Natural black Tahitian cultured pearls are native to the waters of French Polynesia. They tend to be smaller in size than the mollusc that produces the white South Sea cultured pearls and rarely yield pearls over 13 - 14 mm.

Cultured pearls over 16 mm. are exceptional and especially in black. The present necklace is the largest ever to be offered at auction and the pearls have been collected over many years in order to produce such a splendid necklace.