History of The Tahitian Pearl

Before the arrival of Europeans, it was never the goal of the locals. They would go “oyster hunting” the way we go fishing today: to eat. But Mother Nature has always liked to shower us with gifts.

And sometimes, in the fat flesh of the gathered oyster, a black pearl would appear, a god-given gift that was immediately offered to one’s ari’i (Lord), mother or lady friend.

Precious and very rare item: our civilization of statisticians counts one pearl for ten thousand opened pintadinas.

When Europeans came, the quest turned obsessive and the search for pearls was synonymous with exploitation.

As Tahiti soon became a reality adorned with mother-of-pearl and pearls, her islands repeatedly sustained the offences of avid merchants

Fortunately, a handful of men, most of who were scientists, guided the State on the path of reason.

Black pearl oysters were protected, fishery was supervized and their survival was guaranteed.