Pearl of Tahiti : tribute to our lagoons

Where I come from, every lagoon has its very own name.

The one in Tikehau is called 'Anapa te tai, the shimmering lagoon. Its name, a tribute to its unique brilliance on sunny days and moonlit nights, reflects the deep connection our people have always had with our lagoons.

These vast stretches of blue are cherished and respected, as they nourish from villages to the main city, brimming with life and sustaining us. One of the most precious treasures hidden in our lagoon is, without a doubt, the pearl.

Renowned worldwide, the pearl has officially become equal to diamonds and gem, thanks to its unmatched beauty.

Usually, our pearls are called the "Black Pearl" or "Pearl of Tahiti". Nevertheless, one should know not to take these names to the letter, for it knows how to tint its gray robe with unique colors of evocative names, like peacock feather, sour cherry, or aubergine. Pearl does not necessarily come from the lagoon of Tahiti either, but more often from those of the Tuamotu and Gambier, and sometimes from Taha’a, Raiatea, or Huahine.

In these peaceful lagoons, the pearl’s spat (pearl oyster larvae) gets caught to collectors, a device that collects wild spats that are floating in the lagoon’s current. They then grow in baskets, hanging from long ropes, several meters deep. They mature into mother-of-pearl, draped in a black mantle that gives the primary color of the pearl. Once adults, the mother-of-pearl is handed to the experts grafting technicians for the only human intervention in the pearl farming process. Afterward, they are returned to the lagoon, this time, to create the mesmerizing pearl. When harvest finally arrives, it is the fruits of these pearl farmers’ meticulous, years-long work that are collected.

This patient work, much like that of a goldsmith, captivated Franck Tehaamatai 30 years ago.

Back then, he established his first pearl farm on Takaroa, an atoll located in the northwest of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Over the years, like a winemaker who studies and selects the terroir where to establish his vineyard—because just like each terroir has its own wine variety, each lagoon has its pearl—he carefully sets up his farms in a few other lagoons, ensuring, to this day, the conservation of these atolls' fragile ecosystems. It is important for the founding family that their farms operate responsibly and sustainably in these environments, respecting the resources.

A few years later, Franck Tehaamatai developed an innovative concept: the pearlery. A pearl bar where you can select them one by one, from a wide range of bare pearls of all shapes and colors. Next, they are mounted, drilled, or set to become unique jewelry pieces, just as unique as anyone’s preferences, since tastes and colors are not to be debated but rather turned into treasures.

From this ingenious idea is born Tahiti Pearl Market, in 2003. The brand is typically known for its attention to detail, offering jewelry pieces that can meet every demand, as well as for the knowledge of the staff, especially the boutique in Papeete. This pearl passion, passed through generations in this family, is the source of these boutiques. It shines a light on the richness of our islands and the unknown art of pearl farming.

Choosing your pearls at Tahiti Pearl Market guarantees a natural treasure from Polynesia with your personal touch, showcasing the beauty of our homelagoon through your own creativity. Whether worn or gifted, these pieces are timeless bearers of memories—yours, ours, those of the lagoon, and of a culture from our side of the world. At Tahiti Pearl Market, each piece of jewelry is crafted according to your wishes and reflects the beauty of our culture paired with your creativity. Find the nearest store by clicking on this link: let's find your pearl.

Once back at home, you may forget how warm the colors are in the Polynesian sky at sunset. You might not remember how soft fine sand feels when sunbathing. Perhaps you won’t even recall the several hours spent flying to reach our islands. One thing remains certain: whether on a pair of earrings, a bracelet, or a pendant, a pearl from here will always bring you back here whenever its sparkle catches your gaze. It is a piece of our home that you can take back to yours.

To maintain its brilliance and care for its beauty, follow Tahiti Pearl Market's wise advice, right here: pearl care by Tahiti Pearl Market

For as long as I can remember, I have always seen pearl as our very own diamond. A familiar gem.

On Sundays, we wear our finest clothes to attend mass. Churches are often filled with flowered hats and woven fans, while congregations are wearing freshly pressed shirts and brightly colored dresses. Many wear necklaces of lustrous pearls or chains with discreet pearl pendants. My grandma would always wear her most gorgeous pair of pearl earrings, which is different from her everyday pair of pearl earrings.

When I was a child, an uncle had set up his pearl farm on the islet just across from my grandma's place in Tikehau, and we would sometimes go there to play with my cousins.

One day, while the lagoon shines as brightly as the sun in the sky, we are three kids running back and forth, in the overwater workshop. Somehow, I can still hear my uncle repeating “Do not go over to that corner” while pointing to one of the four corners of the cabin. So obviously, that is exactly where we started playing.

I still have a clear image of the large wooden tables with heavy metal legs, holding heavy baskets full of mother-of-pearl. I remember the pliers, gloves, and brushes with bristles bent from years of cleaning the mother-of-pearl. On the other side of the room, on a small desk, sorted pearls lay neatly on a white mat, right next to a jar of keshis. The pearls shine so brightly that they add fleeting colors to the walls, as if they were capturing the light only to reflect their rainbow hues.

Then I recall the crack of the wooden plank beneath my feet. Barely enough time for me to look down and see the gaping floor with the lagoon underneath. I hear my uncle from afar, rushing to my rescue; he grabs me by the wrist, right before I fell through the floor and sets me down safely. “That’s why I said, do not go over to that corner” he scolds me sternly. Trust that I have never gone over to that corner ever again.

The pearl is our diamond, not for how we wear it, but because it is part of our customs, so much so that it creates common ground and memories for many of us, across every archipelago. We know the pearls as much as the pearls know our homes. Who doesn’t have a memory involving pearls?