PEARL FASHION

Pearls vs. Diamonds – Which is the Better Option?

Pearl ring next to diamond ring

Comparing pearls and diamonds is like comparing apples and oranges. They’re just so different that it’s almost impossible to pit them against each other.

Even so, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of pearls vs. diamonds and consider (for the sake of fashion) which the better option is.

Pearl vs. Diamond – History

Both pearls and diamonds have been among the world’s most coveted and valuable gemstones for millennia, but pearls have an edge here.

Pearls are the world’s oldest gemstone dating back at least 7500 years. They were so rare in the past that at one time in Medieval Europe, only Royals and the nobility were permitted to wear them!

Remember the story of Cleopatra and the pearl earring? In that story, the pearl earring serves to demonstrate the wealth of Egypt and to impress the mighty Roman Empire. In Rome, pearls were among the most prized possessions.

Diamonds, on the other hand, haven’t featured as prominently in history. Some of the oldest diamonds, like the Beau Sancy diamond, are only about 500 years old.

While diamonds could be mined by inceasing mining efforts, pearls were much harder to come by, with pearl diving being an extremely dangerous activity. Pearls couldn’t be cultured (until the 20th century) and this made them exceedingly rare and valuable.

Verdict: Pearls have a richer history and were culturally more important than diamonds.

Pearls vs. Diamond – Value

la peregrina natural pearl necklace

La Peregrina. Source

  • The most expensive pearl ever auctioned was the La Peregrina pearl necklace designed for Elizabeth Taylor at 11.8 million in 2011.
  • The most expensive diamond? The Pink Star which auctioned for 71 million in 2017. The Cullinan Diamond is valued at up to $2 billion while the Kohinoor is priceless with its value unknown.

Until the advent of cultured pearls, pearls were exceedingly rare. However, once scientists figured out how to grow pearls in oysters, pearls flooded the market and created abundance, bringing the price down.

Even so, large high-quality South Sea pearls still command eye-watering prices and natural pearls are still very expensive. And the most expensive pearl in the world? It also happens to be the largest, weighing about 75 pounds and measuring 26 inches n length.

One of the myths about diamonds is that they’re very rare. Not true. Diamonds are very common but what makes them rare is the tight control of supply in the diamond industry that creates scarcity to maintain or increase prices.

In reality, diamonds are abundant around the world. However, colored diamonds are much rarer, with red, blue and pink diamonds being among the most rare and valuable.

Verdict: Diamonds are typically considered more valuable today.

Pearl vs. Diamond – Beauty

This one is hard to say because pearls and diamonds are loved for different attributes.

Diamonds are known for their brilliant sparkle and ability to play with light. They’re typically cut to enhance their brilliance. When light touches a diamond, it bends and refracts back to the viewer, making it appear exceptionally sparkly.

Pearls, on the other hand, are loved for their color and luster known as pearlescence. The luster of pearls comes from light interacting with the crystals in the pearl’s nacre and refracting back to the viewers eye.

Pearl is also always opaque whereas diamonds are transparent. Both come in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes. While they’re gorgeous separately, pearls and diamonds work exceptionally well together too.

Verdict: Both diamonds and pearls are beautiful in their own right and are quite different in their characteristics.

Pearl vs. Diamond – Uniqueness

No two pearls are exactly alike. There are slight imperfections, bumps, ridges and swirls that act as fingerprints, differentiating pearls from each other. In terms of baroque pearls, each stone has its own identity.

Diamonds, however, are all similar once cut and polished, making it difficult to distinguish one from another. You won’t find irregular shaped diamonds in jewelry stores unless they’re used in their raw form.

Verdict: Pearls have more ‘individuality’ than diamonds.

Pearl vs. Diamonds – Engagement Rings

Pearl engagement ring with crystals

Gorgeous pearl engagement ring. See it here.

Without a doubt, diamonds are the most popular stone for engagement rings although pearls are increasing in popularity among those who want a different option.

An engagement ring is exposed to a lot of daily knocks and bumps, so it goes without saying that a diamond ring is much better suited for that kind of exposure. In terms of durability, a diamond ring is the better choice.

However, a pearl engagement ring is an excellent choice if you don’t mind changing your center pearl every 3 to 5 years. It has a uniqueness and a delicate, feminine look that a diamond lacks and is also more affordable than a diamond ring (in general).

Ultimately, it comes down to your preference and the amount of maintenance you’re prepared to spend on your ring that will help you decide.

Combining pearls and diamonds in the same

Pearl vs. Diamonds – In Fashion and Jewelry

Audrey hepburn wearing pearls and diamonds

Audrey Hepburn wearing diamonds and pearls.

The popularity of pearls fluctuated a fair bit in the fashion world over the last 100 years. They rose to prominence during the first half of the 20th century as they were suddenly available and affordable thanks to the culturing process.

Fashion icons like Coco Chanel lauded pearls and promoted them as a must have fashion accessory. Actors like Audrey Hepburn often wore pearls in their movies and at formal events. However, later on, their popularity dropped somewhat.

Today, pearls have made a huge comeback and are once again experiencing enormous popularity. The most iconic type of pearl jewelry remains the pearl necklace strand, with pearl earring studs and drop earrings also highly popular.

Diamonds have had a steady level of popularity over time although their real fame began with the marketing campaign of de Beers in the 1930s. This propelled diamonds into super stardom as they became the go-to stone for engagement rings.

Today, while diamonds still remain the most popular gemstone, there is interest in other types of gemstones too as people turn towards different ways to express their fashion sense. They’re still the top choice for engagement rings and are also made into other staple jewelry pieces like stud earrings and solitaire pendants.

Combining diamonds and pearls in jewelry designs creates an exceptional look as both are iconic. The sparkle of diamonds added to the opaque luster of pearls makes for an unbeatable classic-meets-modern look.

Verdict: Both diamonds and pearls are classic gemstones used in the fashion world. They’re used in many staple pieces of jewelry.

To Wrap Up…

So which of the two gemstones emerges as the winner? It’s hard to say and the gemstone you prefer depends on your personal style and fashion sense.

One thing remains clear, however:

Both diamonds and pearls are classic gemstones that will always be in fashion. And even if they do drop out of fashion, they’ll cycle back in pretty quick. This makes them excellent choices for your jewelry box.