Are Tahitian Pearls Saltwater Pearls?

Yes, Tahitian pearls are definitively saltwater pearls. They are cultivated in the warm, pristine lagoons of French Polynesia, specifically around the islands of Tahiti and Tuamotu. These pearls are born from the black-lipped oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, a mollusk that thrives in these saltwater environments.

In fact, While Tahitian pearls are saltwater gems, they're not alone. There are also other type of saltwater pearlsin the world, each with its own unique characteristics. Akoya pearls from Japan, Sea of Cortez pearls from Mexico, and South Sea pearls from Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines all originate in saltwater marine environments. These saltwater pearls, due to their rarity, larger sizes, and generally thicker nacre, are typically more valuable than their freshwater counterparts. and are more valuable than the freshwater pearl varieties.