Pinctada margaritifera — The Tahitian Black-Lipped Oyster
Quick answer: Pinctada margaritifera, the black-lipped oyster, is the mollusk that produces Tahitian pearls. Native to the lagoons of French Polynesia, its dark-edged shell gives the pearls their naturally dark body colors and overtones of peacock, green and aubergine. Pearls range 8-16mm and are the only naturally dark cultured pearls.
What is Pinctada margaritifera?
Pinctada margaritifera is the black-lipped pearl oyster, named for the dark band around the inside edge of its shell. That dark nacre is what gives Tahitian pearls their naturally dark body color — no dye is ever used.
Where it is farmed
The oyster is cultivated across the atolls and lagoons of French Polynesia — the Tuamotu archipelago (Rangiroa, Manihi, Fakarava) and the Gambier Islands. Each oyster is grafted and grown for 12-24 months.
The pearls it produces
Tahitian pearls from Pinctada margaritifera are the only naturally dark cultured pearls, 8-16mm, in body colors from grey to near-black with overtones such as peacock, green, blue and aubergine. Peacock and high-luster rounds are the most prized.