The pearl of Tahiti
Certificates of Authenticity
The Keshi
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Keshi or “poppy seed” in Japanese
The Keshi is not considered a pearl per se, but rather a derivative or cousin of the pearl. Indeed, its formation is different from that of the cultured pearl.
Formation of the keshi
Keshi is created when the oyster rejects the nucleus (the spherical core) and forms only with the small piece of graft (piece of the mantle of a pearl oyster) within a carrier pearl oyster. They can also be intentionally cultivated, that is to say that only the graft is inserted during the grafting. The result is therefore composed of 100% mother-of-pearl. Keshis are highly prized in jewelry for their originality and those from Tahiti are considered exceptional pieces.
Size and shape
They have a diameter between 1 and 15 mm and can be of any shape but are essentially baroque.
Neither desired nor programmed. The Keshi is collected in the pearl pocket of the mother-of-pearl oyster, sometimes near a Tahitian cultured pearl or more often alone, in the place where one hoped to harvest a pearl.
Description
Obtaining a cultured pearl is the result of an operation on the pearl oysters or mussels used that is called grafting. For pearl oysters, this graft consists of introducing into the animal, after an incision, a mother-of-pearl nucleus and a small piece of epithelium from the mantle of an oyster sacrificed for this purpose. For freshwater pearls, only the piece of epithelium is introduced although new techniques using nuclei are increasingly being developed for the production of these pearls.
Tahitian pearls are cultivated in pearl farms on the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, Taa'a, Bora Bora, Rangiora, Fakarava and Tikehau.
Shape
There are three typical forms:
Round and semi-round (R/SR) are spherical and rarer.
Drops/Ovals/Buttons (DR) which are classified as semi-baroque pearls and have a symmetrical appearance.
Baroque and circled (B/CL) pearls are asymmetrical pearls with circles around their surface.