Robert Wan Pearl Museum, Papeete (must see)

The Robert Wan Pearl Museum is only for pearls. The Museum is located at BP850 Pomare Boulevard, facing Paofai Gardens in Papeete. The exhibits of the Museum show the history of pearls worldwide, the legends, and the technology of pearl culture. Robert Wan's collection holds the largest Tahitian pearl in existence.

The largest pearl goes by the name of Robert Wan. The collection also features a generous number of "black" pearls, a Tahitian specialty. Black Butterfly shells are found in the reefs around French Polynesia, especially in the archipelago of Tahiti. Over 95% of the world's black pearls are grown here.

The best quality pearl is made of thousands of microscopic layers of aragonite crystals. The play of light reflected by the crystals is called the "orient" or "iridescence." The black pearl actually may appear in a variety of colors. They come in the shape of spheres, buttons, pearls, teardrops, and generally asymmetrical forms.

Pearls are graded A, AA, or AAA. The museum pearls are AA-AAA. Pearls in Tahiti are cultured. The marketing of natural pearls is banned. The Museum is closed on Sundays and holidays.