Round
A true sphere. The rarest and most expensive pearl shape, and the benchmark every other shape is priced against.
Roundness is judged by rolling the pearl on a flat surface. A true round rolls straight; anything off-round wobbles.
In freshwater pearls, which grow without a round bead inside them, genuine roundness is uncommon and priced accordingly. In saltwater pearls it is the norm, because the implanted bead is round to begin with.
A round strand also has to be matched. Twenty individually round pearls that vary in size or colour still make a poor necklace.
When you are buying
Round is worth paying for in a classic single-strand necklace, where the eye follows an unbroken line and any wobble shows. In earrings and pendants, where pearls sit apart, semi-round costs meaningfully less and looks nearly identical.
Round pearl jewellery
246 pieces in the collection right now, from ₹1,400.
The Stardust Ring
The Daybreak Ring
The Moon and Star Ring
The Solitaire Pearl Finger Ring
Dainty 18Inch Black Beads Necklace With White Pearl & SP Emerald Beads
Simple 18Inch Black Beads Necklace With White Pearl & SP Ruby Beads
Delicate 17Inch Black Beads Necklace With 9mm Round White Pearl
The Mermaid Tail Ring
Semi-Round
Very slightly out of true: round to the eye, measurably not. The best value in the whole shape range.
Roundish
Recognisably round in outline but visibly imperfect on close inspection.
Off-Round
A catch-all for pearls that aim at round and miss. Covers semi-round through roundish.
Matching
How consistently the pearls within one piece agree on size, colour, lustre and shape. A grading factor in its own right.