Pearls from Mexico

[Margaret G.]

My jeweler has a strand of black pearls that he says are not from Tahiti nor China. He says they are from Mexico. Is this true? We have a vacation home in Mexico so I am quite familiar with shopping there and have never noticed a big market in pearls there.

If there are pearls from Mexico what kind of pearls are they? Are they akoya pearls, maybe? Are they typically black like Tahitians?

[Selectraders]

Yes, there are pearls being cultured in Mexico as well. Especially in Baja California.
The pearls in Mexico typically come from 2 different varieties of oysters. This first is the Pteria sterna, or Western Winged Pearl Oyster. The second is the Pinctada mazatlanica, or Panamanian Pearl Oyster.

These pearls are typically dark, with colors ranging from black, gray, silver, blue to green.

The pearls are indeed very beautiful but have not really gained the reputation of other pearling areas yet. There is another variety making its way out of Mexico now as well. I believe this is the rainbow oyster which produces a pearl like Tahitian.

www.selectraders.co.uk

[Jnorris]

I have quite a few natural black pearls from Mexico. Most all came from the oyster Pteria Sterna. This oyster produces pearls in all colors Blacks, off whites, Greys all with different over tones. It all depends on where with in the shell the pearl was formed.

[Agent ED]

there cool...

[jshepherd]

Hey Ed,

No one here really discusses pearl drums. Just pearls!

[dmclaren]

The market for Mexican Pearls IS NOT large. The mexican pearls oysters have a Fishing Ban (established circa 1939), so all the "new" natural pearls are illegal...still, poaching actively occurs mainly in the Gulf of California.

Hopefully, these pearls will make a comeback by means of pearl culture. There are 2 commercial pearl farms: one near La Paz (Baja California) and a bigger farm in Guaymas (Sonora). Both are using the "Rainbow Lipped Pearl Oyster" to produce Mabe Pearls & Loose Cultured Pearls. Production is still very low: 3-4 Kg of cultured pearls and maybe some 10,000 mabe per year. Mexican Pearl Production is independant of Japanese grafters and the pearls are a 100% natural in beauty...they don't even have the technology to perform "pearl enhancing" (bleaching, dyieng, polishing, etc.) but I guess they wouldn't want to "spoil" these pearls.

A distinguising attribute of the Mexican Pearls (Gulf of California) would be their ability to glow (sometimes brightly) red under UV light. I would try this trick on anyone trying to convince me he has a Sea of Cortez Pearl...specially if you can tell that the pearls ARE NOT from this region. These pearls have a uniquely intense orient...never seen anything like these. Some examples can be found in this same forum (under South Seas) or visit this website: perlas.com.mx

I am involved in a project to start an experimental pearl farm in the Mexican Caribbean. This region was famous for its really nice -but small- white pearls from the "Akoya" Oyster (same one as form Isla Margarita off Venezuela). I can only say it is going to be quite tough to find these oysters...but we will try.

[JoMarie]

I have just discovered these beautiful and unusual pearls! I am a pearl collector and have a passion for this gem. I am considering a major purchase of a strand of these beauties and have now found out that the person I was to purchase from has a strand showing on your web-site! I now am sure that she is honest and sincere. I am so glad I found this site so I can learn as much as I can. thank-you for all of the work and research that you do!

[JoMarie]

I have quite a few natural black pearls from Mexico. Most all came from the oyster Pteria Sterna. This oyster produces pearls in all colors Blacks, off whites, Greys all with different over tones. It all depends on where with in the shell the pearl was formed.

Hi, Jnorris I am trying to learn more about the Sea of Cortez pearls. Any info you could give me on where to purchase them and prices, I would be grateful. Thank-you for your expertise. JoMarie

[dmclaren]

Hi JoMarie,

There are two locations in Mexico where you can get bonafide Sea of Cortez Pearls: Guaymas (Sonora, home to the premiere pearl farm) and Cozumel (in the beautiful Caribbean). In the US you might try Drusy Designs by Care Ehret & Cortez Pearls by TriGem Designs.

You can also check the company's web-page: perlas.com.mx

Have fun pearling around!

Diego

[la_corsetiere]

Hi JoMarie,

There are two locations in Mexico where you can get bonafide Sea of Cortez Pearls: Guaymas (Sonora, home to the premiere pearl farm) and Cozumel (in the beautiful Caribbean). In the US you might try Drusy Designs by Care Ehret & Cortez Pearls by TriGem Designs.

You can also check the company's web-page: perlas.com.mx

Have fun pearling around!

Diego

I know the pearl farm was destroyed by Wilma; have there been any efforts at pearl farming around Cozumel since then? Any venues to buy Sea of Cortez pearls in Cozumel currently? Will be on a dive trip there in October, and would love to have a good excuse to do some SHOPPING...

Sheri

[Eugene]

The pear industry in Mexico is developing and The Cultured Pearl Association of America has opened an office there. They do have natural gray pearl which I heard they are calling their forerunner pearl for the new pearl culturing industry south of the border.

There is a farm there I think the name of it is Perlas del Mar de Cortez. I think my spelling is correct. It is the first modern commercial cultured saltwater pearl farm in North America.

Eugene

[MistofCassiopeia]

Hey all,

I am a noobie at Pearl-Guide and want to thank you for all the interesting posts. I am a pearl aficionado and am always interested in the latest info coming out.

Cheers!

[pearlescence]

Very fine pearls are produced in the Perlas del Mar de Cortez farm. I've got some.

[Sueki]

Me, too, Wendy, and I agree that they are very fine indeed.

[pattye]

Welcome Mistofcassiopeia,

You have come to the right place!