New Tahitian Pearl Strands Arriving Soon: Dark Black, Black-Green and Peacock
A new lot of Tahitian pearl strands has just come in, and they will be on the site soon. Every strand is TRUE AAA quality, the top grade we carry, in sizes from 8mm to 10mm. The colors run the full Tahitian range: deep, inky black, black with a green overtone, and peacock, the shifting mix of green, blue and purple that collectors look for.
The new strands side by side. Look across the rows and you can see the color move from near-black to green to peacock.
The same strands in hand. Each pearl reflects the room like a small mirror, with green, blue and rose glowing at the edges.
See a strand you love? We'll reserve it for you
These strands are not on the site yet, so you can choose before anyone else. Tell us which color and size you like, or describe the strand you saw in the photos. A pearl specialist will reply with details and hold the strand for you.
Reserve a Tahitian Strand
The most mystical of all pearls
Every pearl is a small marvel, but Tahitian pearls are the most mysterious of all. They grow in the black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, in the lagoons of French Polynesia. The oyster's dark shell lip gives the pearls their color, and no two come out quite the same. Some are nearly black, some are green like deep water, and some are peacock, which changes with every turn of the strand.
How can a black pearl shine so brightly?
Black is the absence of light. A black surface should swallow light, not give it back. Yet a fine Tahitian pearl is one of the brightest, most mirror-like things in a jewelry case. How can that be?
The answer is in the nacre. A pearl is built from thousands of very thin, nearly clear layers of nacre, stacked one on another. Light that strikes the pearl bounces off the smooth outer layer and off the layers just beneath it. That reflected light is the luster, the sharp, bright glow on the surface. Some light also bends as it passes between the layers and splits into color. That color is the overtone: the green, blue, aubergine and rose you see floating over the dark body.
The dark body color does not fight the luster; it frames it. A black mirror shows a sharper reflection than a white one, because the dark background absorbs the stray light that would wash it out. In the same way, the deep body of a Tahitian pearl makes its reflections and overtones stand out with a depth that lighter pearls can't match. So the darkest pearls can be among the most luminous. That paradox is a big part of their magic.
The three Tahitian pearl colors in this lot
Dark black Tahitian pearls
Dark black Tahitian pearls are the classic Tahitian color: a deep charcoal-to-black body with a bright, silvery luster. A dark black Tahitian pearl strand is bold and formal, and it looks striking against both light and dark clothing.
Black-green Tahitian pearls
Black-green Tahitian pearls have a dark body with a cool green overtone, like light on deep water. Black-green is the color many people picture when they think of Tahitian pearls, and a black-green Tahitian strand flatters most skin tones.
Peacock Tahitian pearls
Peacock Tahitian pearls are the rarest and most sought-after of the three Tahitian pearl colors. Peacock Tahitian pearls mix green with blue, purple and rose, so the color shifts as you move. No two peacock Tahitian pearl strands look exactly alike.
Why TRUE AAA, 8mm to 10mm
TRUE AAA is our top grade: high, mirror-like luster, clean surfaces and well-matched pearls from clasp to clasp. In Tahitian pearls, 8mm to 10mm is an elegant, wearable size. It has real presence, but it is comfortable for every day as well as for evenings out. An 8mm–9mm strand is refined and classic. A 9mm–10mm strand makes more of a statement.
Frequently Asked
When will the new Tahitian pearl strands be available?
The new TRUE AAA Tahitian pearl strands will be available on the American Pearl site soon. You can reserve one of these 8mm–10mm Tahitian strands now with the reserve form on this page, and a pearl specialist will contact you before the strands are listed on the site.
Are Tahitian pearls naturally black?
Tahitian pearls are naturally black. The dark color of Tahitian pearls comes from the black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, that grows them. It is not a dye.
What is the difference between black-green and peacock Tahitian pearls?
The difference between black-green and peacock Tahitian pearls is the overtone. A black-green Tahitian pearl shows mainly one cool green overtone over a dark body. A peacock Tahitian pearl shows several overtones at once, usually green, blue and purple, so its color shifts as the pearls move.
Can I choose the length and clasp of my Tahitian pearl strand?
You can choose the length and clasp of your new Tahitian pearl strand. Tell us the length and clasp you would like in the reserve form on this page, and a pearl specialist will go over the options with you.
Shop Tahitian pearls now
Can't wait for the new strands? Browse our Tahitian pearl necklaces available today, or see the new strands in our 2026 pearl harvest.
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