Orient on Keshi Pearls

[Perle]

I saw a necklace of keshi (or is it keishi?) pearls today, nuggets of about 5-6mm. They were white but with a rainbow play of colors across them. My Freshadamas have a subtle play of colors (which is lovely!), but this was something different - a vibrant play of colors very easily observable from a distance. I've never seen colors like that on a round pearl, though I'm sure Zeide has some in her collection!

Someone mentioned that bleaching has a negative effect on orient - does that account for the difference? Or are there other factors (e.g., the shape, the host, maybe even color treatment)?

Perle

[perlas]

Going back to keshis, I'm posting a pic for everybody's reference. I assume not everyone has seen what Perle is talking about but I'm guessing it's the white keshis on the photo.

I can't really capture the wild water effect of the white keshis.:(

[jshepherd]

It is a post-Christmas project. It has already started with the baroque and special colored strands. But it involves combing through fresh harvests for individual selection - something I definitely could not have accomplished with just a couple of days on the ground. But I will be making a small line with the next buy. I do not plan on advertising it on the Website, however. Too many browsers would immediately paint us as a scam if we were to post the age old eBay adage, "Not Treated". They will be for those consumers who know what they are buying and know what they want.

Untreated the orient is best in a bronze-lavender color (to me). It is also beautiful in the whites, but tends to have more of a creamy coloration. Almost like a cream with a slight hint of silver and rose. Several forum members did actually receive these when they were mentioned a few months ago. But before the demand I had not distinguished between treated and non, so when a request was made I had to sort the freshadama in the vault personally to determine which were not treated. There were only a few test kilos, so it was not an easy task.

The dyed strands are now being matched. I am hoping to have some amazing blacks here soon. We will see...! The early results last week were promising.

[Perle]

Thanks for posting the photos, Perlas! Yes, they were like the white ones. After reading Zeide's explanation, I'd now say that what I was struck by was the "wild water" of the keshi. But the "deep water" of the Freshadama is lovely, too - a subtle iridescence with an almost glassy finish.

Jeremy, do the untreated Freshadama have other advantages over treated Freshadama, e.g., are they more likely to maintain their beauty over time?

Perle

[jshepherd]

The freshadama are bleached, but not dyed. The black freshwater we are currently processing are dyed.
It is possible to tell the difference visually. The only size I have tried unprocessed is 7-8mm. We actually have another 7 kilos of unprocessed coming in next week, but those are completely unprocessed. They are not even drilled yet. But that entire lot is for one client.

[Perle]

Jeremy, how can you tell? I've noticed that, if you look very closely, some of the pearls have an interesting color pattern. It's like a ring of color, but only on part of the pearl. Not sure how to describe it, something like taking a pink Easter egg, then dipping only part of it in the color again. The ring starts around that spot, pink for example. I've seen some that are a bit green in the center. At first I thought this might be the "color spill" Zeide has mentioned before, but maybe it's due to the treatment process?

Perle

[jshepherd]

No, the colors are not due to the treatment process necessarily. The luster is the primary change. The untreated pearls still have similar colors, but a creamier body color.

I guess I should have prefaced that '7 kilo' thing. They are only 7000 per RMB kilo pearls, not quite the grade needed for freshadama, but would be top of the line necklace material. They are separated only for whites, and will be placed into a statue. This group did the same thing last year. I am now sure what it is all about, has something to do with Buddhism.

[Perle]

Thanks for the clarification. Jeremy, thanks also for your replies! You must be going crazy about now. Good luck with the holiday frenzy!

Perle

[xeresana]

Jeremy,

You say the post-Christmas strands won't be advertised, but they will be for sale? Any way to get notified when they're ready or to pre-order?

[Ragnorak]

I saw a necklace of keshi (or is it keishi?)...

I've oftened wondered when it was that the i was dropped and keshi came into common usage and who if anyone was responsible.

[CortezPearls]

Some Sea of Cortez Keshis...with incredible color & orient: 100% Natural, no bleaching no dyeing...no nada.
:)

Enjoy!

[preswine]

Some Sea of Cortez Keshis...with incredible color & orient: 100% Natural, no bleaching no dyeing...no nada.
:)

Enjoy!

beautiful, especially the red ones

[barbie biggs]

I like the blue, the gold(anything metallic), and the multi's, although the greens always catch my eye!
barbie

[waimeamomi]

These keshis seem to have swirls of color in them that looks liquid and deep. I'm slightly under the weather and can't seem to process this morning. I love keshi colors. It's like you can reach into them. These silver ones I got this summer that were unreal and I am dying (no pun intended) to get some more. Haven't seen anything else quite like them. :p

[barbie biggs]

I think I'm in love.
Used to think round meant higher quality, better. Now although I do truly love Freshadama, my heart just flutters whenever I see a really beautiful keishi...Like the ones above. Are those rubies with the lighter colored ones?
barbie
Sheri; hope you feel better soon.

[waimeamomi]

I think I'm in love.
Are those rubies with the lighter colored ones?
barbie
Sheri; hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, Barbie. They are cognac colored sapphires. They kind of change with the light too, from plummy color to deep wine.

[barbie biggs]

Georgeous! Sigh.

[Nathan Reed]

I love those lavender keshi/keishi! The luster looks great, but then, the fact that they are odd shaped means they reflect the light from more places than a round pearl. All in all a glittering prize.

[barbie biggs]

Nathan:
You are absofraginlutely right! Don't you just luv keishi?
barbie

[waimeamomi]

And then they're these. South Seas keshi (keishi, what is correct??). I'm plotting out what to do with those. Knot, tiny gold spacers, eat them up they're so yummy! :rolleyes:

[knotty panda]

I've posted these before, but they are SO GORGEOUS another viewing won't hurt anyone. Almost makes you swear off round for good, don't they?

[Mervione]

Woooow!!! Maybe I´m just a total newbie to pearls still but that might be the strongest orient I´ve ever seen!

[pattye]

Oh Yes! Keishi are just the best for orient! The goldens almost seem transparent, like one can look into them---
Knotty, those would stay out where I could view them all the time if they were mine!

[pearlescence]

I have some like that - thinner, real fine petals, and big, lots of orient etc. I look at them and think wow, then what on earth can I do with them.....I did make some earrings but I haven't really seen a good use for them.
Any ideas very welcome

[Miriam Reed]

Knotty Panda,
Those are absolutely gorgeous! It makes me itch to touch them.

Wendy, there has to be something that would do them justice. I'm not wild about them in bracelets - doesn't seem to show them off to best advantage. What were the earrings like? I would have thought that earrings would be a good idea, especially if you use several keshis in a chandelier style. Do you have a photo of the ones you made? What about using them in a large pendant?

[claudenancy]

I am a newbie here and have enjoyed reading all of the wonderful posts. I am a longtime gemstone fanatic. I think it was the keishi or second harvest (still confused about what to call the freshwater ones) that recently hooked me on pearls. I will attempt to attach a picture of my new keishi (second harvest??) freshwater pearl necklace. The flower also has a South Sea center with small SS keishi (?correct term) as accents. These glow in the dark--literally.

[knotty panda]

That is so graceful! I love it.

[claudenancy]

Thanks so much. I just started making jewelry as a hobby, and this is my first pearl necklace. It was such a wonderful feeling to work with these beautiful, "eccentric" shapes and textures.

[pattye]

Delicious colors, too! Love the variety of pearls. I just call the freshwater keishi also, too confusing otherwise.

[Caitlin]

Hi When I first got here, I called keshi "keishi"- rhymes with heishi.

But it is keshi with an "eh" sound as in "get"

I would use keshi as a term for freshwater second growths only in a very casual way, but I think the term should be adopted.

[Kevin Canning]

Just caught that pic now Knotty, hows that for orient eh!!

[Andrew]

Beautiful keshi necklace,Claudenancy, but could you specify if they're all South Sea keshis or just the ones in the flower? Also, about them glowing in the dark. Is that just for a few minutes after you put the lights out or all night long? Does anyone know why pearls would do this?

[claudenancy]

Hi Andrew. I was not very clear was I? I will attach a close up of the flower. The only South Sea pearls in the necklace are the ringed pearl that constitutes the center of the flower and the very small ones that ring the flower. Obviously the central pearl is not keshi but an irregular ringed cultured SS pearl.

Also I did overstate the glow factor--I should have said that thay have a shimmery glow in low light conditions such as light from a distant candle only. As far as I know these are not treated, and I am fairly confident that they are not radioactive!!!!

I am glad to meet another newbie to the forum.

[Andrew]

Thanks, Claudenancy, for the close-up photo and the extra details. Somehow it seems more beautiful when you better understand the make-up of any particular piece. It may not increase its dollar value but it certainly increases one's appreciation for it. Newbie or not you know how to pick a fantastic necklace!

[claudenancy]

Hi Andrew, Pattye and all who replied. Thanks for your kind words and clarifications. I did really enjoy making the necklace. These pearls spoke to me--some really wanted to be a flower, but the flower was difficult to make especially since if was made as an integral part of the necklace and not attached as a unit. I am not sure that I will ever try another one like that!

Andrew, I did find a thread on this forum that addressed pearls that glowed in the dark for a short period. Did you see that one? I think it is indexed under natural pearls.

[sleight]

Congratulations! I think it's a beautiful necklace and very creative. How long is it? Can you double it? It be great to see a "model" shot (everyone's always asking for more here!). I really love the asymmetry of it.

[claudenancy]

hi Sleight: Sorry for my tardy response. I have been intending to have my husband snap some pics of the necklace being worn--but I have not found another "model", and I have to be in a really good mood to permit my pic to be taken! I promise I will do it soon though.

Although the necklace could be worn as one strand, it is designed to be worn as two necklaces--either together or separately. THe longer, simpler strand is 19 inches, and the shorter strand is 16.5 inches. Worn together they are much more of a "presence". Sometimes I wear the longer one by itself--it tends to be appropriate in professional venues in which I occasionally find myself . (I am semi-retired, and love it!!)

Thank you for the very generous comments. Again, apologies for my procrastination.

Regards, Beth

[barbie biggs]

Dear Beth:
Feel free to procrastinate. Especially as the fruit of your procrastination is so generously shared! Thank you,
barbie

[claudenancy]

Thanks Barbie--I needed that!!

Well, I finally caught my husband as he was walking out the door--I was in a good enough mood to be shot at least from chin down!! Did not want to have to get all dolled up for a real pic--and as I approach closely the big "6" decades day, I think I am entitled.

THe pic below clearly shows that these necklaces, when worn together, need to be put on in front of a mirror--and I was not. I let my husband (who was in a hurry) do the adjustment--who pronounced it fine. However, these are a obviously askew from their best position.

[Sueki]

Gosh Claudenancy,
It's beautiful - the iridescence, wow !

[Hanaleimom]

Much much better looking on a model. Well done, Claudenancy.