  We introduce a new sequence of CR invariant determinants on a three
dimensional CR manifold $M$ embedded in $\mathbb C^2$. The lowest order
invariant $\det A_3$ represents E. Cartan's 6th order invariant (the umbilical
"tensor"), whose zero locus yields the set of umbilical points on $M$. As an
application of this new presentation of the umbilical invariant, we show that
generic, almost circular perturbations of the unit sphere always contain curves
or surfaces of umbilical points.
