Classic and refined, sophisticated and sensual, pearls are a quintessential
favorite for brides on their wedding day. But the latest strands from the South
Seas and beyond are anything but traditional.
From a surf-inspired starfish pendant to the hot peach and lavender hues of
freshwater pearls, this season traditional pearls take a modern turn.
“Pearls are extremely popular. They are classic and they look perfect with a
wedding dress. Just about everyone who’s going to have a wedding is going to
look at pearls,” said Terry Shepherd, a certified gemologist and president of
the Pearl Outlet.
Pearl pendants take top billing for spring weddings and the three-pearl drop
pendant from the Pearl Outlet is in high demand, Shepherd said. The pendant
features three freshwater pearls in white, peach and lavender — a stunning color
combination that coordinates perfectly with the season’s pastel palette. And,
unlike some pearls that have been dyed, this trio features naturally occurring
hues.
“For beach weddings, our Tahitian-pearl starfish pendant is also popular,”
Shepherd said. The pendant features a diamond-studded starfish, a single black
Tahitian pearl and a white-gold chain.
Brides looking for something a tad more traditional will be happy to know
that classic strands are still in vogue, but the latest necklaces have a new
twist.
“You still see a lot of pearl ropes for weddings,” Shepherd said. “The
mystery clasp necklace is very popular. It really adds a huge amount of
versatility to your pearl rope. You don’t have to buy a completely separate
necklace set for each occasion.”
The 51-inch strand features an ingenious hidden clasp system; the necklace is
actually four pieces in one. Four strands of various lengths combine to form an
assortment of necklaces and bracelets thanks to clasps hidden inside the 7.5 mm
pearls.
Shopping for pearls can be as complicated as selecting wedding rings. After
all, not all pearls are created equal — and finding a necklace or bracelet that
will last a lifetime requires some consumer savvy. Brides can quickly tell the
good from the bad by looking at the luster of the pearls, checking for blemishes
and buying only pearls strung with knotted thread.
“You can quickly tell the quality of a pearl by looking at the reflection,”
Shepherd said. ”If you can look into the pearl and actually see your reflection,
if you can make out your features, then you have a high-quality pearl. That
plays into the price.“
The clearer the reflection, the higher the quality, he explained. The
highest-quality pearls will produce a mirror-like reflection, while
lower-quality pearls reflect a blurred image. Blemishes also play into the
price. A blemish-free pearl is quite rare, but a high-end pearl should be free
from visible bumps, spots and abrasions. Likewise, a high-quality strand will
feature knots between the pearls, the idea being that should the strand break,
the pearls won’t scatter. A necklace or bracelet with no knots will generally
feature lower-quality pearls, Shepherd said. High quality doesn’t necessarily
mean a high price, though.
“You can get a high-quality strand of pearls for a reasonable price that you
can wear not only for your wedding day, but for the rest of your life and even
hand down to your children,” Shepherd said.
Owing to their affordability, pearls have become the gift of choice for women
looking to indulge the wedding party in a timeless treasure. Brides decked out
in brilliant pearls are quick to snatch up matching bracelets, pretty pendants
or chic earrings for her bridesmaids.
“Most of the time when we have brides ordering pearls, they are ordering for
their bridesmaids as well,” Shepherd said. “Maybe the bride will wear a
three-strand necklace and a two- or three-strand bracelet, while the bridesmaids
wear a single-strand bracelet — but, the bride always gets the nicest jewelry,
of course.”
