Pure Pearls Glossary
Roundish
Recognisably round in outline but visibly imperfect on close inspection.
Roundish sits one step below semi-round. Held up alone it reads as a round pearl; laid beside a true round, the flattening or slight ovality is apparent.
In multi-line necklaces and clustered pieces this is genuinely hard to see, because no single pearl is under isolated scrutiny.
It is the shape that makes large pearls affordable. A 10mm roundish pearl costs a fraction of a 10mm true round.
When you are buying
Choose roundish when you want size. Getting to a big pearl by dropping one shape grade is far better value than getting there by dropping a quality grade.
Roundish pearl pieces
16 pieces in the collection right now, from ₹4,760.
Dainty White & Pink Pearls Necklace With CZ Spacers
Chic 16 Inch Long 4mm White Roundish Pearls Necklace With Grey Agate Pendants
Pearl Necklace set in Brilliant Citrine stone pendant
Simple and Traditional Pearl Set in Stylish Pendant
5.5 Carats - 9 Ratti genuine south sea pearl
6 Carats - 9.6 Ratti genuine south sea pearl for astrology ring
Cute Triple Line 4mm Roundish Pearls Watch With Timex Dial
Ravishing White Roundish Pearl Two-row Necklace Set
Read next
Round
A true sphere. The rarest and most expensive pearl shape, and the benchmark every other shape is priced against.
Semi-Round
Very slightly out of true — round to the eye, measurably not. The best value in the whole shape range.
Pearl Size
The diameter of a pearl in millimetres, measured across its widest point. Price rises steeply, not evenly, with size.
Not sure what you are being sold?
Paste any pearl description — another shop’s listing, a message from a jeweller, an old certificate — and we will break it down term by term.