WHAT ARE BAROQUE PEARLS ?

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Baroque pearls are some of the most fascinating organic gems available on the jewelry market. A baroque pearl is any pearl that is asymmetrical in shape as opposed to the classic round shape. Any irregularly shaped pearl is known as baroque, and shapes can range from minor aberrations to distinctly oval, curved, pinched, or lumpy shapes. A pearl which might otherwise be considered an oval, button or drop pearl but which is not symmetrical in nature, would be considered semi-baroque. Though baroque look different from traditional pearls, they have their own unique beauty.

They are the ideal choice for bold women who want to show the world just how special they are. They are the absolute opposite of traditional pearls because each one has its very own shape and size. This makes them extremely easy to use to create gorgeous pieces meant to fit every style. But just how valuable are baroque pearls? Let us tell you a few things about them, just to give you an idea of their significance and value.

WHAT ARE BAROQUE PEARLS?

The shape is one of the key factors taken into consideration when assessing pearls. There are two main types of peals out there, each of them branched out in subtypes. If a pearl is round, it is considered to be a traditional pearl. As for all the other irregular shaped ones, they are considered baroque.

Baroque versions get their shapes naturally when the original debris becomes lodged in the mollusk’s muscle tissue. Baroque pearls can also be manipulated, by inserting an object into the mollusk once the pearl starts to form, interfering with the gem’s shape. Both saltwater and freshwater pearls can be baroque, but most of the culturing takes place in freshwater gems.

Most cultured freshwater pearls are baroque because freshwater pearls are mantle-tissue nucleated instead of bead nucleated. Cultured saltwater pearls can also be baroque, but tend to be more teardrop-shaped due to the use of a spherical nucleation bead.

South Sea baroque pearls (pictured above) are often the largest baroque pearls, and can often reach 20mm. South Sea baroque pearls are therefore the most valuable of all irregular pearls, with Tahitian in close second. The most expensive baroque pearl is often still cheaper than a round pearl, though. Tahitian pearl farm harvests, for example, produce more than 40 percent baroque and semi-baroque pearls.

Though some may scoff at their irregular shape, the uniqueness of each baroque pearl is truly a beautiful sight. A Baroque pearl necklace will attract the eye due to its size and inconsistency as will any piece of Baroque jewelry.

Baroque pearls might be one of the least expensive types of pearls on the market, but they hold historical significance. The pearls received high recognition by Renaissance jewelers, who often used them in to create artistic designs. Not only was baroque jewelry popular among the wealthy, members of royalty from different countries sometimes used the pearls to adorn their crowns.

The most common type are baroque freshwater pearls. Only less than 10% of freshwater pearls are round, which means that the vast majority of these pearls are baroque. But these are not the only types of pearls which are baroque. Saltwater pearls, as well as cultured and natural ones, also come in baroque shapes. Even some Akoya pearls, which are best known for their perfectly round specimens, have baroque shapes.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BAROQUE PEARL SHAPES?

As we have previously mentioned, there are quite a few subtypes of baroque pearls. While all of them are misshapen, there are some features shared by certain specimens. Here are some of the subtypes of baroque pearls so that you can get an idea of just how vast this category really is.

COIN PEARLS

Coin pears are a subtype of baroque pearls. They are round in shape and flat and their surface is very smooth. They are able to reflect light particularly well because they have a much larger flat surface than other types. This provides them with a spectacular luster. They are extremely appreciated in the jewelry making business because they can be used for amazing pieces, such as baroque pearl necklaces or baroque pearl earrings.

BAROQUE PEARLS

While baroque is the common term used to describe pearls that are not round, it is also one of the subtypes. It includes pearls shaped like elongated spheres. They are asymmetrical and their surface is dented and uneven. These pearls were greatly used in Victorian and Art Nouveau pieces.

TWIN PEARLS

This term is used to define two pearls that have fused together. They may have similar shapes or one of them might be larger than the other. They are ideal for baroque pearl stud earrings because they appear to be extremely elegant.

POTATO PEARLS

These are the smallest types of baroque pearls. They are not elongated, like other baroque shaped ones; instead they are small and often square, rounder, or lumpy. They are ideal for baroque pearl bracelets and baroque pearl necklaces.

CROSS PEARLS

This is a very special type of baroque pearl. The specimens from this category come in the shape of a cross, which makes them ideal for jewelry pieces with religious notes. They are true wonders of the natural world.

STICK PEARLS

Also known as BIWA pearls, stick pearls are elongated, flat, and narrow. Their shape resembles sticks of various sizes. Stick pearl pieces are absolutely stunning. They can be easily used for statement pieces because of their particular shape.

RICE PEARLS

These are small baroque pearls that resemble the shape of rice grains. They are rather close to traditional pearls because they are rounded, but remain imperfect. They are commonly drilled centrally and used for baroque necklaces and baroque bracelets.

EGG PEARLS

As the name suggests, the shape of the pearls from this subtype greatly resembles that of an egg. They have a wide bottoms and narrow tops. They are usually drilled vertically to preserve and highlight their unique shape.

HEART PEARLS

Similar to coin pearls, these baroque pearls are flat and have the shape of a heart. They are extremely appreciated in the jewelry making business because they can be used to create romantic baroque pearl pendants.

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TEARDROP PEARLS

This is one of the most appreciated subtype of baroque pearls. They have a wide top and very narrow bottom that makes them resemble teardrops. They are extremely delicate and they are commonly used for luxury earrings.

LEAF PEARLS

These are the thinnest baroque shaped pearls. They are paper thing with a very bumpy and uneven surface. They can be used for a wide range of jewelry pieces, including bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.

KESHI PEARLS

Keshi pearls are the rarest type of baroque pearls. The mollusk rejects part of the seed, but the pearl continues to develop from there. This is why they do not have a center particle. They are mainly composed of nacre and appear to be elongated and have an extraordinary luster. They are the most appreciated baroque pearls on the jewelry market.

Baroque pearls might be one of the least expensive types of pearls on the market, but they hold historical significance. The pearls received high recognition by Renaissance jewelers, who often used them in to create artistic designs. Not only was baroque jewelry popular among the wealthy, members of royalty from different countries sometimes used the pearls to adorn their crowns.

BAROQUE PEARLS VALUE FACTORS

Because of their unusual shapes, baroque pearls cannot be assessed according to the standards imposed for traditional pearls. While some criteria are used to analyze both types of pearls, there is a very different way of interpreting the value of baroque pearls.

• Type

The type of pearl that appears baroque shaped is always the main factor that determines its value. While the vast majority of misshapen pearls are freshwater pearls, their value is far lesser than that of baroque Akoya pearls, for example.

• Shape

While traditional pearls are assessed according to how well-rounded they are, baroque pearls are analyzed according to the particular shape they take. As we have explained above, the most valuable baroque shaped pearls are Keshi pearls, baroque pearls and cross pearls.

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• 
  Size

Whether it is traditional or irregular in shape, the size of a pearl will always be extremely important for determining its value. As for classic pearls, the larger the pearl, the more valuable it is.

• Color

Baroque pearls are used to create a wide range of jewelry pieces. As such, the color of the pearl is very important in assessing its value. Since most irregular pearls come in shades or white, salmon and pink, dark-colored pearls are the most valuable because they are extremely rare.

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• Luster

A pearl’s luster is determined according to how well they can reflect light. Coin pearls and Keshi pearls are the most valuable types of baroque pearls because they have the best luster in the entire category.

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10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Oysters--SmartyleOwl

Do you like jewelry? Whether you prefer necklaces or earrings, you probably like them with diamonds, rubies, sapphires or one of the many other types of precious jewels. If you love necklaces, you may be a big fan of pearls, too.

Do you know where pearls come from? They don’t grow on trees. You can’t plant them. They aren’t mined out of the ground either. So where do pearls come from?

Pearls come from a living sea creature: the oyster. These beautiful round jewels are the result of a biological process within the oysters it protects itself from foreign substances.

Although clams and mussels can also produce pearls, they don’t do so very often. Most pearls are made by oysters, and they can be made in either freshwater or saltwater environments.

As oysters grow, an internal organ called the mantle uses minerals from the oyster‘s food to produce a substance called nacre. Nacre is the material that forms the oyster‘s shell.

Occasionally, a foreign substance, such as a grain of sand, may find its way into the oyster and get stuck between the mantle and the shell. This irritates the mantle, kind of like you might get the irritated skin if you get a splinter of wood in your finger.

To protect itself, an oyster‘s natural reaction will be to cover up the irritant. It does so by causing the mantle to cover the irritant with layers of nacre. This substance, usually used to create the shell, will instead form a pearl.

The most beautiful pearls — the kind used for jewelry — are perfectly round. Not all pearls turn out this way, though. Some pearls form in uneven shapes. These less-than-perfect pearls are known as baroque pearls.

Most people think of pearls as being white. They can come in a variety of colors, though. Other common pearl colors include gray, red, blue, green and even black.

Pearls that form naturally inside of oysters are called natural pearls. Sometimes oysters get a bit of help from pearl harvesters, though. These people open oysters, cut small slits in the mantle and insert small irritants under the mantle. The pearls produced by this method are called cultured pearls.

Cultured and natural pearls are usually considered to be of equal quality. Cultured pearls are often less expensive, though, because they’re not as rare. While any oyster — and clams and mussels — can produce pearls, some species of oysters are more likely to produce pearls, while others may be harvested primarily to serve as food.

Oysters. People either love them or hate them, but rarely do oysters garner a simple “meh.” Yet surprisingly, there is a lot we don’t know about this tasty, slimy and expensive bivalve, save for the idea that you eat them raw, accompanied by champagne and that pregnant ladies aren’t allowed to join in. To help shed some light, here are 10 facts about these mollusks. 

1. NYC used to be the place to eat oysters
When the Dutch first arrived in Manhattan during the 17th century, the island was covered in oyster beds, and oysters were a treat they, as well as the native population of Lenape Indians, thoroughly enjoyed. As more settlers came in and New York grew as a city, so did the consumption of this popular mollusk. By the 19th century, the oyster beds found in New York Harbor were the largest source of these creatures worldwide. In the city itself, you could get raw oysters from street vendors or go to what was called an oyster saloon and find oysters cooked in all sorts of ways including scalloped, fried, dipped in butter, pan roasted and made into a stew. Unfortunately, this obsession with the mollusk caused mass destruction to the oyster beds, and they were all but wiped out. Today, there has been a strong push to revitalize the native oysters, though the days of having the streets of Manhattan glistening with shells are long gone.

2. Oysters have many health benefits
Before you take this statement too far — no, you will not get turned on by eating an oyster. However, this sexy bivalve packs a wallop of zinc, which is great for making you feel good and keeping up your energy. Not only does the zinc boost your sex drive, but it also ups your immune system, helps get rid of acne, eases rashes and makes your bones stronger.

3. There are five species of oysters
Sure you have over a hundred varieties of oysters, but did you know that all of these hail from only five species? And of those you have the Pacific Oysters (or Japanese Oyster), Kumamoto Oysters, European Flat Oysters, Atlantic Oysters and Olympia Oysters. Aside from the water they grow in, what makes these bivalves different from each other are the shells. The European Flat has a large, straight shell with fine ridges, whereas the Pacific Oysters are smaller with wavy casings. Kumamotos are also smaller, and the shell is rounder and pale, which is similar to the Olympias, though this one has a smoother shell with a bit of iridescent coloring. Finally, the Atlantic species looks like a comma or teardrop and tends to be on the larger side.

4. Oysters clean the water
Each oyster filters about 30 to 50 gallons of water a day. A day! Think of how much water a whole bed of those awesome bivalves is cleaning, which makes these not only tasty creatures but good-for-the-environment ones as well.

5. Oysters and absinthe are a match made in heaven
Forget champagne. At the Brooklyn restaurant Maison Premiere, oysters and absinthe are all the rage. “The combination of briny, mineral-rich oysters and the soft fennel and mint of the absinthe struck a chord with the American palate and brings each element to light in a new way,” says Ben Crispin, the restaurant’s maître d’. “While a mug of stout or a glass of champagne is great, it is absinthe and oysters that really make a perfect match.” Here they serve over two dozen types of absinthe and just as many varieties of oysters, so it stands to reason the folks behind the restaurant know what they are talking about.

6. Americans pioneered booze and oyster pairing
“Let the French have their wine and the Irish have their beer, it was spirits and oysters the Americans were focused on,” says Crispin. “The New York oyster tavern of the 19thcentury is where most Americans tried drinking spirits with their oysters for the first time, and when these taverns began spreading south and reached New Orleans, the absinthe capital of America, these two items met for the first time.” Now, aside from absinthe, you find this luscious bivalve paired with a dirty martini, gin gimlet, and even a Hemingway daiquiri, if you are feeling adventurous.

7. Not all types of oysters make pearls
Despite any hopes you have of popping open an oyster and finding a gleaming pearl, the oysters we eat don’t actually make these precious gemstones. While the edible oysters belong to the family Ostreidae, pearl oysters, or Pinctada, are part of the Pteriidae family. Of the seven main types that create the coveted orbs, each adds its own spin to the mix, giving them different colors, sizes, and shapes. Also, unlike the common oysters we know, Pinctada are found deep in the ocean, not near the surface.

8. Oysters taste better in the winter
Ever wonder why there’s the adage about not eating oysters in months that don’t have an r letter (think May, June, July, and August)? The main reason is that it’s harder to keep them cold and fresh in the heat, especially before refrigeration. But the other reason is that in the summer months the bivalves are spawning, which gives them a weak and watery flavor. During the winter months, when the water is nice and cold, these mollusks really thrive. “They just taste a lot better when the water is colder,” says Stephanie Villani, who sells seafood in the NYC farmers’ market through her Long Island-based company Blue Moon Fish. “We don’t even bother to bring oysters in the summer.”

9. Oysters help plants grow
Don’t just chuck those used empty oyster shells in the garbage. The shells are great for helping your garden flourish. The reason for this is calcium, and the oyster shell is chock-full of it. This chemical can improve the soil’s pH balance, adds nutrients to the plants and strengthens their cell walls, all of which leads to healthy produce and brighter flowers. So next time, think twice about throwing the shells away and use them as fertilizer instead.

10. The bad oyster exists

When your buddy calls in sick because of a “bad oyster,” do you ever think he is just trying to get out of that Sunday brunch you planned weeks ago? Turns out the bad oyster is a real thing, and there is nothing you can do to avoid it. Sure, you shouldn’t eat raw shellfish that has been sitting out for a while in a warm room or in the sun, but even if you are cautious of this situation, you can still get sick off of oysters. The reason for this is food poisoning from Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria that grows in estuaries and along the coast, the places you find oysters too. Not that this should dissuade you, as it’s not that common and the majority of people that end up with that fated bite recover just fine.

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Multicolor Akoya pearl &Edison pearl necklace--Smartyleowl

Multicolor Akoya Pearl Necklace

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Types of Opal--SmartyleOwl

Opal, derived from the Latin Opalus, means “the beauty of the gem.” Ancient Roman natural scientist Pliny once said: “On an opal stone, you can see the ruby flame, the amethyst-like stains, the emerald green sea, the colorful, seamless, beautiful.”

In Europe, Opal was known as a Roman Empire and was of great value. According to Pliny, the Nunnery of the Senate has a very beautiful opal. He is very fond of it. At that time, the ruler Anthony asked him to give it, otherwise, he would be exiled. As a result, Nominating chose to go to exile and refused to offer Opal to Anthony.

What prompted people to look for opal stones under such conditions? Why do many people think that opal stone is the most beautiful and attractive of all gems? The answer lies in the fact that its beauty is unique. A good opal stone produces a flame-like appearance. This appearance has only been found in very few substances, but it has not been found in other gemstones, and it has attracted people’s interest and intoxication in ancient times. This phenomenon of flame-like appearance caused by diffraction of light is called color change. This is the identification feature of opal stone and its main attraction as a gemstone. opal has become the most prized stone for fall in the United States.

Opal classification

1. Natural Opal

Natural opal is a whole natural gemstone that has been mined directly and has not been artificially treated. What we call the original opal is the natural opal that can be appreciated after being cut, polished and polished on the basis of natural opal. The original Opal is divided into the following categories:

2. Black Opal

In the shade of the dark body, the color is bright, we call it black opal. Black Opal is the most famous and expensive opal variety produced in Leiden Ninrich, New South Wales, Australia. Black opal does not mean that it is completely black, but its body color is darker than that of the opal with a lighter body tone.

3. White Opal

Some people call it “milk opal.” White Opal presents a light-colored embryonic hue, mainly produced in Coober Pedy, South Australia. White opal has a relatively large color tone and a relatively large yield. White opal can’t be as bright and contrasting as black opal. However, the high-quality white opal with very beautiful colors is also found.

4. Boulder Opal

Boulder Opal is made up of inseparable iron ore by a color that can be rendered in color, mainly in Queensland, Australia. This opal can only be cut together with iron ore. The thin color opal is wrapped on the surface of the iron ore. The color of the opal looks very beautiful due to the contrast of dark iron ore. Sparkling opals come in different shapes and sizes, small as peas, and large ones that can have a family car. Sometimes a whole piece of Boulder Opal has a natural split at the joint to divide it into two halves, and there are two opal surfaces that seem polished. The thin surface layer of the opal is often destroyed during the ore cutting process.

5. Crystal Opal

Crystal Opal can be any of the above, except that its embryoid tones are transparent or translucent. You can even see other items behind you through Crystal Opal. Crystal Opal can have dark and light colored body tones, so we call them “Crystal Black Opal” or “Crystal White Opal” depending on the shade of the body.

6. The Matrix Opal

Matrix Opal is a type of boulder opal where the opal appears to be inlayed within its host rock. Matrix boulder opal consists of opaline silica within the crevices and pores of ironstone from Queensland, so that the ironstone can be seen from the face.

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