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Keshi Pearls
The word ”Keshi” is Japanese for ”seed pearl” and indicates a very small pearl. Today Keshi pearls can be found in larger sizes, as also the big South Sea and Tahiti pearl oysters produce Keshi.
Keshi is pure mother-of-pearl and considering its growth pattern, very close to a natural pearl. A Keshi pearl comes into existence in the South Sea and Tahiti oysters by a coincidence when the pearl oyster has managed to belch out the inserted nucleus, but the process of making the mother-of- pearl continues. The Akoya Keshi can be found in the mantle tissue of the oyster and can be additional to the cultured pearl. The South Sea and Tahiti oyster will always present either a pearl or a Keshi.
The name Keshi is only used for pearls coming from saltwater pearl oysters.

Mabe Pearls
Mabe, also called composite blister pearls is cultured by inserting a half dome nucleus on the inside of the oyster shell, opposed to a cultured pearl which is growing in the soft parts of the oyster. Subsequently, the oyster secretes layers of mother-of-pearl on the inserted dome. Mabe pearls may be round, oval, drop or heart shaped. Irregular shaped do also occur. Small Buddha figures covered with mother-of-pearl has been found in China. These dating back to 3000 BC giving evidence that the Chinese already at that very early time had knowledge about this fine art.

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