KESHI PEARL

Multi-strand keshi pearl necklace

Species:  Cultured Pearl
Pearl Type:  Keshi (Non-nucleated)
Mollusk:  (Various mollusks and mussels)
​​Mohs Hardness:  2.5 to 4.5 out of 10
Color:  White to shades of yellow, pink, green, blue and gray
RI:  1.350 to 1.685 (+0.009 / -0.005)
Birefringence:  0.155 (use birefringence blink method)
SR/DR/AGG:  Too opaque to test
Spectrum:  Not diagnostic
Fluorescence:  Varies.  Inert to strong light blue, yellow, green or pink under LW and SW.
SG:  2.61

SHOP PEARL JEWELRY

SHOP PEARL JEWELRY

Keshi Pearl Facts

Multi-color baroque Tahitian keshi pearl necklace

What are keshi pearls?

Keshi pearls are tiny "accidental" pearls that form during the pearl culturing process.  This usually happens when the bead nucleus becomes dislodged from the donor mantle tissue.

Like natural pearls, keshi pearls are non-nucleated.  This means they are made entirely of nacre.  However, because keshi pearls are made thru human intervention, they are considered "cultured" pearls.

Keshi pearls can have very strong orient (multi-colored, iridescent overtones).

Keshi pearls can occur in both saltwater mollusks and freshwater mussels.