February 11, 2022

Contemporary Pearl Jewelry Reinvented for the Modern Day

Pearls can be easily manipulated into modern silhouettes, layered in a chandelier-esque fashion.

Traditional associations make pearls ripe for reinventing, and these designers are certainly stepping up to the challenge. There’s so much more to pearl jewelry than the quintessential orbs in preppy studs or clutchable pearl necklaces.

Pearls can be easily manipulated into modern silhouettes, layered in a chandelier-esque fashion, or interlaced in a sculptural gold setting to let the larger natural pearls stand solo. Gone are the days of Jackie O-style precious pearls, reserved only for Sunday best.

A host of jewelry designers, both old and new (and many of them women), have been busy reimagining the way we see calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, shaking off the humble pearl’s staid reputation, often with contemporary and eye-catching results.

The nature of spontaneously grown wild baroque pearls means their shapes can take on an individuality often exploited by modern designers to create imperfect, playful pearl jewelry that captures the irreverent mood of a post-pandemic world.