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Natural organic and biogenic materials · Organic or biogenic material · Cultured formation; treatments recorded separately

Tahitian Cultured Pearl

Also known asBlack cultured pearl (conditional name) · Black pearl (conditional name) · Tahiti cultured pearl · Tahitian pearl (not to be used as a name)

Cultured pearls from Pinctada margaritifera, usually dark-bodied, with grey, green, purple or brown tones. Also known as Black pearl, Tahiti cultured pearl. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.

Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.

Edited by JuneReviewed by RalphLast updated 2026-10-12Who maintains this page

Care and wear

What this page can answer

This page covers

What we cannot conclude

  • Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
  • Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
  • Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.

Material research: formation, causes and history

What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.

How it forms

Layers, outside to centre:

  1. nacre
  2. bead nucleus
Schematic cross-section of Tahitian Cultured Pearl, outside to centre: nacre, bead nucleus
Tahitian Cultured PearlSchematic, not to scaleDrawn from the construction recorded under “Material research” on this page; assembly method not drawn (source: CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description)If you reuse this image, please credit LumaLark Wiki and link to this pageLicense: CC BY 4.0

Tahitian cultured pearls are bead cultured pearls grown in the black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, mainly around the islands of French Polynesia (most famously Tahiti), and are often called black pearls. They follow the saltwater bead-culture process: mantle tissue (saibo) and a bead are implanted into the host gonad, the epithelium forms a cultured pearl sac, and nacre is deposited. Research shows the donor's mantle tissue (saibo) largely determines coloration and nacre thickness; allotransplanted P. margaritifera commonly yield dark gray to black as well as light gray to white pearls. Tahitian pearls show a wide colour range—gray, black or brown—with blue, green, purple or pink overtones.

Scope: Applies to explaining the cultivation of beaded cultured pearls from the black-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) (Tahitian cultured pearls) and the limits of what is known about their colour origin; not applicable to natural pearls or cultured pearls from other host molluscs.

Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description

Where it forms

Marine farms mainly around the islands of French Polynesia, most famously Tahiti.

Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description

In the gonad of the host P. margaritifera, within a cultured pearl sac formed by implanted mantle epithelium.

Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description

How it forms, step by step

  1. Mantle tissue (saibo) is taken from a donor and a bead nucleus is prepared.

    Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description +1

  2. The bead and mantle tissue are implanted into the gonad of the P. margaritifera host.

    Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description +1

  3. The mantle epithelium forms a cultured pearl sac and continuously deposits nacre onto the bead.

    Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description +1

  4. The donor tissue largely determines colour and nacre thickness, producing the typically dark Tahitian cultured pearl.

    Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description +1

Link to appearance

Tahitian cultured pearls have a wide colour range—usually gray, black or brown—with blue, green, purple or pink overtones; the colour of the mother-of-pearl layer is often related to that of the resulting pearl's nacre.

Sources G&G Spring 2013

Timescale

The available sources give no commercial growth duration for Tahitian cultured pearls; one xenotransplantation experiment cultivated its samples for 14 months in Bali, which does not represent routine production.

Sources GIA Pearl Description · GIA Pearl Description (Chinese edition)

Related base materials

  • Cultured pearl: cultured-pearl-type-by-mollusc | Cultured pearl category defined by the host mollusc (the black-lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera)

Supporting findings

Tahitian cultured pearls come from the black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, and are produced chiefly in French Polynesia's islands (Tahiti).

Evidence grade A

Scope: Mollusc species and origin from GIA description/research; 'Tahitian' is a regional trade name.

Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 · G&G Fall 2021 · GIA Pearl Description

Recorded localities

This is an organic material; its localities are the harvest or culture areas (waters or species ranges) recorded by authoritative sources.

Locality sketch mapLand outlines only; the map does not depict any national or regional boundary. Dots mark approximate positions. Base map: Natural Earth (public domain).

Oceania

  • Tuamotu Archipelago, French PolynesiaOrganic harvest or culture area
    Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024
    • CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1)
  • Gambier Islands, French PolynesiaOrganic harvest or culture area
    Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024
    • CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1)
  • Society Islands, French PolynesiaOrganic harvest or culture area
    Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024
    • CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1)

These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.

Causes of colour and optical effects

The donor mantle tissue (saibo) largely determines the colour and nacre thickness of the cultured pearl.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Based on UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and radiography of xenografted samples; the host may still play some role.

Sources G&G Spring 2013

When allotransplanted, P. margaritifera usually produce cultured pearls ranging from dark gray through black to light gray and white.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Overview of the colour range of allotransplanted P. margaritifera, covering natural-colour samples.

Sources G&G Spring 2013

How it is identified

Tahitian cultured pearls resemble natural black pearls, dyed pearls, and imitations, so the eye cannot readily decide whether they are cultured or whether the colour was treated. Determination relies on laboratory testing such as real-time X-radiography, real-time microradiography for nacre thickness, UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and computed micro-tomography (μCT) for loose pearls. Pearl category and treatment must be judged by an accredited laboratory, and this entry provides no self-test criteria.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Appearance is insufficient to decide cultured or treated status; determination requires testing by an accredited laboratory, and this entry gives no self-test criteria.

Sources GIA: How GIA Identifies Pearls · CIBJO Pearl Book 2024

Other research findings

Tahitian cultured pearls show a wide colour range—gray, black or brown—with blue, green, purple or pink overtones.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Appearance/colour description; does not address pigment causes.

Sources GIA Pearl Description · GIA Pearl Description (Chinese edition)

Some Tahitian cultured pearls are treated to a brown colour, known in the trade as 'Chocolate Pearls'; this is a treatment colour, not natural body colour, and must be distinguished from natural-colour pearls.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Concerns treated brown samples; the source notes the treatment colour may change under consumer conditions.

Sources G&G Fall 2008

Under CIBJO's Pearl Book 2024, a Tahitian cultured pearl (5.195) is a naturally coloured cultured pearl, produced by grafting and breeding the oyster Pinctada margaritifera cumingii in the natural environment of French Polynesia, and formed when a grafted cultured pearl sac secretes nacre around a bead placed in the gonad.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Naming/identity definition per CIBJO 5.195; 'Tahitian' is bound to the mollusc P. margaritifera cumingii.

Sources CIBJO Pearl Book 2024

Pearl quality is usually assessed through lustre, nacre thickness, surface, shape, colour and matching (GIA summarises the pearl value factors as seven: size, shape, colour, nacre, lustre, surface and matching). Tahitian cultured pearls are saltwater cultured pearls, and the market generally prizes a sharp, strong mirror-like lustre, thicker nacre, a clean surface, a near-round shape, and good colour and size matching within a strand; colour is described by body colour, overtone and orient (such as peacock-green or aubergine overtones). Natural black pearls are very rare and cultured pearls make up the overwhelming majority of the market, and treatments such as dyeing and irradiation must be disclosed. Imitation pearls are not pearls and are not subject to quality assessment based on natural or cultured origin.

Evidence grade A

Scope: This describes the pearl quality characteristics the market generally prizes; it is not a grade for any specific specimen and is neither price nor investment advice; pearl category (natural or cultured) and any treatment must be determined by an accredited laboratory on the specific specimen.

Sources GIA: How GIA Identifies Pearls · CIBJO Pearl Book 2024

Limits of this research

  • Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
  • No commercial growth duration or age for Tahitian cultured pearls.
  • Colour cause is supported only at the 'donor tissue determines colour' level; no pigment-molecule mechanism is given.
  • Natural colour must be distinguished from treatment colour (Chocolate Pearls) and not conflated.

Methodology

Evidence grades

A
Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
B
Institutional educational material
C
Specialist databases or cautious readings

A statement is never graded above its strongest source.

This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.

DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments

Suggested listing name
Tahitian Cultured Pearl

16 CFR Part 23 §23.21(k)

Construction or treatment status

Cultured formation; treatments recorded separately

Treatments recorded for this material: Bleached (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material)

Related:Disclosure and cautions

This page cannot answer

Natural? · Origin · Price

A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.

Related:What this page can answer

Answer at a glance

Tahitian Cultured Pearl is Cultured pearl from the Pinctada margaritifera oyster; typically dark body colour; use "Tahitian Cultured Pearl" for listings, and disclose any known treatments.

Evidence

What this means for you

Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Tahitian Cultured Pearl" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.

Known uncertainty

Last reviewed
2026-09-01

Care and wear

The normal and special care that applies to all natural and cultured pearls, and so to Tahitian Cultured Pearl (CIBJO Pearl Book §7.1, §7.2; the source says this advice counts as normal across the whole range and should be passed on to the buyer), is set out in full under care on the Pearl entry.

Care

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — care (light): may fade or revert to its original colour, so it should not be left for long periods in strong natural or artificial light or under strong display lighting.

CIBJO Pearl Book 2024

Treatment state
treated
Only after these treatments
coating, dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): §8.2 Annex C, Tahitian Cultured Pearl, p.54; §7.2, §7.2.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — care (wear): breaks easily, so it is not meant for everyday wear and should not be worn during heavy work.

CIBJO Pearl Book 2024

Treatment state
treated
Only after these treatments
filling
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): §8.2 Annex C, Tahitian Cultured Pearl, p.54; §7.2, §7.2.1 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.

Common care questions and matching entries

CIBJOAccording to the CIBJO Blue Book Pearl Book, care conclusions for Tahitian Cultured Pearl differ by treatment state: coated or dyed pearls may fade or revert to their original colour and should not be left for long periods in strong natural or artificial light or under strong display lighting; filled pearls break easily, are not suited to everyday wear, and should not be worn during heavy work. Special careThe general and special care that apply to all natural and cultured pearls also apply to Tahitian Cultured Pearl; the CIBJO Pearl Book states that the care advice should be regarded as routine for all kinds of pearl and should be passed on to the buyer, and the full list is in the care part of the Pearl entry.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

QuestionMatching entries
Light and displaymay fade or revert to its original colour, so it should not be left for long periods in strong natural or artificial light or under strong display lighting
Wearing limits (knocks, settings)breaks easily, so it is not meant for everyday wear and should not be worn during heavy work

Care entries by treatment state

The same entries grouped by the treatment state each applies to; each links to its full wording and source. Letters are CIBJO special-care codes, explained on the gemstone care page.

treated (Only after these treatments: coating, dyeing)

treated (Only after these treatments: filling)

Treatments and identification leads

One row per treatment, with three standards side by side: how often it occurs and how stable it is (CIBJO), its category in GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (this site's paraphrase) and how the JJA/AGL 2025 table lists it. Each CIBJO value links to its entry under “Testing and market”, where the wording and source are given in full.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

TreatmentMarket frequency (CIBJO)Stability (CIBJO)GB/T 16552 categoryJJA/AGL listingIdentification leads
Bleaching——Optimization——
Dyeing——Treatment——
Irradiation——Treatment——

“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (row for Cultured Pearl)

Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):

  • GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
  • CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15

What this table covers

What this page can give

  • Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
  • Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing

VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources

Names

For Tahitian Cultured Pearl, "Black cultured pearl", "Black pearl" and "Tahiti cultured pearl" are recorded with no restriction on use as a name, while "Tahitian pearl" must not be used as a name (16 CFR Part 23 §23.21(k); CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 §4.4.1.1.2); 2 further names in non-Latin scripts are listed in the name register below (2 with no restriction recorded on use as a name).

Recommended listing nameThe suggested listing name for Tahitian Cultured Pearl is Tahitian Cultured Pearl; the corresponding national-standard name is saltwater cultured pearl, under the row Saltwater Cultured Pearl (Saltwater Pearl) of GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3, and the name Tahitian cultured pearl itself is not listed in the original. Institution usageAmong GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A, CIBJO's wording is recorded as Tahitian Cultured Pearl, with the qualifier CIBJO Pearl Book stripped from the title name; the FTC text on file has been checked and has no wording for Tahitian Cultured Pearl; GIA and Gem-A are not yet verified. Japanese namesJapan's GSJ formal name is a Japanese name meaning Tahitian cultured pearl. Names in four languagesNames are given in four languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Tahitian Cultured Pearl) and Japanese; Germany (RAL) writes Tahiti-Zuchtperle and the EU writes Tahitian Cultured Pearl. Trade and mineralogical namesTrade names/synonyms are Tahitian pearl and Black pearl. Candidate search termsTahitian pearl is a name not to be used, Black pearl serves only as a search candidate, and both are linked to the high-risk name Pearl.

Name register

Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

NameTypeMatchingUse as a nameBasis
no restriction recorded (5)
Black cultured pearlEnglishnarrower name (variety or subtype)matched only once the condition is confirmedno restriction recordedCIBJO Pearl Book 2024 §5.23 “Black cultured pearl”
Black pearlEnglishmarket namesearch candidate onlyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Related high-risk name “Pearl”.
Tahiti cultured pearlEnglishsynonymmatched automaticallyno restriction recordedCIBJO Pearl Book 2024 §5.194 “Tahiti cultured pearl”
珠母贝（黑蝶贝）海水珍珠Simplified Chinesenarrower name (variety or subtype)matched only once the condition is confirmedno restriction recordedGB/T 18781—2023 3.2.1
黑珍珠Simplified Chinesemarket namematched only once the condition is confirmedno restriction recordedGB/T 16553—2017 4.1
not to be used as a name (1)
Tahitian pearlEnglishmarket namematched automaticallynot to be used as a name16 CFR Part 23 §23.21(k); CIBJO Pearl Book 2024 4.4.1.1.2; Note: Related high-risk name “Pearl”.

How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.

Authority wording

GIA, FTC, CIBJO, Gem-A
Tahitian Cultured Pearl (on record for CIBJO; no wording for this name in the FTC text on file; GIA, Gem-A unchecked — bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name)
GSJ (Japan) formal name
タヒチ養殖真珠
GB/T naming counterpart (this name is not in the standard)
海水养殖珍珠 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3, row “Saltwater Cultured Pearl”)
Mineralogical name
Cultured pearl from the Pinctada margaritifera oyster; typically dark body colour
Trade names and synonyms
Black pearl (market name; conditional name) · Black cultured pearl (narrower name (variety or subtype); conditional name) · Tahiti cultured pearl (synonym)Not to be used as a name: Tahitian pearl (market name)

Four-language names

简体中文
大溪地养殖珍珠
繁體中文
大溪地養殖珍珠
English
Tahitian Cultured Pearl
日本語
タヒチ養殖真珠

National and regional formal names

Germany (RAL)
Tahiti-Zuchtperle
European Union
Tahitian Cultured Pearl

Qualifiers stripped from the headline name

  • CIBJO: (CIBJO Pearl Book)

See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index

Classification

Origin
Natural materials
Material domain
Natural organic and biogenic materials
Browsing family
Pearl and molluscan shell materials
Identity tier
Organic or biogenic material
Mineral chemical class
Not applicable
Construction or treatment status
Cultured formation; treatments recorded separately

Treatments listed by standards

GB/T Table B.1The treatment categories for Tahitian Cultured Pearl in GB/T 16552—2017 Annex B, Table B.1 are derived by this site from the record for “Cultured pearl (pearl)”: bleaching is listed as optimization, dyeing as treatment and irradiation as treatment. The full record of treatment effects is on the Cultured Pearl entry. See alsoThe notes to Table B.1 and the definitions of each treatment category are on the Gem treatments page.

GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1

Under the “Cultured Pearl (Pearl)” row of Table B.1: Bleaching Optimization; Dyeing Treatment; Irradiation Treatment. The full row, with the effect column, is on the Cultured Pearl page.

What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.

What it is and how it's identified

Among the material facts for Tahitian Cultured Pearl, many values are taken from cultured pearl (the whole class) or saltwater cultured pearl (the whole class), not measured on Tahitian Cultured Pearl alone; under the CIBJO trade definition (an institutional handbook, not a national standard), Tahitian Cultured Pearl is a naturally coloured cultured pearl produced by nucleation and culturing in the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera cumingii in French Polynesia. For cultured pearl (the whole class): overall structure an aggregate whose inorganic part is radially arranged, aragonite being orthorhombic and calcite trigonal; Mohs hardness 2.5–4; cleavage usually not visible in aggregates; when untreated, it effervesces on contact with acid; optical character aggregate; birefringence not measurable on an aggregate. Refractive index for cultured pearl (the whole class) is taken as 1.53–1.68, a spot-method reading and a common value rather than an absolute limit, with finer sub-ranges and the overall value used. For saltwater cultured pearl (the whole class), density is 2.72–2.78 g/cm³.

Registered material facts

Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.

Luminescence, UV-visible spectrum, infrared spectrum, magnification: these whole-class features are given in the cited clause for cultured pearl (the whole class), so they are not repeated on the Tahitian Cultured Pearl page; see the material facts on the Cultured Pearl entry.

Items below that name the class they cover give the cited clause’s value for that whole class, not a measurement of Tahitian Cultured Pearl (how to read class-level values).

Definition

Tahitian Cultured Pearl: a naturally coloured cultured pearl resulting from grafting and breeding in a natural environment, in French Polynesia, of the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera cumingii (9.58). It results from the secretion of nacre by a grafted (5.85) cultured pearl sac (5.54) around a bead (5.18) inserted in the gonad of this pearl oyster.

CIBJO Pearl Book 2024

Qualification

CIBJO trade definition from an institutional manual, not a national standard. The English text quotes the full definition at §5.195 of the Pearl Book 2024.

Source & check 2026-09-25
Source
  • CIBJO Blue Book — Pearl Book (Pearl Commission 2024-1) (CIBJO): §5.195, p.45 (locator checked 2026-09-25)
Fact checked on
2026-09-25

Structure

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — structure (overall): inorganic part: aragonite (orthorhombic) and calcite (trigonal) in radiating aggregates; organic part: amorphous.

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Durability

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — Mohs hardness: 2.5–4

GB/T 16553—2017

123456789102.5–4References (diamond = value, bar = range; below)

Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))

Mohs hardnessSource: GB/T 16553—2017
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — cleavage: generally not seen on an aggregate

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — stability: effervesces in acid

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state
untreated
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Physical properties

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — density: 2.72–2.78 g/cm³

GB/T 16553—2017

0.51.52.53.54.55.56.57.52.72–2.78
Specific gravitySource: GB/T 16553—2017
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
saltwater cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 Density · Saltwater cultured pearl (locator checked 2026-09-28)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — feel (texture): feels gritty when two surfaces are rubbed together

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Optical

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — optic character: aggregate

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — refractive index: 1.53–1.68

GB/T 16553—2017

1.31.72.12.52.93.31.53–1.68
Refractive indexSource: GB/T 16553—2017
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Qualification

The clause we cite gives this as a value read by the spot (distant-vision) method. It is a common value, not an absolute limit.

General note
the clause has finer ranges
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — birefringence: not measurable on an aggregate

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — pleochroism: not measurable on an aggregate

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state
untreated
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Quality factors

Tahitian Cultured Pearl — quality factor (lustre): pearly

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state
untreated
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
cultured pearl (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.2 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.

1.581.61.622.62.72.82.93Refractive indexSpecific gravity12345Tahitian Cultured Pearl

This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.605 / 2.75; Closest values: 1Larimar 1.62 / 2.82, 2Natural Conch Pearl / Natural Melo Pearl 1.595 / 2.84, 3Aquamarine 1.58 / 2.79, 4Turquoise 1.63 / 2.65, 5Prehnite 1.625 / 2.88

Show the full chart (330 registered materials)1.41.51.61.71.81.922.12.22.32.41234567Refractive indexSpecific gravity12345Tahitian Cultured Pearl

Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22

Refractive index × specific gravity (all registered materials)Each dot is one material's registered refractive index and specific gravity (range midpoints, not measurements); gold = this material, dark = the nearest few (picked on this site by distance in RI ÷ 0.02 and SG ÷ 0.1, leaving out near-identical varieties of the same species)Source: each material's registered refractive index and specific gravity facts (GB/T 16553 and others; sources on each entry)

Related CIBJO terms

Entries in the source that only point to another clause: Tahiti cultured pearl (§5.194, p.45) → §5.195 Tahitian cultured pearl

Definitions are quoted verbatim from the cited CIBJO Blue Book; […] marks an excerpt, and the full definition is at the cited clause.

Pearl-producing molluscs (CIBJO Annex D): §9.11 Black-lipped pearl oyster · §9.58 Pinctada margaritifera cumingii

Testing and market

The CIBJO laboratory protocol covers Tahitian Cultured Pearl under “Pearl” (§6.2.18): see identification on the Pearl entry; the required tests are listed on the CIBJO laboratory protocol table for Pearl.

How far testing can go

Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.

Evidence and sources

Authority basis and clause sources

16 CFR Part 23
Naming rule §23.21(k) · Source

Sources

Further reading

Related pages

Treatments recorded for this material

Related entries and topic cluster

Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.

Related-entry tree for Pearl on this site: 17 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (Tahitian Cultured Pearl) is marked.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

PageContentStatus
Browsing familyPearl and molluscan shell materialsLive
Treatments recorded for this materialBleached (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material)Live
Related articlesTo be added (placeholder)Planned

Who maintains this page

The material facts in the Tahitian Cultured Pearl entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.

Facts editor
June
Reviewer
Ralph
How facts are checked
Each fact is matched to the clause it cites; facts checked between 2026-09-25 and 2026-09-26
Last revised
2026-10-12
Purpose
Lets buyers and sellers check naming, disclosure and material facts clause by clause.

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