[dmclaren]

These pearls are available in the USA, purchasing directly from TriGem Designs. This is their website link:

http://www.trigemdesigns.com/gems/cortez-pearls.php

And another link of interest is the article published in Gems & Gemology (written by Lore Kieffert of the Swiss Gemological Institute in Basel...heard she just moved to New York's AGTA I think...):

http://www.gia.edu/gemsandgemology/1...cle_detail.cfm

The company is growing. They've recently inaugurated a new pearl shop in the Mexican Caribbean region.

They also produce beautiful Mabe pearls.

[jshepherd]

Those are really great pictures.

I followed the link to TriGems but saw no way to purchase any samples of these pearls. I only saw links to find retailers.

I remember that article, I think it came out about a year ago. I am going to check my old issues to see if I can find it again.

[Satine De La Courcel]

Good point! I can see that being a mistake... Yes It happens.. I was not trying to be mean or anything.. Just wondered if anyone else noticed the oopsie... although the pearls are to Drool over!

BTW Absolutely GEORGOUS Photos!

Ashby

[carehret]

Hi all,
I just aquired and immediately sold a perfectly Round Strand of Sea of Cortez Pearls. Amazing orient of color.Colors range from a silvery Champagne to a real Black Rainbow. Each year only one Round Strand is available, if the farmers are lucky.The oysters are small and the Pearls do not grow spherically so Rounds are particularly rare. So are sizes over 10mm.They are Truely Breathtaking. Definately for the true Pearl Connoisseur. I will try to post a photo of the Strand here soon.I'm not sure how to link a picture, Help!
I also visited the one tiny Pearl Farm this past September 2005. Run by 3 Scientists.Amazing Story! If you are in Tucson for the 2006 show, come to the Pueblo Inn ( Ehret Drusy Design) to see some amazing Cortez Pearls.Care


QUOTE=Caitlin Williams]I just read that the summer edition of Gems and Gemology, a quarterly publication of the Gemological Institute of America, has an article on pearls from the Gulf of California.

Anyone see it?

Ok, I just found this link
http://www.gia.edu/gemsandgemology/1...cle_detail.cfm. It has a summary and instructions for getting the back issue.

Also here is a link to look at a strand of Mexican pearls by artist Care Ehret
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...953314260&rd=1

Care says in her description that this strand is one of only 8 (eight!) strands sold by the Sea of Cortez pearls people this year! She also has one set of Mexican pearl earrings up for sale today. And that is all the product I have been able to find on the net, so far.

This artist lives in Tucson, where I also live so I ebay-mailed her to ask permission to post the actual photo here with the link. She is a quality ebay pearl seller-unlike many and I hope to meet her and perhaps interview her for a future post on this forum. She has other some incredibly interesting pearls in her ebay store and designs handmade granualated 22k goldwork to enhance them.[/quote]