Keshi Pearls

Keshi Pearls are a free form natural pearl with much more charm and character than the standard round pearl. Made by a piece of sand that inadvertently gets inside an oyster, these natural seawater pearls make up only about 2 percent of the pearls harvested today. They are an added bonus found along with cultured pearls as they are produced naturally.

Like all pearls, these are formed when a piece of sand or irritant gets inside an oyster. The oyster secretes a substance called nacre to protect itself from the irritant. The nacre has a shiny pearly color and eventually forms into a pearl.

Most pearls today are cultured pearls, meaning that the sand is purposely placed inside the oyster by human intervention and then harvested at some later date, but the sand that forms the keshi pearl is not placed there on purpose and is an added bonus. Sand the piece of sand is not placed perfectly as in the cultured pearls, the shape of the keshi pearl is irregular and much more interesting.

These pearls can take up to 7 years to form and are just as beautiful in sheen and color as any other pearl. Found mostly in the sea of Japan, these natural pearls add interest and beauty to any piece of jewelry.

Keshi pearls are perfect to include in an artisan made ring, necklace or earrings as their unique and quirky shapes add to the design and whimsy of the piece.

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