    ChemicalName
    calcium carbonate + conchiolin and water
    ChemicalFormula
    CaCO3
    Synthesis
    CrystalSystem
    NA
    ChemistryClassification
    Organic
    Nature
    Cultured
    Crystallinity
    ChemistryComments

  • Tahitian-pearl optical properties

    Transparency
    Translucent - Opaque
    Dispersion
    OpticalComments
    RefractiveIndex
    1.53-1.685
    Birefringence
    0.155
    OpticCharacter
    NA
    OpticSign
    NA
    PolariscopeReaction
    Aggregate (AGG)
    Fluorescence
    SWUV: Variable
    LWUV: Variable
    CCFReaction
    Pleochroism
    None

  • Tahitian-pearl characteristic physical properties

    Hardness
    2.5-4
    CharacteristicComments
    Streak
    SpecificGravity
    2.72-2.78
    Toughness
    Good
    Inclusions
    Tahitian pearls have Intense luster and iridescent surface. If the pearl is drilled you can inspect the hole to look for bead nucleus.
    Luster
    Dull
    Stability
    Poor
    Fracture
    Uneven
    Cleavage
    None