Home » Beading Definition: Keshi Pearls
Keshi Pearls
Keshi pearls (aka Keishi Pearls) are formed when the oyster rejects the implanted nucleus before the culturing process is complete, or when the implanted mantle tissue fractures and forms separate pearl sacs without nuclei. These pearl sacs eventually produce irregularly shaped pearls without a nucleus.
Keshi pearls are usually small in size and, because there was no nucleus to guide the ultimate shaping of the pearl, their shapes vary widely. They come in a wide variety of colors, and tend to have high luster which is due to their 100% nacre composition. Most keshi, in fact, have a greater luster than even the best-quality cultured pearls. The fact that keshi pearl are solid nacre does not, however, give them the classification of natural pearls. This is because keshi are a bi-product of the culturing process, not a natural occurrence. Keshi pearls can form in both saltwater and freshwater oysters.
Keshi pearls, especially Tahitian and South Sea, were once quite the bargain but today they are much more rare. This is because Tahitian and South Sea pearl farms are now x-raying oysters to determine whether or not the nucleus has been expelled. When a nucleus-free oyster is found they are then re nucleated before a keshi has time to form.
The word keshi means "poppy seed" in Japanese, and these pearls are often also referred to as "poppy seed pearls."
|
