Pearl Shapes
and colours
Pearl Shapes and Colours
Choosing a colour is largely a matter of skin tone and personal preference. Classic white, ivory and cream are usually a safe bet.
Pearl Guide
a brief history of pearls
how pearls are formed
pearl qualities and grades
pearl shapes and colours
pearl sizes and comparisons
choosing and caring for pearls
buying pearls - tricks and traps
a brief history of pearls how pearls are formed pearl qualities and grades pearl shapes and colours pearl sizes and comparisons choosing and caring for pearls buying pearls - tricks and traps
Round Pearls are rarely perfect spheres unless they are of gem quality
or imitation. The longer the pearl remains within the oyster or mussel the more chance there is of it developing an irregular shape. 
Contrary to the images portrayed in films very large round pearls are uncommon - and expensive. Even pearls nucleated with a shell bead have a hard time keeping their shape as they grow.
The term off-round is used to describe pearls which are 'roundish' to the eye but have a slightly oval or flattened shape. They can still have excellent qualities in terms of lustre or lack of blemish.Oval Pearls
Are sometimes known as rice pearls.
It comes from the very early days of Chinese freshwater pearl production when large numbers of low quality pearls entered the market and were derided as 'rice-crispies' after the cereal.
Oval pearls can form when two pearls in the same mollusc join together.
Are sometimes known as rice pearls.
It comes from the very early days of Chinese freshwater pearl production when large numbers of low quality pearls entered the market and were derided as 'rice-crispies' after the cereal.Oval pearls can form when two pearls in the same mollusc join together.
Baroque Pearls
Most natural wild pearls were off-round or baroque (a general term for irregular shape).
Bead nucleated pearls (pearls seeded with a round shell bead) may develop a tail on one side.
The most valuable baroque pearls are South Sea and Tahitian. Due to the length of time under cultivation a high percentage of the pearl harvest is baroque.
Most natural wild pearls were off-round or baroque (a general term for irregular shape).Bead nucleated pearls (pearls seeded with a round shell bead) may develop a tail on one side.
The most valuable baroque pearls are South Sea and Tahitian. Due to the length of time under cultivation a high percentage of the pearl harvest is baroque.
Button Pearls
Many people think of an oyster or mussel producing one pearl. In fact a mollusc may create over a dozen pearls depending on how it is seeded. Some of these are button pearls, so-called because of their shape - round on one side and flat on the other.
Though unrelated to button pearls, America once had a thriving industry producing mother-of-pearl buttons for coats and jackets.
Plastic killed the industry but American mussel shells are still exported to Japan for nucleating seawater pearls.
Many people think of an oyster or mussel producing one pearl. In fact a mollusc may create over a dozen pearls depending on how it is seeded. Some of these are button pearls, so-called because of their shape - round on one side and flat on the other.
Though unrelated to button pearls, America once had a thriving industry producing mother-of-pearl buttons for coats and jackets.
Plastic killed the industry but American mussel shells are still exported to Japan for nucleating seawater pearls.
Keishi Pearls are accidents which happen when the mollusc rejects the nucleus and grows a 'free form' pearl.Pearl Colours
Pearls come in a variety of colours. Natural colours are mainly down to to the breed of mollusc. Other influences include diet, water temperature and pollutants.
No-one can predict or control what colour pearls will be produced in any hatchery.
Black pearls are rarely jet black but blue, green, grey, aubergine, peacock and more. Green is the predominant colour.
Naturally coloured black pearls come from the pearl farms of French Polynesia (Tahitian pearls) as well as Indonesia and the Phillipines.
Except for freaks, there are no natural black freshwater or Akoya pearls though these may be dyed or irradiated to simulate black pearls. The majority of 'black' pearls are treated in some way - it doesn't harm the pearl.
Pearls come in a variety of colours. Natural colours are mainly down to to the breed of mollusc. Other influences include diet, water temperature and pollutants.
No-one can predict or control what colour pearls will be produced in any hatchery.
Black pearls are rarely jet black but blue, green, grey, aubergine, peacock and more. Green is the predominant colour.
Naturally coloured black pearls come from the pearl farms of French Polynesia (Tahitian pearls) as well as Indonesia and the Phillipines.
Except for freaks, there are no natural black freshwater or Akoya pearls though these may be dyed or irradiated to simulate black pearls. The majority of 'black' pearls are treated in some way - it doesn't harm the pearl.
Biwa Pearls
The term 'Biwa' derives from Lake Biwa - a large freshwater lake near Kyoto in Japan. This was once the focus of the Japanese freshwater pearl industry. In the 1980's pearl production ceased due to industrial pollution.
Stick pearls like those shown left are sometimes called Biwa pearls.
Biwa became a generic name for all freshwater pearls regardless of their shape. Technically it is incorrect to call pearls Biwa unless they actually come from Lake Biwa.
The term 'Biwa' derives from Lake Biwa - a large freshwater lake near Kyoto in Japan. This was once the focus of the Japanese freshwater pearl industry. In the 1980's pearl production ceased due to industrial pollution.
Stick pearls like those shown left are sometimes called Biwa pearls.
Biwa became a generic name for all freshwater pearls regardless of their shape. Technically it is incorrect to call pearls Biwa unless they actually come from Lake Biwa.
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The Pearl Market™ is a Trademark of The Pearl Market Limited © 2002-2012
Business Awards Winner Governed by UK law British Jewellers' Association Federation Member