The first culturing experiments took place in the lagoons of the atoll of Hikueru and Bora Bora islands of French Polynesia. This led to the first harvest in 1965 which resulted in over 1,000 black pearls. The first export of black pearls wasn’t until 1972 but soon the secret was out and by 1996 over $152 million worth of black gems were being shipped out of French Polynesia. Interestingly enough these pearls are not harvested in Tahiti but rather in the rich atolls that make up French Polynesia.

Featuring a rich, brilliant luster and smooth, clean nacre Tahitian pearls are perfect for pendants, necklaces, ear rings and other forms of jewelry. Since being discovered the demand for these rare stones, in particular Tahitian pearls, has increased steadily each year and has forced conservation in the bountiful French Polynesian waters to allow for oyster bed repopulation. When pearls were first discovered by colonists in the 1700′s several prime harvesting sites were quickly dried up due to the dramatic demand for the exotic gems.

Tahitian pearls come from the large black-lip oysters named Pinctada Margaritifera. These oysters are quite small and only a handful will survive the cultivation process and produce a fine gemstone. This makes Tahitian pearls rarer than other highly sought after jewels including Akoya and South Sea varities.

Each black pearl is a one of kinds unique and finding a match for a pair of ear rings can take quite some time. Jewelers and pearl experts often have to sift through hundreds of black pearls to find one that matches another closely enough to be used for ear rings or other fine jewelry.

Because of the rich luster, rarity and storied history Tahitian pearls are one of the most sough after gems on the jewelry market today and you can find terrific pearls on watches, ear rings, necklaces, pendants, cuff links and other decorative trinkets.

How To Store Pearls. Pearls prefer being stored at moderate temperatures, and can be damaged or lose their sheen if exposed regularly to extreme temperatures. So the glove box of the car is definitely not a place for your pearls on a hot day! Don’t store them in a place that might get cold or damp, either, like an attic.

Being so soft, pearls scratch very easily, so store them in a box lined with something soft. Or at least wrap them in a soft cloth before you put them away. Most other gemstones, like diamonds, are much harder than pearls, and can give them a nasty scratch if they’re jostled together. If you have to put them in the same box, the pearls must be wrapped up to protect them.

Keep chemicals away from pearls, or they will get damaged. Chemicals can erode the pearl’s lustrous surface, leaving them dull. So avoid any alcohol based cleaning fluids, or anything with vinegar. It’s a good idea to put your pearls on just before you leave, so that you don’t accidentally get any makeup or hairspray on them. Both of these can stain or damage your pearls.

As an extra precaution, it might be worth getting your pearl jewelry restrung every year or two. Pearls are often strung on silk thread, and this weakens over time. If you wear your pearls a lot, the constant movement of the pearls can also damage the silk. Although pearls require some care to keep them at their best, it’s definitely worth the effort.

Just like other gemstones, pearls are given to a single month as a birthstone. June is the month of the pearl and many women and men born in the month of June proudly display their pearls to honor this fact. The birthstone chart was first established in the 16th Century, when it was believed fair favor and good luck would fall upon the wearer of their birthstone.

In Christianity, St. Augustine deemed the pearl to be a symbol of Jesus Christ, after evaluating a passage of Biblical text that gives each of the twelve apostles a specific gemstone in their honor. There are actually several passages in the Bible that refer to pearls, the most well known one an allegory about the “pearly gates” of heaven and “casting pearls before swine.”

The Japanese have always held pearls in high esteem, and often associate good luck to those to wear the round beauties. It should be noted that the Japanese only hold meaning for the salt water variety of the pearl, since the round salt water pearls are native to the archipelago chain and have made the island native quite popular due to the innovations of pearl harvesting companies like Mikimoto.

Pearls have been the most popular accessories with bridal wear historically and still continue to be a strong favorite today. The innocence and beauty symbolized by the pearl is also symbolized by the bride, so the match is perfect. From the traditional princess length pearl necklace to a stunning pendant, earrings, or bracelet mixing pearls with other precious gemstones, pearls are a fast favorite for weddings. Even many bridal gowns, veils, and headpieces are adorned with pearls to create a stunningly elegant effect.

In order to choose the best quality pearls, cultured or natural, you must carefully consider the nacre thickness, texture, size, color, luster, and shape.

Luster

To check their luster, you must observe pearls in different lights. Luster is the pearl’s intense brightness. Pearls, especially freshwater pearls, can shine in some types of lights or are faint in other types. The pearl luster is best checked using fluorescent lamp. You would know the highest quality pearls because they glow regardless of what type of light you use to examine it with. The more intense the gleam of the pearls is, the higher the worth. These pearls have a fine warm radiance, while low quality pearls look dull.

Color

In choosing your pearls, check their color. They come in different colors, white, golden, and cream. You must choose the color which best suits you or the person you’re giving it to. You must also check the skin or texture of the pearls as well. Make sure the pearls are perfectly round and smooth. Check if there are blemishes, wrinkles, large pits or flaws. An important factor in determining the quality of the pearls is their nacre thickness. This also determines the length of time your pearls would last. Thick nacre pearls are high quality pearls.

There are four kinds of pearls: Akoya, Tahitian, south sea pearls. These are all cultured pearls. The most popular of these is the Akoya pearls.

Pearls can be bought from jewelry stores or online shops or auctions. Remember to buy your pearls from high-quality stores because they grade their pearls carefully. You can be assured that the pearls are genuine and you can avail of their refund policy if you find anything to your dissatisfaction.