Baroque pearl
Encyclopedia
Baroque pearls are simply pearl
s that have an irregular shape. Cultured freshwater pearls are most commonly baroque
, because freshwater pearls are mantle-tissue nucleated instead of bead nucleated. Thus these pearls are rarely perfectly spherical and can appear oval
or ovoid.
Akoya pearls (commonly known as cultured saltwater pearls
) can also be baroque, but the baroque shape of an akoya pearl differs from that of a freshwater pearl. This is because akoya pearls are bead-nucleated; they have a perfectly spherical bead within. So in the event that a harvested akoya pearl turns out to be baroque, it has a small tail that comes to a sharp point behind a rounded front, in other words, it is teardrop-shaped.
The most valuable of baroque pearls are the South Sea and Tahiti
an pearls. These pearls are produced by the Pinctada margaritifera, and the Pinctada maxima (black-lipped oyster
s, gold-lipped and white-lipped oysters). Although these are a variety of cultured saltwater pearls, the amount of time that the pearls are cultured dramatically increases the depth of the nacre
, and the likelihood of producing a baroque pearl. Most Tahitian pearl farm harvests, for example, produce more than 40 percent baroque and semi-baroque pearls. Western Australia is currently the worlds largest cultivator of Pinctada maxima gold lipped oysters. Tahiti is the number one cultivator of Pinctada maxima black lipped oysters.
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
s that have an irregular shape. Cultured freshwater pearls are most commonly baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
, because freshwater pearls are mantle-tissue nucleated instead of bead nucleated. Thus these pearls are rarely perfectly spherical and can appear oval
Oval (geometry)
In technical drawing, an oval is a figure constructed from two pairs of arcs, with two different radii . The arcs are joined at a point, in which lines tangential to both joining arcs lie on the same line, thus making the joint smooth...
or ovoid.
Akoya pearls (commonly known as cultured saltwater pearls
Cultured pearl
A cultured pearl is a pearl created by a pearl farmer under controlled conditions.-Development of a pearl:A pearl is formed when the mantle tissue is injured by a parasite, an attack of a fish or another event that damages the external fragile rim of the shell of a molluc shell bivalve or gastropod...
) can also be baroque, but the baroque shape of an akoya pearl differs from that of a freshwater pearl. This is because akoya pearls are bead-nucleated; they have a perfectly spherical bead within. So in the event that a harvested akoya pearl turns out to be baroque, it has a small tail that comes to a sharp point behind a rounded front, in other words, it is teardrop-shaped.
The most valuable of baroque pearls are the South Sea and Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
an pearls. These pearls are produced by the Pinctada margaritifera, and the Pinctada maxima (black-lipped oyster
Pearl oyster
Pearl oysters are saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs of the genus Pinctada in the family Pteriidae. They have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl"....
s, gold-lipped and white-lipped oysters). Although these are a variety of cultured saltwater pearls, the amount of time that the pearls are cultured dramatically increases the depth of the nacre
Nacre
Nacre , also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent....
, and the likelihood of producing a baroque pearl. Most Tahitian pearl farm harvests, for example, produce more than 40 percent baroque and semi-baroque pearls. Western Australia is currently the worlds largest cultivator of Pinctada maxima gold lipped oysters. Tahiti is the number one cultivator of Pinctada maxima black lipped oysters.