Please note that this listing is for one package of 6 tiny natural seed size pearls from the Sea of Cortez.  You can purchase one package or many (as available) and there is volume pricing on multiple packages of 6 seed pearls each.  The photos show the 12 sets of 6 Sea of Cortez seed pearl sets initially available, and you will receive one packet of 6 seed pearls for each order, with multiple packet initially available.

This is an extremely rare offering from the pearl farm that produces the incredible Sea of Cortez pearl in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, in the Sea of Cortez which lies between Baja California and the Mexican mainland.  This is small batch of tiny natural UNDRILLED pearls from the Pteria Sterna (Rainbow Lipped) oyster.  Yes, they are true natural pearls, and very few are found at the pearl farm every year.  According to the pearl farmer, "These are Natural.  We did not help the oyster produce them and they are naturally grown in the oyster's mantle."

These natural pearls are NOT considered keshi pearls.  These tiny little pearls are genuine natural pearls, which are all nacre.  They have quite a variation in shapes, plus they have natural imperfections that are found in natural pearls, including some discolored spots, black/dark cavities, varied sizes, some compound pearls (2 or more that have grown together with natural nacre).  Not all the pearls in each packet have flaws, as some are quite lustrous with beautiful little shapes.

Regarding the other type of all nacre pearls:  I asked the pearl farm co-owner if keshis are considered cultured pearls (a bi-product of the culturing process), and he replied, "Yes, they (keshi pearls) come from our Rainbow Lip oyster and they are cultured pearls...the bead is expelled by the oyster so they end up without one."  In other words, keshis form when the oyster rejects the implanted nucleus (to which the oyster would normally add layers and layers of pearl nacre) and continues to produce nacre as if the implanted nucleus was still there, so a true and genuine keshi pearl doesn't have a nucleus.  

The color of each of the 6 tiny seed size natural pearls in this listing varies from pearl to pearl,having the range of natural colors normally found in these very special oysters, the only salt water pearl farm in the North American continent, including white and variations of white, silver/gray, black, lavender, mocha, and pink shades in this lot.  Each packet has a variety of colors, shapes, and various nacre variations found in their natural state, including small blemishes and variations in luster (from dull-boke to high luster).  It's quite rare to find perfect natural pearls, so these have naturally found differences in their varied attributes.

***Please note that Sea of Cortez pearls are among the most rare and prized pearls in the world, cultured in the Gulf of California, Mexico.  Fewer than 4 thousand cultured pearls total are harvested every year, so they are both rare and expensive.  They are also among the few Fair Trade pearls available.  The number of natural, though very tiny, pearls obtained each year in these oysters is dramatically lower.  These are incredibly special to add to your pearl collection, or to use in your unique designs.

The quoted price is for ONE package of 6 UNDRILLED tiny natural Sea of Cortez pearls, and several packets are initially offered, so it's possible to get more than one packet, as available at order time.  All the pearls in this listing are from the natural seed size pearls in the photos, which are highly enlarged, so every little flaw shows up even if not readily seen by the naked eye.  There is a variety of small sizes (usually 1 to 2½ mm each depending on where measured), shapes, and colors in each packet.  Please note that we can't honor special requests for certain shapes, sizes or colors.

Please note that most natural color pearls and shells look different in various lighting conditions, although I try to present the most accurate photos.  Also, these photos magnify these tiny pearls dramatically, so natural imperfections that can be seen in the photos are difficult to see with the unaided eye in person. 

The tape measure in the photos is metric, so the numbers are in centimeters, and each little hash mark is one millimeter (mm).  The photos containing multiple Sea of Cortez seed pearls show what a collection of these tiny pearls looks like, and the variations in shape, size, color and quality to expect.  Each package of 6 seed pearls has a collection from the large pearl group photos.  The individual packets are shown in the last few photos, so you get an idea of what to expect.

These natural tiny pearls measure approximately 1 to 2+ mm from the smallest measurement to the largest.  All measurements are approximate.  There may be a pearl of two in each packet that are smaller than 1 mm or larger than 2 mm.  Please note that it's very difficult to measure these little guys accurately!  They are not drilled, as they are too small to be drilled, and the pearl farm will not attempt to drill them.  Even if you had an extremely fine precision drill, it would be risky to attempt to drill them, as they would shatter in the process.

QUESTIONS or ISSUES?  Please don't hesitate to ask.  We welcome the opportunity to serve your product needs.

Please watch for more gorgeous pearls and quality hand made jewelry in the near future.

 STORE POLICIES