In Search of the Perfect Baroque

I love pearls, especially when they are strung with a modern twist. Varying in color, shape, age, nacre thickness and brilliance, in most cases it is a matter of “you get what you pay for” and unless you know and trust your supplier, you should never, ever, purchase a pearl without handling it for weight, brilliance, nacre thickness and shape. In my last post about pearls, I shed some light on the enigma surrounding Tahitian pearls.

The dramatic allure of a great baroque is simply captivating. The irregular shape makes it less likely to come to mind when one thinks “pearl”. Yet that is precisely what makes a baroque so alluring. Most of my necklaces feature a beautiful, high quality, thick nacre baroque as a centerpiece. Finding a high quality, unusual standalone baroque is kind of like finding a great guy -you know that saying about a lot of toads- and when I finally locate one, I really do get giddy.

I recently found a few huge (3/4 - 1 inch) dramatic baroques to die for. They are heavy, creamy white with very thick nacre and feel as smooth as silk. While every pearl in the Designs by Alina collection is high quality and purchased on site, these are truly breathtaking. I have incorporated one into my latest Designs by Alina creation All Wired Up - Sapphire which is truly remarkable. 

Stay tuned for the last in my pearl series The Perfect Round.