Where has our love and fascination for timeless pearl jewelry stemmed from? Is it from our earliest fashion role models like mothers, aunts, and grandmothers, or the first time we saw Princess Diana’s sapphire and pearl choker? Pearl jewelry has been around for millennia but continues to have appeal for new generations.
My love of pearls comes from my grandmother. Growing up, I fondly remember sifting through her Korean jade jewelry box, styling her rings, necklaces, and a rainbow of brooches. The things that always caught my eye, however, were her pearl rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Seeing my soft-spoken grandmother quietly sit in the front row of the church pew on Sunday with her pearl jewelry set was captivating and would leave little me in awe.
Now, as a 25-year-old, I’m on the quest to find memorable and heirloom jewelry that I can cherish and keep forever. While my memories of pearls are of my stately grandmother and the Royal Family, that doesn’t mean I’ve set out to collect just traditional (and expensive) strands. Modern jewelry designers are keeping things fresh with chunky or super-fine pearls, mixed materials, and perfectly imperfect shapes.
Although I might not be spending lavish money on thousand-dollar pearls from Bulgari, more affordable jewelry brands such as Mejuri, Kendra Scott, and Astrid & Miyu offer equally stunning and timeless genuine freshwater pearl options under $150. There are bold hoops from Mejuri for day-to-night wear and other silhouettes like bracelets crafted with baroque pearls for a more casual, no-fuss aesthetic.
When searching for an investment piece to cherish, you want one that aligns with your style preference, not what you see in movies. Instead, search for jewelry that fits with your lifestyle that you can envision styling with a plethora of outfits. With reasonable care, your chosen piece can look as good as the first day you bought it and will last for a lifetime. (In fact, frequent wearing is good for pearls — they can dry out if left in your jewelry box too long!) My only tip for shopping for less pricey pearls is to be wary of glass or imitation pearls, which are more prone to peeling. Plus, they won’t always deliver the lustrous pearl shine without an iridescent coating.
No matter what you decide to buy, you’ll never go wrong with pearl jewelry, and it’s never too late to try one. My 93-year-old Grandma is here to vouch for it.
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Pearl Earrings
For first-time shoppers, earrings are the best way to dip your toes into the world of pearls. They’re a friendly and fun upgrade from your regular gold hoops or diamond studs.
Try silver-stainless hoops with dangly pearls handmade from Australia, or give a freshwater pearl stud from Madewell a spin — it has a delicate gold chain that drapes just below your earlobe for a bit of shimmer.
Shop Shashi
Shashi Bianca Pearl Earring, $, available at Shop Annika Inez At MATCHESFASHION
Annika Inez Heart Small Pearl & Sterling-Silver Earrings, $, available at Shop Mejuri
Mejuri Bold Pearl Earrings, $, available at Shop Madewell At Nordstrom
Madewell Freshwater Pearl Chain Stud Earrings, $, available at Shop Jil Sander At LUISAVIAROMA
Jil Sander Blossom 4 Pearl Earrings, $, available at Shop Numbering At SSENSE
Numbering White Freshwater Pearl #9100 Earrings, $, available at Shop Briwok
Briwok Conner Earrings, $, available at
Pearl Rings
Pearl rings are an investment like any other rare gemstone. It’s never too early to begin curating your priceless jewelry collection, and we’ve picked some of the most graceful heirloom styles.
We’ve scoured the internet for jaw-dropping solitaires encrusted with diamonds designed for special occasions and everyday styles like a Missoma twisted band ring dotted with a quintet of little pearls.
Shop Missoma At Shopbop
Missoma Molten Pearl Ring, $, available at Shop Angara
Angara Classic Solitaire Freshwater Pearl Ring, $, available at Shop Nialaya At Wolf & Badger
Nialaya Beaded Pearl Ring, $, available at Shop PDPAOLA
PDPAOLA Solitary Pearl Ring, $, available at Shop Honora at Macy’s
Honora 14K Gold Cultured White Ming Pearl & Diamond Ring, $, available at
Pearl Bracelets
Bring the poise and elegance with modern pearl bracelets. Rather than perfect circles, feast your eyes on uniquely shaped baroque pearl bracelets from Monica Vinader and Astrid & Miyu. For the fashion-forward queens, treat yourself to striking designs like a 14K gold, pearl, and emerald green malachite bracelet that you can wrap around your wrist for a fashionable stacked appearance.
Shop Astrid & Miyu
Astrid & Miyu Serenity Pearl Beaded Bracelet In Gold, $, available at Shop Anissa Kermiche At Net-A-Porter
Anissa Kermiche The Pearl Next Door Bracelet, $, available at Shop Monica Vinader
Monica Vinader Pearl Scatter Bracelet, $, available at Shop Alighieri At Farfetch
Alighieri The Calliope Pearl Bracelet, $, available at
Pearl Necklaces
We saved the best for last with pearl necklaces. There are old-school Hollywood single-strand pearl necklaces from reader-favorite brands like J.Crew and Anthropologie, with a more modern Mother of Pearl pendant that you can personalize with your zodiac sign. The latter makes a memorable holiday gift.
Shop Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott Ashton Gold Half Chain Necklace In White Pearl, $, available at Shop By Anthropologie At Anthropologie
By Anthropologie Triple-Strand Pearl Necklace, $, available at Shop Chan Luu At Saks Fifth Avenue
Chan Luu 18K-Gold-Plated & Freshwater Pearl Pendant Necklace, $, available at Shop J.Crew
J.Crew Long Freshwater Pearl And Gold Necklace, $, available at Shop Kate Spade New York
Kate Spade New York Zodiac In The Stars Mother Of Pearl Pendant, $, available at Shop BONBONWHIMS
BONBONWHIMS The Snow Drop x SFGE, $, available at
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