What does the term “Baroque” mean?
A Baroque Pearl is a pearl that has a non round, asymetrical, uneven, often tapered shape – sometimes a little “tadpole” like. They are formed by uneven nacre deposits during growth. There are degrees of “baroqueness” from light, to semi and heavy. Two examples of baroque pearls. One is very misshapen, while the right hand pearl shows the baroque teardrop shape. What is a Biwa pearl? Biwa Pearls were originally produced by mussels native to Lake Biwa near Kyoto in Japan.The name Biwa covered several different shapes produced there including button and flat barouque shapes. Today Lake Biwa produces no pearls due to pollution but the name still remains and has become a catch-all name for unusual flattish shape pearls produced in China. Part of a strand of natural colour Biwa pearls. What is a “Keshi” Pearl? A Keshi Pearl is the name given to a pearl produced as a by-product of the normal culturing process.It occurs when a piece of the original insertion forms a separate secondary growth.
