Keshi Pearls

What Are Keshi Pearls?

Keishi pearls are some of the more unique type of pearls that are available. They get their name because of their unusual shape. In Japan Keshi means poppy seed and this is because of its small size and organic shape.   Th sometimes are also called "cornflake pearls" because of the unusual shapes. You may also find these same pearls being described with a variety of different spellings. You might see them referred to as Keshi, Kashi, Keishi or Keishe pearls.


Keshi pearls can be created from either freshwater or saltwater pearls. Most of these pearls are small in size and always does not have a nucleus. The pearls come in a wide range of colors, shades and shapes. The shape of the peal can have the look of a stick, seed, off round, oval, rectangle flat and baroque. Because there is no nucleus in the Keshi pearl, it consists entirely of nacre.

How Are Keshi Pearls Created

There are two ways in which a Keshi pearl can be formed. The first way that the Keshi pearl can be formed will happen when the oyster spits out and rejects the nucleus. If this is done before the development of the pearl has had the opportunity to finish, then you have the creation of the pearl. The second way is if the nucleus fractures and forms two different pearl sacs. These two sacs would be circles of nacre and they would not contain a nucleus. From these two sacs there is a possibility the creation of the Keshi could appear.

In the past the way the pearls are created you could get them at bargain prices, especially in Tahiti and the South Sea. In today’s pearl market Kesi pearls are being more infrequently. This is because pearl farmers now x-ray their oysters to see if the nucleus is there or has been expelled. The reason for this is a mussel only produces a certain amount of nacre and if that nacre is used in the creation of a Keshi, then there would be less available for a cultured round pearl. If during the x-ray the nucleus is not inside then the oyster would have a nucleus put back in, destroying the opportunity for a Keshi pearl to be formed. This makes Keshi pearls rarer than they were in the past.

Types of Keshi Pearls

As mentioned above the pearls are quite popular because of their color and bright luster. The color of a Keshi pearl may vary from peacock white, black, white, grey and Rosea (Rose or Rosa).

Formed in salt and freshwater, "Keshi Pearls" are gaining popularity. Colors of "Keshis" vary from black, peacock, grey, white & rosea. Rosea is sometimes spelled rose or rosa.  Rosea is typically an overtone with white or silver body color. There are also some with a green color with golden to yellow highlights.

Keshi Pearl Jewelry

there are different types of jewelry that can be made from the Keishi pearl. These include Keshi bracelets, Keshi earrings, and Keshi bracelets.