Nacre Thickness

This affects the durability and sometimes the beauty of a Tahiti cultured pearl.If a cultured pearl starts off with a thick coating of nacre (and gets reasonable care), its beauty will last a life time.

If, however, the pearl has a thin nacre coating (or is carelessly treated), its nacre will soon wear away, exposing the nucleus.

The French Polynesian Government has set up a minimum nacre thickness of 0,8mm to the Tahiti Cultured Pearl. All pearls showing less than 0,8mm thickness are banned for marketing and destroyed.