What is a Biwa Pearl?

*Technically* a "Biwa" pearl is one that has been grown in one of the pearl farms in Lake Biwa, Japan. They used to grow the most beautiful baroque pearls there, but the lake suffered from pollution and overcrowded pearl farm operations and the quality went way down. I've heard recently that the remaining farms are now producing quality pearls once again.

That said, "Biwa" has come to be associated with any baroque pearl that has a 'waist line' OR free form, bumpy surfaced freshwater pearls. Most of these come from the factory pearl farms in China. If you are lucky to find real Biwa pearls, be prepared to pay a much higher price for them. The one featured in WAJ is most likely not a true Biwa pearl, just a large stick pearl. Neat ring though!! And I really like the wrap done to hold the pearl.

HTH!!

Mj

Thanks Mj! I'd never heard of a Baroque pearl either. Well, if the Biwa pearls are pricey, I'll look for something else! I thought the ring was pretty neat looking. (A few years ago, I'd had NEVER worn something like that. Lol. Boy, do we change!) Guess I'll see if I can come up with something else.

I'll be happy to look for a nice pearl for you when I go to Tucson next month. My pearl dealer usually has really nice undrilled, flat stick pearls available at trade shows. Let me know what color you'd like and your price range is and I'll see what I can find.

FYI - Baroque pearls are those that don't fall into any of the other classifications: round, rice, button or potato. Most have indented lines around their middles that I call 'waist' lines.

Mj

20 x 12 mm also sounds like a blister pearl would work.

Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows