[john675]

Such lovely colors on the three - you have effectively whetted our appetite!
John

[CortezPearls]

Originally Posted by pattye

Hi Douglas,

I could go for red pearls, too! But they are all gorgeous! LOVE the colors on the baroques, I don't have any rounds as yet. Maybe someday-----Will you know for sure which ones Josh worked on?

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

We will for...for sure. You can even tell the pearls apart from a Pinctada oyster and a Pteria sterna oyster: their nacre coloration and crystallization is very different. Also, all of our cages are tagged and we have strict control...except when hit by a hurricane. At that moment we just seem to loose it

Most of the pearl we have obtained from our local black lip are very much like Tahitian black pearls and other SSPs (some are golden, like the Phillipino pearls, some silvery-white, like Aussies)...that is one of the reasons we do not produce them. There is no sense in competing with the marketing power (nor the prices) of Tahitian Blacks.

On the other hand...Rainbow Pearls: the Cortez Pearl is a pearl in a league of its own. The way it glows, shines and shimmers...it is a mesmerizing pearl.

[pattye]

Well, Doug,

You don't have to convince me the Cortez Pearls are something special! I have quite a collection from Carolyn--they are indeed mesmerizing---both mabes and baroques. Now red pearls, there is something amazing to hope for, I'm sure!

When will harvest be this year--June or July? I am still planning to visit the farm there sometime soon. Any other Pearl-Guiders interested in getting a small group together?

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Josh]

Beautiful pearls Douglas and welcome back!
Unfortunately my trip to your little corner of paradise was too short. It was an honor to be involved in your operation though and I'm really hoping I'll be able to make it back in June. Please say to 'Hi' to Enrique and his beautiful family for me.

[lisamla]

Wow, those colors are great. I like pearls more and more everyday. I love having all the pearl farmers and sellers involved. Its a fun and educational experience.

[CortezPearls]

Unfourtunately (for my participation at the Forum) I am still 99% time at the farm. Will eventually have more time.
But I agree with "Lisamla": this forum is truly special. A place where farmers, jewelers, retailers, gemmologists and enthusiasts can meet and share experiences and grow in their knowledge of this unique and fascinating Gem... I don't believe there is any other forum out there quite as good as this one.

The people behind this forum -its founding parents and its contributors- really deserve a full standing ovation and cheers from all of us.

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by pattye

Any other Pearl-Guiders interested in getting a small group together?

Guaymas is certainly on our list of future destinations, and we have a potential travel window in late May…

Steve

[Josh]

Go Steve, go!

[smetzler]

Josh, appears you're up early checking the lines. Shall we make that Guaymas and Ahe? I'm up for it…

[CortezPearls]

I am very pleased to inform that the "Cortez Pearl 2008 Harvest" is proceeding as expected. We are very happy with the results: rounder, cleaner, lustrous pearls. This will definitely become our best harvest EVER.

But the colors are CONFUSSING...why??? Because every year we usually have more pearls falling into a color category (gray, bronze, green, purple, etc.) and this year's results are NOT following a trend...we have a wider variation of body-colors, beginning with silvery WHITE and ending in jet BLACK. ...but some very promising colors are: BLUE and AUBERGINE. Overtones are quite varied as usual...

Sizes will continue last year's trend: 8.3 to 10.5 mm in diameter, few (handful) specimens exceeding 11 mm. But I think everyone will be happy with the improved skin purity and lustre. As always, these pearls WILL NOT be processed in any way: not maeshori, nor ichigori nor fu-man-chu...(ok, these last 2 options I just made up so please don't start a new thread with the name: "New Pearl Processing & Treatments"...it is a plain joke )

Haven't had time to take good photos, just have a handful of "on the harvest shots". I promise to publish some more in the coming days.

[Heidi]

Holy smokes - look at those colors! Thanks for sharing the update and photos. These look like they will be fantastic.

[lisamla]

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing!

[Sueki]

Yikes,
Gorgeous colours. Thanks for the pics. Can't wait to see more....

[GemGeek]

Go Douglas! Those are awesome! Makes me want to hop in my car and drive down there...

[knotty panda]

At these gas prices? Hike! You can buy more pearls that way! Doug, gorgeous, just gorgeous.