The Art of Wearing Long Rope Pearls

Rope pearls, also called endless pearls, are an extremely versatile piece of jewelry that can be styled in innumerable ways. It’s the best option if you love pearl necklaces, allowing you to express your personality and personal fashion-sense.

These extra long pearl necklaces that range in size from 36 inches to a 100 (or even more) have been a fashion favorite since the 1920s, when they stole the spotlight during the Flapper era.

Coco Chanel is famous for saying, A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls. Her personal favorite was the 60 inch.

Regardless of the exact length you choose, rope pearls offer you endless styling options. Let’s take a look.

How to Wear an Endless Pearl Rope Strand

The pearl rope necklace refers to any pearl strand that extends beyond 36 inches. Some of the longer ones can be over 80 inches in length, dropping well below the waist.

So how do you wear a pearl rope?

The question should be… how do you not wear it?

There are endless ways to style a pearl rope necklace, which makes it a highly versatile piece of jewelry. This also makes the pearl rope an excellent fashion investment which you could wear over and over and no one would know was the same piece of jewelry.

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From a layered choker look to a casual, knotted style, you’re only limited by your imagination. Here are some of our favorite ways to style the pearl rope necklace, taking an 80-inch rope as our example. You might need the help of a pin or pearl clip to keep layers clasped together and in place depending on the style you choose.

1. Double Strand Look – Simply twist the necklace into a double strand style. You can play around with the lengths of both strands, going for either equal lengths or a shorter first strand and a longer second one.
2. Three Strand Look – Add another twist to the pearl rope to turn it into a three-layer necklace. Again, experiment with the lengths for your best look. Equal layers may give you a choker like look while two choker lengths and a single longer strand is stylish and elegant to look at.
3. Four Strand Choker – One more twist and you’ll have a four-layer choker necklace out of your pearl rope. Style it with a brooch for an added touch of elegance and to keep the layers from moving around. You can also find a pearl clip to make sure that the layers stay in place.
4. The Knotted Rope – This is where it gets casually sophisticated and vintage in appearance. There are endless ways to knot your pearls and twist them into statement jewelry pieces. Single and double knots are two ways to change up the look. The knotted pearl look was very popular during the 1920s flapper fashion when rope pearls were all the rage.
5. Embellish Your Pearl Rope – Adding a ribbon, a flower clip or a brooch can really change the look of your pearl rope. It also serves to keep the ropes in place, making it easier to wear.
6. Push Them Back – This stylish, unique look is perfect to embellish an open-back dress. Simply wear your pearl rope in reverse, with the long strand hanging behind you, either in double or triple layers, based on length. You’ll get a showstopping look.

This video shows you 11 ways to turn your rope pearls into a statement-looking piece of jewelry.

How to Choose a Pearl Rope Necklace

Depending on your budget, there are several ways to go about choosing your endless pearl rope.

• Needless to say, the most cost-effective option is to opt for simulated pearls such as shell pearls or plastic pearls. These likely won’t have the lustrous iridescence and overtones that we associate with natural pearls, but they’ll give you the look at a fraction of the cost. There are different quality levels among simulated pearl varieties, so take some time to research these.
• Freshwater pearls are your best option if you want real pearls but at a manageable price point. An endless pearl rope made from freshwater pearls would typically cost under $500 which is excellent considering that these are real pearls. The price, of course, depends on the quality of the pearls used which can vary hugely but you’ll be able to find something that suits your budget.
• Akoya pearls will give you a better look and a more lustrous pearl than freshwater but at a much lower price point than other saltwater pearls. A 36-inch Akoya pearl rope would cost on average around $1000 and above.
• Tahitian and South Sea pearls are the most expensive but also some of the most intriguing looking pearls. Finding sizes over 36 inches might prove difficult and you’d have to be prepared to shell out some serious cash for these. South Sea pearls are rarely made into endless strands over 36 inches and would cost you well over $5000.

Coco Chanel, who loved the pearl rope style, would frequently mix up both faux pearls and real pearls when she wore her ropes. While this annoyed some pearl purists who didn’t like the idea of ‘demeaning’ real pearls by putting them in the same context as fake pearls, it was a fashion-forward way of thinking about pearl jewelry. You couldn’t pick out which was which and was a fine way to merge costume and fine jewelry trends.

Quality Is Important

Look for knots in between your pearls.

Whichever type of pearl you choose for your endless pearl strand, always ensure that you’re buying one that is of high-quality. This will ensure that the strand lasts you a long time and make a good investment.

Choose a strand that has knots in between each pearl, as this will give you the flexibility and durability you need to play around with the pearls. Pearls that are strung together, without the individual knots in between, are generally of lower quality. Plus if the strand breaks, you’ll lose all the pearls in a major fashion faux pas moment.

And finally, wear your pearls with confidence knowing that they’ve elevated your look to the next level.