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Around the time that Westerners discovered Tahiti (1767), the black pearl had earned a reputation in Europe and elsewhere as the "Pearl of Queens" and the "Queen of Pearls".
- Catherine the Great of Russia (1729-1796) had a necklace of 30 black pearls, the largest weighing 3.9 grams (0.14 ounces).
- The Austrian crown of the same epoch was set with 30 black pearls.
- The French Empress Eugénie (1826-1920), the consort of Napoleon III from 1853-1870, had a necklace of black pearls.
- The Russian Crown jewels included a necklace with a black pearl centerpiece called Azra.
The wonder of the black pearl inspired many questions among people centuries ago yet their lack of scientific knowledge led them to improvise with both legend and poetry.
Polynesian
According to ancient Polynesian legends handed down from one generation to the next: Tahitian pearls were the first cases of light, which were given by the Creator to Tane --God of Harmony and Beauty. Tahitian pearls illuminated the vault of heaven with their light. Their form and brightness inspired Tane to create the stars. Tane then brought the pearls to Rua Hatu -- God of the Ocean in order for him to lighten his domain. Oro -- God of War and Peace, working for Tane, entrusted human women whom he coveted to conceive his descendants, with the first pearls, as tokens of love. With the achievement of his work complete, he gave "Te ufi" - pearl oysters to humans in memory of his voyage on earth. Ever since, the pearl oyster "Te ufi -- Pinctada Margaritifera, has thrived in the lagoons of French Polynesia.
In Polynesian culture, the first two mythical pearls, which were given to a princess on earth by Oro -- God of war and peace, were Poe Rava -- the extraordinary peacock colored pearl and Poe Konini -- the sculptural circled pearl.
It is also said that Okana and Uaro, the spirits of Coral and Sand, both adorned Te Ufi with a glistening cloak utilizing all the colors of the fish in the ocean. For thousands of years the glory of the heavens has come to rest in the secret hollow of the iridescent mother-of-pearl, as a gift from the sky to the sea.
Romantic legend tells how the moon bathes the ocean in its light to attract the oysters to the surface so that it may impregnate them with heavenly dew. The drop of light, polished by time, holds the heavenly radiance within its heart and cloaks itself in a garment with blue, green, pink and golden reflections that shine and blend in harmony.
China
Ancient Chinese believed that pearls were conceived in the brains of dragons. In imperial china, the black pearl was regarded as a symbol of wisdom. As such, it was guarded between the teeth of the dragon.
Greeks & Romans
Greeks & Romans thought pearls were born from a drop of rain or dew collected by oysters.
Persians
Persians believed that an imperfect pearl was due to a thundering sky. A more colorful version says pearls result from the meeting of rainbow and earth.
Ceylon
Ceylon legend tells how the tears of Adam & Eve created a lake that gave birth to pearls - white or pink pearls from Eve's tears and the more precious and rare gray or black pearls from Adam's tears. Why the difference? Man knows better how to control his emotions according to legend. Therefore his tears are more valuable.
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