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Freshwater pearls come in many different shapes and the terms for these different shapes can even vary from country to country. This can be horribly confusing so here is a brief description of the terminology for the freshwater pearls that I use.
Firstly we must consider the way that freshwater pearls are cultured which differs to that of saltwater pearls. (i.e Tahitian, Broome, South Sea etc..,)
Saltwater Pearls are produced by seeding the oyster/mollusc with a shaped ceramic or shell bead (called the nucleus). The mollusc then grows a protective coating around this ‘irritant’ which become a pearl. Hence the large, very symmetrical saltwater pearls that are available.
Freshwater pearls are cultured by seeding the mollusc with a piece of mantle tissue from another mollusc. The good news with this is that freshwater pearls are ‘solid’ pearl but it does mean that symmetrical pearls are not quite so common.
The only freshwater pearls that are seeded with a ceramic or shell bead are the ‘shaped’ pearls…i.e. coin, rectangular, square etc..,
Nugget Pearls: The most numerous shape of pearl produced. An irregular shape rather like a pebble. Personally one of my favourites as I think the irregular shape catches the light in a way that enhances the lustre of the pearl. Wonderful for a ‘casual’ look.
Rice Pearls: ‘Rice’ grain shaped and is generally used for all pearls of this shape. I prefer to use the term for smaller pearls and then the term ‘oval’ for the larger pearls.
Baroque Pearls: Near round or oval pearls with a distinctive circle or ring around the pearl. Often called ‘circled’ pearls.
Near Round Pearls: As it says! Near round and not perfectly symmetrical but they look as good and are far less expensive than round!
Round Pearls: As round as the mollusc can produce!
Button Pearls: Very descriptive! Button or cushion shaped pearl from small to large. Often used for pearl studs as the slightly ‘flattened’ side sits well against the earlobe.
Keshi Pearls: True keshi pearls are pearls that are produced completely naturally by the mollusc with no nucleus tissue at all. They vary in size but in my experience the smaller ones have the most incredible lustre and orient.
Coin, rectangular and ‘shaped’ Pearls: Seeded with a shaped ceramic or shell bead.
Twin Pearls: Pearls that have been seeded as a single pearl but have either joined with another seeded pearl or started going doing their own thing and carried on growing or joined up with another seeded pearl.
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