Keshi Pearls

Keshi pearls are unique pearls that are a by-product of pearl cultivation. They are small, non-nucleated pearls that are 100% pearl, made entirely of nacre and have no nucleus. The name “keshi” comes from the Japanese word for poppy seed, “keshinomi”. These pearls are very distinctive in shape and size, and can sometimes have a flat or fat appearance, with a wavy-like surface texture.

These pearls form when an oyster is nucleated with a piece of tissue and a bead in a cultured pearl farm. If the mollusk expels the bead, or the tissue piece and bead separate, nacre will not form around the bead, and a keshi pearl might be produced instead.

Keshi pearls can form in both fresh and salt waters, and are mostly farmed in Tahiti and Australia.