Pearl earrings are a timeless jewelry choice. They’re classic, sophisticated and elegant, making them ideal to wear for any occasion, whether casual, the office or an evening engagement.
The trick is to find the right pair.
There is a wide range of pearl earring types, from dramatic to minimalist. Here’s how to choose the best pair of pearl earrings to suit you.
Types of Pearl Earrings
Choosing pearl earrings comes down to your personal style. Most people gravitate towards pearl studs and drop earrings but there’s more than just these. Here’s a quick rundown of the main pearl earring types:
1- Pearl Studs
These are the quintessential pearl earrings perfect for any occasion. They transition easily between day to night wear, meaning that you don’t have to change your earrings for an evening out. They’re extremely versatile and go well with jeans and a sweater or a stunning red dress. Pearl stud earrings range in size from 2mm to 20mm. Needless to say, the bigger they are, the more they stand out.
2- Pearl Drop Earrings
These are similar to stud earrings but dangle below the ear. They typically feature a teardrop or baroque shaped pearl, giving a classy and feminine look. You’ll often see the likes of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle wearing pearl drop earrings.
3- Pearl Chandelier Earrings
These tend to be a bit more dramatic and are typically worn for formal engagements. They can come in a range of designs, but are generally long, dangling and elaborate. They’re dressier and more appropriate for formal wear.
4- Pearl Hoop Earrings
Pearl hoop earrings can either be an entire hoop of pearls or a single pearl in a metal hoop. Hoops are a favorite style for earrings and adding pearls to them makes them even better.
Pearl Earring Settings
Pearls are gorgeous by themselves but pair them with the right materials and it’s a match made in heaven.
The best metal colors for a vintage, sophisticated look is rose or yellow gold. However, white gold gives a modern touch with a strong contrast.
Pearl studs with diamond halo. See price here.
Stunning pearl drop earrings. See price here.
Pairing pearls with diamond accents is an excellent way to incorporate sparkle and brilliance to your pair of earrings. Think diamond halo or pave setting, to add a touch of glitter. The understated luster of pearls coupled with the confident sparkle of diamonds makes for a perfect pairing.
Blue sapphire and pearl stud earrings. See them here.
You can also pick a pair that incorporate gemstones with different colors. Neutral colored pearls like black and white tend to go with most other gemstone colors. Find a pair with ruby, emerald, sapphires or morganite for a different look.
Pearl Earring Styles
We tend to think of pearls as very elegant and formal, giving the wearer an aloof and cool look. But this isn’t always the case.
Yes, pearl earrings often have a formal style, but they can also be funky and fun depending on the designer’s creativity.
Fun pearl earrings for cat lovers. See them here.
Pearls don’t put you in a box; they’re so versatile they adapt to any style that they’re put into.
Whether statement and attention-getting, or subdued and every day, there’s a pearl earring to suit all styles.
Look for Pearl Quality
It’s not just enough to know the style of pearl earrings you want. You also need to know how to choose the right pearl type to go with it.
If you’re buying costume jewelry with faux pearls, like glass or shell pearls, then you’ll be focused mainly on affordability and appearance but not on authenticity.
If you’re going to buy real pearl earrings, then you need to understand the pearl quality factors.
1- Pearl Color
Despite what most people think, pearls don’t just come in shades of white and cream. They occur in a range of colors, including black, lavender, blue and chocolate.
Sometimes freshwater or Akoya pearls are dyed to produce unusual colors, but these aren’t worth as much as undyed pearls.
Gold and black are trendy and sophisticated colors, while pastel shades are ideal to add a burst of color to your look.
2- Pearl Shape
Yes, pearls are round, but they’re also baroque, button, flat, long, thin… the list goes on.
Typically, you’d want your pearls to match and have an identical look but if you’re after baroque pearls, then your earrings will be similar but not identical.
3- Pearl Luster
Luster refers to how the pearls reflect light. It’s the mirror-like quality you see on the very best pearls.
Pearl luster is probably the most important factor when evaluating pearl quality. If your pearls have poor luster, they’ll look dull and dead.
4- Pearl Size
When it comes to diamonds, people always tend to want large shiny rocks. How about with pearls? It’s important to pick a pair of pearl earrings that complement the size of your face.
If you’ve got petite features, large, dangling earrings might overpower your look. The best way to be sure is to try on the pearls before you buy, but if purchasing online, look for a quality retailer with a good returns policy just in case you don’t like your pair.
Pearls ranging from 7mm to 8mm are the most popular size for studs. Smaller sizes are great for a casual, subtle look while pearls over 8mm take attention and look very elegant.
Buying Tip: Some retailers offer up to 100 days returns and even pay return shipping. With that kind of policy, you have nothing to lose.
5- Surface Quality
This might be a no-brainer but it’s easy to overlook checking the surface quality of your pearl earrings. Pearls, unlike minerals and rocks, are organic gemstones.
They tend to have blemishes, bumps, ridges and irregularities on their surfaces, which is a normal process of formation. You’d typically want a smooth, lustrous surface, so check for this.
Pearl Type
Pearls come in a variety of types, with freshwater on the lower end and South Sea on the more prestigious end of the spectrum.
With that said, freshwater pearls are becoming increasingly advanced in terms of quality, and you can find amazing jewelry made from these pearls.
If you’re budget allows you, you can opt for Akoya pearls or for something truly special, think Tahitian, Sea of Cortez or South Sea pearls.
How Do I Know If My Pearl Earrings Are Genuine?
Real or faux?
If you’re pearl earrings are expensive or a quality pearl type, you might want to make sure that they’re authentic and that you’re not being ripped off.
Ask for a certificate of authenticity from the seller or check if the pearls have been appraised.
Pearls are typically graded according to the A-AAA system (more common) or the A-D Tahitian system. AAA pearls are thought to be the best.
There are also other grades such as Hanadama for the very best Japanese Akoya (these come with a certificate from the lab authenticating them as genuine Hanadama pearls) or Freshadama which was a category created by Pearl Paradise to rate their best freshwater pearls.
If you want a quick test to tell if your pearls are real or fake, try the tooth test. Simply rub the pearls against your teeth and consider the texture.
Does it feel grainy and rough? If so, it’s likely a natural pearl. If it’s smooth and has not roughness at all, it’s highly likely the pearl is plastic or glass.
Where to Buy Pearl Earrings From
You have a few different options to choose from:
- Brick and mortar store: The benefits of purchasing your pearl earrings from the local store is that you get to put them on and see how they look against you, without trying to guess. However, pearls sold in brick and mortar stores tend to be more expensive than pearls sold online.
- Top names like Cartier, Mikimoto or Tifanny: For someone who loves brands, this would be an ideal option. But these names tend to come with huge price tags; you’re not just paying for the pearl earrings; you’re paying for the prestige of the name too.
- Pearl specialist retailers: One of the best options available to you, pearl specialists often have insider knowledge and access to rare pearl varieties. Some tend to operate on a smaller scale, so you almost get individual attention from them.
- Marketplaces: Marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon are excellent to find artisan or unusual designs. You also have a wider range of pearl jewelry to choose from, ranging from genuine vintage pearls costing thousands of dollars to faux plastic beads that are pretty much worthless. s
Each of these options have their pros and cons. Consider your budget and what exactly you’re looking for before you make your decision. Enjoy hunting for your perfect pearl earrings!
