What are Baroque Cultured Pearls
Baroque cultured pearls are pearls that have a unique shape; they are irregular and nonsymmetrical – not round. Most freshwater cultured pearls are baroque, but some saltwater varieties can also take on unique shapes depending on the amount of friction and movement during their creation. They can be natural pearls or cultured pearls. And while they might not be what most people envision when they think of pearls, a baroque cultured pearl is a real pearl.
While they are occasionally called misshapen pearls, their shape can be stunning and a perfect bold choice in jewelry.
Baroque Cultured Pearl Characteristics
Baroque cultured pearls come in many shapes. Below are the most common categories:
Coin: These pearls are round and flat, like a coin. Because of their large flat surface area, they have an amazing luster and are commonly used in jewelry.
Baroque: This is both the general name for non-round pearls and also a subtype. Elongated spherical pearls are known as baroque, and they usually have a dented and uneven surface.
Twin: When two pearls fuse together, they are known as twin pearls.
Potato: These are small and lumpy, like a potato.
Cross: These pearls are rare, but they are highly sought after for religious jewelry. The pearl naturally forms in the shape of a cross.
Stick: These are also known as BIWA pearls, and they are long, flat, and narrow, like a stick.
Rice: These small pearls resemble grains of rice. They are rounded, but not perfectly round.
Egg: With wide bottoms and narrow tops, these pearls resemble eggs.
Heart: These are similar to coin pearls, but with the shape of a heart, making them great for romantic jewelry.
Teardrop: These delicate pearls resemble teardrops and are often used in earrings.
Leaf: These pearls are paper-thin with an uneven surface. They are the most delicate baroque pearls.
Keshi: These are the rarest baroque pearls and happen when the mollusk rejects the seed but continues to develop the pearl, so they do not have a center particle. They are elongated and extraordinarily lustrous.
Baroque cultured pearls value
Customers often wonder are baroque cultured pearls worth anything, asking how much are baroque cultured pearls worth? The answer is that baroque cultured pearls are more affordable than traditional round cultured pearls.
Baroque cultured pearls with a great deal of luster, a beautiful color, or a very unusual shape can be worth more than others. As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and many baroque cultured pearls have a great deal of value to their owners.
Baroque cultured pearl care
Because baroque cultured pearls are real pearls, treat them as you would any pearls. Wear them (they can dry out if left in a jewelry box for a long period of time). Make sure they’re the last thing the wearer puts on and the first thing they take off. Wipe off pearls after wearing with a soft cloth, and if the pearls get soiled, mildly soapy water can be used to gently clean them.
Professional cleaning is recommended. Never place pearls in jewelry cleaners or ultrasonic machines.
Baroque Cultured Pearl Jewelry
Baroque cultured pearls can be set into beautiful jewelry, often making gorgeous brooches and pendants. Baroque cultured pearl earrings are a bold choice that will draw attention to the wearer’s style. And a baroque cultured pearl necklace is bound to be a statement piece. While many people think of traditional round cultured pearls for June birthdays, brides, and other classic occasions, baroque cultured pearls can be a welcome twist on the classic.
