Pearls of the Sea of ​​Cortez - unique marine treasures

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To get acquainted with the rarest cultured pearls, we will have to go with you, dear readers, to the shores of sunny California and once again remember the Spanish conquistador invaders.

The Black Pearls of the New World were discovered by the conqueror Hernan Cortes in 1533 in that part of the sea that is now called the Gulf of California. The sea is named after the cruel and cunning conqueror who destroyed thousands of civilians of the ancient Inca civilization.

Many films and stories are devoted to this sea, but it is not known under the name of the Sea of ​​Cortez: outside of Mexico it is simply called the Gulf of California.

Many films and stories are devoted to this sea, but it is not known under the name of the Sea of ​​Cortez: outside of Mexico it is simply called the Gulf of California.

There is also a giant manta in the Sea of ​​Cortez, but, unfortunately, this animal is being exterminated.

The special and exotic beauty of the Cortes pearl has made it an invaluable treasure. Black iridescent pearls that have become the most important export product. In New Spain, these pearls surpassed even gold and silver in value.

Rare bird - pearl of the Sea of ​​Cortez

These black pearls come from two types of oysters: the Panamanian oyster (Pinctada Mazatlantica) and the Pteria Sterna oyster (Pacific winged oyster).

The shell of Pteria sterna, iridescent and beautiful!

The latter, in particular, can create extremely unique pearls with distinct iridescence and hues unlike any other pearl ever found.

Rare bird - pearl of the Sea of ​​Cortez

Natural pearls were collected over the next 300 years (from the middle of the 17th century). But, the construction of the Hoover Dam upset the balance of the underwater world in the Gulf of California, which affected the number of oysters. This reduced the production of natural pearls.

pearls of the Sea of ​​Cortez
To protect oysters, in 1939 the government banned their extraction.

The Monterrey Institute of Technology in Guaymas began studying pearl cultivation in 1993, and in 1996 the first experimental round pearl was produced.

Only 4000 pearls are grown in these waters each year, making them the rarest of cultured pearls.

Rare bird - pearl of the Sea of ​​Cortez

Only 30 percent of products are round. The rest of the pearls are called Mabe - also known as half pearls or bubble pearls.

We advise you to read:  A pearl like a work of art - what is Maki-E?

Rare bird - pearl of the Sea of ​​Cortez

Jewelry made of semi-circular Cortez pearls look impressive:

Rare bird - pearl of the Sea of ​​Cortez

But, of course, the classic form of pearls is the most desirable!

Pearls of the Sea of ​​Cortez are completely raw; they are not polished, bleached, irradiated, coated or artificially colored.

Rare bird - pearl of the Sea of ​​Cortez