PURPOSE: To provide a method for sorting shapes of pearl-like articles capable of automatically sorting pearls which are truly spherical, mearly spherical and not spherical from groups of the fresh water pearls.

CONSTITUTION: A rotary disk 22 consisting of glass is rotated clockwise around a shaft 23. The groups of the fresh pearls to be sorted are placed on the left side of a partition plate 24. Rounds 1 maintain their positions or roll downward. Semi-rounds and drops are placed on the disk 22 and are transported until these semi-rounds and drops are brought to the right side of the partition plate 24. The defective fresh water pearls are scraped out by opening a gate plate 11a after operating a rotating handle 13 for a certain period of time. The nondefective pearls are rolled and discharged outside by opening a left gate plate 11b.