A type of saltwater cultured pearl, grown primarily in cooler water off the coasts of Japan.

Japanese name for abalone pearls.

Any irregularly-shaped pearl. Baroque pearls are valued for their one-of-a-kind, unusual shapes.

Cultured freshwater pearls grown in a mussel that lives in Lake Biwa, Japan.

Refers to any surface defect on a pearl. Blemishes include cracks, chips, dull spots, wrinkles, spots, holes & pitted.

A pearl that has grown onto the inside surface of a mollusk's shell, so that it is dome-shaped on one side and flattened on the other.

Pearl shape where one side of the pearl is flattened.

Concentric rings on the surface of a pearl. If circles cover over 1/3 of the pearl's surface, it may be referred to as a Circle pearl.

The Term used to describe the base color of a pearl.

Pearl produced by a conch. A conch is a tropical saltwater mollusk. Conch pearls occur in pink and orange color.

A pearl shaped like a kernel of corn, usually from China.

Pearl that is intentionally grown by introducing an irritant or substrate inside the shell of a mollusk.

Another term for cultured pearl. Any pearl that is intentionally grown by introducing an irritant or substrate inside the shell of a mollusk. 

Any pearl produced by a mollusk living in fresh water.

Cultured pearl that is grown inside a mollusk that lives in fresh water, such as a pond, Lake or river.

Sometimes called a seed pearl or a keshi pearl. This is a small pearl that grows in addition to the intended cultured pearl. It is a non-nucleated pearl.

A pearl that grows against the inside wall of a mollusk's shell, resulting in a domed shape with a flattened back.   Mabe pearls are sometimes called blister pearls.

The process of grouping pearls according to color size, shape, luster and surface.

Standard unit of measurement of pearls in Japan. One momme equals 3.75 grams or 18.75 carats.

Any pearl grown without human interference. Sometimes called "Oriental" pearls.

Usually, a small rounded piece of shell from an American freshwater mussel. For freshwater pearl cultivation, the nucleus usually is a shaped piece of mantle from another freshwater mussel.

A term sometimes used to refer to a natural pearl.

A type of black pearl, usually with dark green tones.

Refers to a pearl with an oblong shape, such that it resembles a potato. Most potato pearls are freshwater cultured pearl from China.

A freshwater cultured pearl with a crinkled surface and elongated shape, such that it resembles a grain of rice. Most rice pearls originate from China or United States.

Any pearl, natural or cultivated, that is grown in a mollusk that lives in salt (ocean) water.

A pearl's shape has a great impact on its value. Perfectly round pearls are rare, and therefore highly valuable.  Other shapes of pearls include off-round, drop, oval, button, circle, baroque. Freshwater cultured pearl shapes also include stick, angle-wing, cross and coin shapes.

Pearl size is expressed in millimeters and it is a measure of diameter.

Pearls grown in the white-lipped oyster, in the South Pacific. South Sea pearls occur in shades of white, silver and gold.

Pearls grown in the black-lipped oyster, in the South Pacific. Tahitian pearl colors include deep grey (black), purple, green, gold, and silver.