What You Need to know about Baroque Pearls

Posted by Francesco Fellini on

Baroque Pearls

These pearls are elongated spheres that are asymmetrical and don't have a smooth surface. They are the "renegades" under the pearls due to there irregularly shape which is called in the pearl terminolgy  " misshapen".  They are often the least expensive category of pearls, but are unique, assertive  and quite beautiful. This type of pearl was commonly used as the drop in antique Art Nouveau and Victorian lavaliers since they resemble an abstract tear drop. But also in fashionable jewellry in vintage or retro style, Different type of baroque pearls are: 

Coin Pearls

Coin pearls get their name from their shape. They are rounded and flat pearls with a partially smooth surface.   They have a high luster because their large flat surface allows it to reflect a lot of light.  The only freshwater pearl with a greater luster is the keshi pearl. 

Twin Pearls

Twin pearls are two pearls that have fused together. Sometimes they resemble a barbell and other times they are free formed.  

Cross Pearls

Cross pearls are a type of coin pearl that have formed into a shape of a cross. They are flat like a coin pearl but tend to have more bumps and ridges.  

Potato Pearls

Potato pearls are among the most common freshwater pearl. They are irregularly shaped but are not elongated like some of the other types.  They are on the smaller scale and are more square shaped with random lumps throughout.  

Stick Pearls

Stick pearls are also known as BIWA pearls.  BIWA pearls are named after the mussels that create them in Lake Biwa, Japan.  These pearls are generally flat, elongated, and narrow much like a stick.  They are usually drilled down the vertical narrow center of the pearl, but sometimes you can find them top drilled. 

Egg Pearls

Egg pearls have a wide bottom and narrow top much like an egg.  While most baroque pearls are drilled down the center vertical point of the pearl, egg pearls are drilled along the horizon on the upper section of the narrow part of the pearl. 

Rice Pearls

Small rice pearls are the most like a classic pearl since their shapes are more uniform. They look like grains of rice and lack a lot of the imperfections other baroque pearls have when they are small

Heart Pearls

Heart pearls are a type of coin pearl that are flat and formed in the shape of a heart. They are usually drilled down the center vertical point of the pearl.

Leaf Pearls

Leaf pearls have a similar shape as the baroque pearl but are paper-thin with a very bumpy surface. 

Teardrop Pearls

Teardrop pearls are similar to egg pearls in their shape which is like a tear drop, though they are drilled down the center of the pearl whereas the egg pearl is drilled at the top narrow section.  

Keshi Pearls

Keshi pearls are the rarest of all baroque freshwater pearls.  In the case of a keshi pearl, the mollusk somehow was able to reject the particle or seed but still continues to form a pearl.  Because of this they don't have a center seed or particle and are composed of all nacre.  This lack of a nucleus allows them to become very unusually shaped and have a very high luster.  


La Mia Cara Jewelry - Unique and Assertive

La Mia Cara Jewelry - Unique and Assertive

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