8-9 mm Black Grade AAA Round Tahitian Pearl Stud Earring with 14k Yellow Gold Post 

The natural black color of the Tahitian pearl comes from the black-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster. These oysters are farmed on the volcanic atolls of Tahiti, where the mixture of nutrient-rich ocean water mixes with warm lagoons creating an ideal environment for them--and the only place where Tahitian pearls can be found. Like the South Sea pearl oyster, the black lipped pinctada maxima are sensitive to the cultivation process, making the Tahitian pearl rare and expensive. Though they are, on average, slightly smaller than the South Sea pearl, Tahitian pearls are larger than Akoya and their black color adds a dramatic touch.