Jewelry and the Polynesians

Polynesians have always worn jewelry. Both men and women. In ancient society, jewelry was used only during religious or funeral ceremonies, but also by warriors to demonstrate their rank. To make this jewelry, Polynesians used all the natural resources at their disposal: shells, mother-of-pearl, shark teeth, plant materials such as tapa (tree bark), but also human bones. Sperm whale teeth were prized by Marquesan chiefs, and warriors placed a human bone ornament called "ivi po'o" in their hair.

But we also know that pearls were already very present well before the first transplants carried out in Polynesia in the 1920s.

The first explorer to speak of it was the Frenchman Bougainville, arriving in Tahiti in 1768: "the custom of painting oneself - a reference to makeup - is therefore a fashion there, as in Paris. Another custom in Tahiti, common to both men and women, is to pierce one's ears and wear pearls or flowers of all kinds." But also James Cook in 1769: "they wear ornaments in their ears, in one ear only, made of mother-of-pearl, berries, stone, red peas or small pearls tied together in threes."

Nowadays, Polynesians continue to wear a flower (tiara) behind their ear and like to wear jewelry. Men often wear modern jewelry (rings, chains) but also jewelry made of mother-of-pearl, engraved or not. Some artists create exceptional jewelry representing marine animals or everyday objects (oar, fish hook, etc.). And of course the pearl, often worn alone, on a leather cord (which you can find on our site 😉).

Women love pearls, in all their forms, and are proud of this Polynesian treasure. Worn as a ring, bracelet, earring, pendant, or necklace, few Polynesian women don't own a "little piece of paradise."

If we love the Tahitian cultured pearl so much, it's also because it tells the story of the Polynesians.

Wearing a pearl is wearing a piece of Polynesia and getting closer to these wonderful people.