Shape plays a major role in determining the price of pearls.
It is extremely rare to find a perfectly round pearl in nature. It has always been considered that the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is. In fact, famous and valuable pearls are often not round. An example of this is the famous natural pearl, La Peregrina, which is owned by Elizabeth Taylor.
In fact, natural saltwater and freshwater pearls are usually baroque or semi-baroque. If you want a beautiful pearl and your budget is limited, baroques are often regarded as a good alternative to the more expensive symmetrical shapes.
Factors that Contribute to the Shape of a Pearl:
1. The type of irritant causing the pearl -- When a shell bead is used as the irritant, round pearls are more likely to be cultivated. Most freshwater pearl mussels are implanted only with mantle tissue.
2. The shape of the irritant -- The shape of the irritant determines the shape of the pearl. Freshwater pearls can come in many different shapes because the mantle tissue can be cut in different shapes. This makes many creative jewelry designs possible.
3. The length of the cultivation time -- A pearl will have an irregular shape the longer it is in the mollusk.
4. The position of the irritant in the mollusk -- A pearl will grow more symmetrical and smoother if it is in a position where it is turned when the mollusk moves around.
5. The quality of the irritant -- The pearl is more likely to have a baroque shape if the irritant (shell bead) has flaws on its surface.
6. The type of mollusk used to culture the pearl --The kurasu mussel is more likely to produce a pearl with a surface that is less round and smooth than the sankaku mussel.
Choosing a Pearl Shape is a Matter of Taste
Three main categories of pearl shape:
Spherical - Round, Off-round, or Near-Round
Symmetrical - Oval, Button, Drop
Baroque - Semi-baroque
Oval or drop shapes are wonderful shapes for earrings and pendants. People who like the unusual, like the baroque shapes in pearls. These pearls, luckily are considerable less. Good symmetry can also make a shape more valuable. Example is a teardrop pendant with two equal sides. This would be more desirable than a lop-sided pearl pendant, which although interesting, would be considered less valuable than one which is symmetrical.
Akoya Pearls
- Akoya pearl prices are generally based on round pearls and discounted when they deviate from the round. However, natural saltwater akoya pearls are usually baroque or semi-baroque and don't contain a round nucleus bead. They will have more nacre and usually have more time to grow irregular. In this case, the pearls will be expensive even though the shape is not round.
Cultured akoya pearls that have thin nacre are generally round since they usually don't have much time to grow irregular.
Akoya pearls with thin nacre -- Often round
Akoya pearls with thick nacre -- frequently off-round, but round ones are available too.
Baroque Akoya pearl strands are considered low quality.
South Sea Pearls
- Normally the South Sea pearl ranges from off-round to baroque, with baroque being the most common and least expensive. Round South Sea cultured pearls are very rare and thus the more round the pearl the more valuable it is. The larger the pearl, the more it will deviate from the round. The baroque shaped South Sea Pearls are an excellent alternative to the more symmetrical shapes. For example, the Circle pearl is especially interesting and gives a very dramatic look.
Black Pearls
- The rarest black pearl is perfectly round and it is he most valued and the most expensive. Next are black pearls that are pear and drop shape. Following these are black pearls that are flat on one side and rounded on the other called button shape or mabes. They are valued more if their shape is symmetrical.
Baroque shapes and circled pearls with ring-like formations around them are the least expensive but these pearls can make the most interesting and stunning jewelry pieces.
Freshwater Pearls
- Natural freshwater pearls are usually baroque and these are considered desirable. Here again, the rounder a pearl, the more rare and generally more valuable. Baroque freshwater pearls are used to make impressive looking jewelry pieces that sell for moderate prices. Semi-round or off-round freshwater pearls are normally more affordable than saltwater pearls of the same quality and size. Baroque freshwater pearls can also vary in price depending on their shape. Good symmetry can also make a shape more valuable. It seems that the cross shape is the most expensive. Other shapes range from freeform, rice-shaped, cone-shaped, X-shaped and off-round to almost perfectly spherical. Ovalish freshwater pearls are sometimes called roundels and may sell for about half the price the semi-round shapes
