Pearls available on Air Tahiti Nui

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Hello pearl lovers. What a wonderful site I have found here. I am learning so much from everybody. Thank you all.
I have just returned from Tahiti with my humble little group of pearls. I had so much fun looking at them all, and choosing a couple. I bought a baroque pendant, which I love, but on the way home I thought to myself; "I really should have bought a round pendant too." So there I am, on the plane, and lo and behold, they have pearls for sale on the plane! And I can view them. Who knew? So I bought one. It is a Robert Wan pearl with a certificate that I assumed had a grade on it. But when I got home I noticed the paper only showed color (dark), shape (semi-round), size (11mm), and identity number as RW-16. The cost was 150,000 pacific francs.
My question is this; does anyone know about the pearls available on the airline? Are they all a coming from a certain grade? What have I bought? (Their website does not state the grade either, I emailed them and await a response.)
Thanks in advance for your time and any info.
Have a nice day.
Sincerely
Linda.

[Caitlin]

HI!
Welcome!

Let us look at a photo of it.

We have info on this site about the Tahitian grading system, too.

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Hello:
Here is a photo. I have not used a flash, but instead put the pearl near a lamp.
There is one obvious (to me) hole or "flaw" of some type on the front of it here. Other than that, it seems pretty smooth and uniform. Perhaps it could have more colour or lustre? I'm quite happy with it though.
Linda.

[pattye]

Linda,

Pearl looks lovely, good size, too, with its "dimple." If you love it, that's what counts! Appears you can wear the pendant with the dimple in back, where it won't show. Be sure to save the certificate. Congratulations on your new pearl wardrobe!

[jshepherd]

Robert Wan is a big name in the Tahitian pearl business, and it looks like you got a great pearl. At 150,000 xpf, though, that comes to around $1,600 us, right?

[GemGeek]

Very very pretty!

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Hello Jeremy - chuckle .... yeah, I think I put an extra zero there, didn't I?
Linda.

[jshepherd]

Very glad to hear You did well enough, regardless of the grade. From the picture, the pearl appears to be of good quality. Enjoy!

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Thanks Jeremy.
I just heard back from the Air Tahiti Nui people, and they tell me it is a grade B pearl. Strange that it wasn't included on the certificate that came with it .... so who knows.
No worries.
I checked out your website Jeremy. Very nice! I can see that finding Pearl-guide.com might be an enlightening, interesting, educating, and (financially) dangerous thing for me. ;-)
Thanks again, and have a great day.
Linda.

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Hello new pearl friends:
Just an update here .... (in case there is another airline passenger with the same question in future) ... I have received a second email, from a different employee. She says that the pearl is in the "A" category, and that all their airline pearls are that grade. So, now my pearl has two grades ... he's improving with time. I await the email informing me it is "gem" quality.
Have a nice day.
Linda.

[LouiseH]

"... he's improving with time."

Linda, I love your attitude!

-Louise

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Thanks Louise :-)
I was surprised at how lovely the pearls were, and how I fell in love with them.
So, it's only natural that they would become my little "puppies" or "babies".
Have a nice day.
Linda.

[Unusual Pearls]

beautiful pearl. i love the color and luster. the most important thing with pearls is personal satisfaction. pearls have their own individual charm and beauty. different pearls appeal to different people. no matter what anyone says if you love it, thats all that matters.