Freshwater baroque pearls

Freshwater pearls are found or cultured in mussels or oysters found in lakes, rivers or ponds. They have many different colors compared to saltwater pearls. These pearls are usually produced in China. Freshwater pearls are more affordable than that of saltwater pearls. Since freshwater pearls have different colors and shapes they have different grading system. Freshwater pearls are most common baroque since these pearls are mantle tissue nucleated instead of bead nucleus.

Baroque pearls are pearls with no definite shape. They are simply oddballs. They have endless irregular shape. Due this irregular shape they are least valuable of all pearl shapes. Though they are irregular in shape they have high luster.

A baroque pearl differs from freshwater pearls to a large extent. South Sea and Tahitian pearls are most expensive pearls. These pearls are produced by Pinctada margaritifera which is a Black lipped oyster and Pinctada maxima which is a white lipped oyster.

While cultivating freshwater pearls shell bead is not inserted, instead a shell bead mantle piece is inserted. Interestingly after the first harvest, mussel can spontaneously grow pearls a second time. So their nacre is very thick. A pearl with evenly high luster is considered to be high quality. Blemishes like pits, discoloration, cavities and wrinkles decrease value of freshwater pearls.

A freshwater baroque pearl comes in wide array of colors like white, pink, orange, lavender, grey and pink. While choosing colors keep in mind that colors does not affect price compared to salt water pearls. Pearls with pink and silver overtones are most expensive. Iridescence also affects the price. Natural colored pearls are more expensive than dyed pearls.

Baroque pearls are sometimes referred as nuggets pearls. They are very unique due to their unusual shape. Baroque pearls are non symmetrical. They are sometimes produced when expanding pearl sac grows irregularly.

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