The Encyclopedia · Stones & materials
Baroque pearl
A pearl with an irregular, free-form shape, natural or cultured.
Renaissance jewelers used large baroque pearls as the bodies of mermaids, animals and figures. In the twentieth century designers valued their organic shapes, and cultured baroque pearls became widely available.
What to look for
Look at lustre and surface rather than shape: a good baroque pearl is bright and clean. As with all pearls, a report is needed to establish whether it is natural.
Related terms