Pearls are separated into four categories in the shape-sorting process: Round/Semi-Round, Drop, Baroque, and Circle Baroque

Round/near-round pearls are considered more valuable because they are rare. The symmetrical shapes are also more desirable than the baroque forms. Nevertheless, baroque can be unique, increasing its desirability more than expected based on the shape alone. A perfect-round pearl is the rarest.

Pearls that are famous for their perfectly Round shapes are Japanese Akoya pearls (including Certified Hanadama Akoya pearls) and are called “Eight Way Rollers.”

Drop-shaped pearls get their name from their uncanny resemblance to teardrops. The second-rarest pearl shape. Accounts for approximately 20% of each pearl harvest.

Drop-shaped pearls are smooth and symmetrically shaped, ranging from romantic tear-drop shapes to ovals. These pearls add an artistic flair and whimsy to any jewelry design, especially baroque pearl earrings and pearl pendants.

Baroque pearls are one of the most prevalent pearl shapes. These pearls are irregular in shape; they can be oval, pear-shaped, drop-shaped, or any other asymmetrical shape, with no two being the same.

Baroque pearls are less expensive than round pearls and are often used in creative jewelry designs. While giant baroque freshwater pearls are highly valued as they are scarce and feature enormous pearls ranging from 20mm to over 30mm!

Circle baroque pearls are a subset of baroque-shaped pearls. They are characterized by their trademark concentric rings running around the circumference of the pearl. It was dubbed “Circles of Love” in the 1970s to market circled pearls.

Usually, very high rates of luster, orient, and overtone saturation can be seen on the surfaces of circled pearls. This is due to the thick layers of crystalline nacre compaction around the bead nucleus on each pearl.