Understanding Tahitian Pearls: What Makes Moline Different

Tahitian pearls are among nature’s most captivating treasures—prized for their rare beauty, rich depth of color, and timeless elegance. At Moline Pearls, we believe in sourcing and working with only the finest Tahitian pearls available.

If you’re curious about what makes these pearls so special, this guide will help you understand the key elements and how Moline aims to set ourselves apart from traditional designer brands.

What Are Tahitian Pearls?

Tahitian pearls are cultured from the black-lipped oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) in the warm waters of French Polynesia. Unlike the light tones of Akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls are celebrated for their naturally occurring, usually darker hues that range from deepest blacks, vivid green, cherry peacock, silver, blue, aubergine, and more. It's important to note that Tahitian pearls should not be dyed or treated to obtain their beautiful colors.

How to Evaluate a Tahitian Pearl

Several key factors determine the quality and thus value of a Tahitian pearl. At Moline Pearls, we select only the top percentages (approximately 1-2%) of each harvest, ensuring every piece meets a very strict standard.

As with all pearls, there is no universal grading system. This means that one designer/seller's "AAA" may be equivalent (or even worse) than another's "A" grade, for example.

Tahitian grading systems often use an A/B/C/D grading scale (and what these letters indicate is yet again up to an individual). For ease of understanding and consistency among all pearls, Moline utilizes A, AA, AAA, and GEM.

Luster

Luster refers to the way light reflects off the pearl’s surface. A truly fine Tahitian pearl has a mirror-like and glassy shine. Luster, in any pearl, is the key differentiator between high- and low-quality pearls. Moline Pearls carefully curates pearls with intense and crisp luster while.

Color

The most prized shades include:

Aubergine – a rich eggplant hue
Silver & Light Gray – sophisticated and versatile
Vivid Green & Blue Tones – rare and dramatic

Top quality Tahitian pearls will show remarkable, varied, and unique colors. Bright and vivid Tahitian pearls that also have strongest luster command premium prices.

Some Tahitian pearls have a "peacock" effect. Strong peacock Tahitian pearls showcase another different color that appears as if it sits on top of a pearl's base color. Usually, peacock Tahitian pearls are thought of as having a green body with a bronze, cherry, or pink overtone.

Tahitian pearls which are perfectly uniform in color are higher priced than a multicolor strand, though many customers prefer the fun variations that multicolor pearls offer.

Because Moline focuses on high-quality pearls, customers can be confident that the color they fall in love with is completely natural.

Surface Quality

As with other pearl types, the more flawless a Tahitian pearl is, the more desirable it is considered. All non-imitation pearls can have some imperfections, but in higher-quality pearls, these are fewer and less visible. Truly flawless Tahitian pearls are exceptionally rare, especially so in sizes larger than 11mm. Gem quality Tahitian pearls have a glossy, "wet" looking surface.

When shopping for Tahitian pearls, priority should be given to finding pearls that face up cleanly when worn, or in the case of a strand, where blemishes are not seen from a normal viewing distance when worn.

Moline prioritizes pearls with smooth, clean surfaces and aims to note when pearls may have some blemishing.

Shape

While round pearls are the most traditionally valuable and sought-after, statistically it is in fact the rarest shape; indeed, most pearls in a harvest are not round.

Both as preference and a value decision, many customers are drawn to baroque, drop, or oval shapes for their organic feel. Whether your desired piece of jewelry is earrings, a strand, pendant, or something else, Moline makes sure that shapes are complementary to design.

Size

Tahitian pearls typically range from 8mm to over 16mm in diameter. Larger pearls are rarer and can be more impressive, but with Moline Pearls, size is never a substitute for quality nor does size influence a pearl's grade. Moline focuses on sourcing pearls that combine the the aforementioned qualities with size to achieve the proper level of delicateness for any given piece.

Why Choose Moline Pearls?

Top Quality at a Fair Price

Moline aims always to be upfront and honest with customers: the best pearls are not inexpensive, but that does not mean you need to pay top designer name for quality you'll love. You’ll getting pearls that directly compete with those found in the world's highest luxury design houses -- without paying so much for a logo.

Personalized Approach to Pearl Education

Moline's founder is an educator and professional jewelry photographer. We understand light, visuals, and design, and want help in giving you all the information you need to feel comfortable about making a decision. Whether you’re building a custom piece, searching for a perfect gift, or curating for your personal collection, Moline is happy to guide you through each step with attention, expertise, and no pressure.

Integrity and Reputation

Our customers consistently tell us they come back for the experience, kindness, and warmth just as much as the pearls. We’ve built that reputation on transparency, honesty, and a genuine love, appreciation, and respect for pearls that will find their way to your home.