Natural mass matrices

We introduce the idea of natural mass matrices, an organizing principle useful in the search for GUT scale quark mass matrix patterns that are consistent with known CKM constraints and quark mass eigenvalues. An application of this idea is made in the context of SUSY GUT's and some potentially "successful" GUT scale mass patterns are found. The CKM predictions of these patterns are presented and some relevant strong $\mathrm{CP}$ issues are discussed.