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Keshi Pearl


Vintage 5-strand keshi pearl necklace with 14K gold clasp and bead spacers
Multi-strand keshi pearl necklace
Species:  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

On Sale

On Sale

$50,000.00 $28,500.00

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$8,500.00 $3,500.00

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$5,000.00 $1,950.00

On Sale

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$55,000.00 $37,500.00

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$35,000.00 $14,500.00

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$10,000.00 $4,500.00

Sold out

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$65,000.00 $16,000.00

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$4,500.00 $995.00

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$1,200.00 $495.00

On Sale

On Sale

$5,000.00 $2,500.00

On Sale

On Sale

$7,500.00 $3,000.00

On Sale

On Sale

$50,000.00 $35,000.00

Keshi Pearl Facts

Multi-colored baroque keshi pearl necklace with 14K gold clasp
Multi-color baroque keshi pearl necklace

What are keshi pearls?

Are they natural or are they cultured?

Well, they're a little bit of both!

Keshi pearls are not cultured, but are a byproduct of the culturing process.

Like natural pearls, keshi pearls are non-nucleated.  This means they are made entirely of nacre.

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

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

Keshi pearls are usually caused by a mishap in the culturing process where the grafted mantle tissue separates from the nucleus.

Keshi  Pearl Gallery

All photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA)
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • SHOP
  • GEMOLOGY
    • GEM ENCYCLOPEDIA
    • REFRACTIVE INDEX CHART
    • BIRTHSTONE CHART
    • DECORATIVE PRINTS
    • THE ART OF GEMOLOGY
  • APPRAISALS
    • INSURANCE
    • DIVORCE
    • ESTATE TAX
    • ESTATE DISTRIBUTION
    • CHARITABLE DONATION
    • LIQUIDATION
    • APPRAISALS THRU EMAIL
  • SELL YOUR JEWELRY
  • JEWELRY EDUCATION
    • DIAMOND FACTS
    • JEWELER DIRECTORY
    • JEWELRY PERIODS
    • POCKET WATCHES
    • NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY
  • GLOSSARY