Hmmm...I'm sure the experts will jump in. I assume you're talking akoyas? I would think baroque akoyas would have some areas of thicker nacre. But, the freshwaters can now be round and have orient. Since they are all nacre, if you're willing to go FW, then you wouldn't have to sacrifice at all. And they're way cheaper. Somewhere on here is a side by side pic of the freshadamas against a high quality akoya. They are very similar. I wear my strand with miki earrings and they look like a matched set.

I do think baroque shapes show more orient. I'm not sure why that is.