how many types of baroque pearls are there?
Baroque pearls are irregularly shaped pearls that stand out for their uniqueness and natural beauty. Unlike traditional pearls, which are round and symmetrical, baroque pearls have free-form, organic shapes — ranging from teardrops and ovals to abstract, lumpy forms.
Since baroque pearls are asymmetrical, they come in a variety of shapes, and while there’s no strictly standardized list, jewelers and gemologists generally recognize 7–9 common subtypes based on their form and how they grow.
Here's a list of the most well-known subtypes of baroque pearls:
1. Tear-Drop Pearls
- Shaped like a drop of water
- Common in earrings and pendants
2. Tumble Pearls
- Rounded, pebble-like shapes
- Smooth surface, often used in strands or bracelets
3. Button Pearls
- Flattened on one side, domed on the other
- Perfect for stud earrings or rings
4. Coin Pearls
- Flat and round like a coin
- Popular in minimalist and geometric designs
5. Rice Pearls
- Small, elongated oval shapes resembling grains of rice
- Often seen in dainty necklaces and bracelets
6. Stick Pearls (Biwa Pearls)
- Long, thin, stick-like shapes
- Named after Lake Biwa in Japan
- Great for edgy, asymmetrical designs
7. Potato Pearls
- Irregular, rounded, often plump shapes
- Affordable and used in multi-layered strands
8. Flame Pearls
- Twisted, flame-like shapes with high luster
- Rare and often seen in high-fashion or artistic jewelry
9. Baroque Keshi Pearls
- Made entirely of nacre (no nucleus inside)
- Irregular but very lustrous and lightweight
- Often mistaken for natural pearls
Since, the term “baroque” applies to any pearl that is not perfectly round, so these subtypes often overlap or blend into each other, especially in freshwater pearl category. Checkout our pearl jewelry if you wish to know more about how they look.