RV Life with IRV

One of the most popular excursions in the Guaymas area for Rver’s is a trip to the Perlas del Mar de Cortez pearl farm. It is at ITESM better known as Tec de Monterrey. Tec de Monterrey is an educational institution located inside a beautiful and tranquil bay, known as Bacochibampo Bay, Sea of Cortez. This pearl farm is the first in the region that shows the possibility of continued commercial success and has stirred a lot of excitement.

So how do you make a pearl? Mexican pearls are born out of two native pearl oysters, the “Panamic Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster and the “Rainbow-Lipped Pearl Oyster”. The recipient oyster is around 2 years old and usually larger and older than the donor oyster. The donor oyster is selected for pearl characteristics, such as color and luster. that they are likely to impart to the cultured pearl. Now the delicate work begins. Much like a surgeon performing delicate surgery a pearl technician begins the grafting process. This involves using an assortment of surgical tools. Tissue taken from the donor pearl oyster is cut into small pieces and grafted into several dozen recipient oysters. After receiving their “implants” the oysters are suspended at a depth of 6 to 7 feet from the water surface in pocket like nets or rope chaplets.

After about two years the oysters are harvested. Will all of the implants produce pearls?
No, only about 20% will produce salable cultured pearls. Various estimates put the yearly production of cultured pearls from this factory at around 10,000. No wonder Mexican pearls are the rarest in the world.

Let’s talk about the various types of pearls that the farm produces:

Mabe or Half Pearl. This kind of pearl is formed when one (or more) nucleus is attached between the oysters shell and its mantle. The oyster reacts to this “intruder” by coating it with nacre, the substance that makes up the pearl. The shell is cut from the pearl and replaced with a backing made of mother of pearl. Mabe comes in a wide verity of unique shapes resulting in some unique jewelry creations.

Loose Pearls. These are the pearls most people instantly identify with the word pearl. However they are not perfectly round but are in many other shapes. The reason for this is that without the use of a round shell nucleus bead, it is virtually impossible to obtain a fully round pearl.

Keshi Pearls. “Keshi” in Japanese means “poppy seed”. They come in different size, shape and coloration. They are highly sought after by designers seeking a new and refreshing look in their jewelry designs.

While the tour is free a stop in the gift shop could result in a thinner wallet.