Pearl Earrings Guide

Words by Megan Casci

Pearls aren’t known as “the queen of gems” for nothing. They’re among the world’s most-recognisable precious stones. Their signature lustre means they’ve been used in jewellery for centuries. They’ve made a serious comeback in recent years, too. From preppy to punky, here’s the story of these iconic accessories and advice on how to wear them now. 

Fast forward a few centuries, and pearls reached peak popularity in the 1920s when flapper girls wore long strings of them with their swishy slip dresses. Convincing faux versions arrived in the 50s when women styled shorter sets over their LBDs.

In the 80s, both punky and preppy takes on pearls competed for attention. Nowadays? “Pearlcore” has taken over our jewellery boxes. It’s an evolution of the “craftcore” trend popularised during the pandemic when people made beaded necklaces in their living rooms.

Pearls have made a comeback alongside claw clips and bootcut jeans. But they’ve shed their previous preppy reputation. It’s not only a simple string of perfectly spherical pearls or classic pearl stud earrings we’re wearing now. There are irregularly shaped baroque versions, too.

Try layering fun, chunky pearl necklaces. Or, if you’re wondering how to wear pearl earrings and make a statement, think of styles like oversized pearl drop earrings. For a new take on hoops, add gold huggies adorned with a single pearl to your ear stack.
 

You probably know pearls come from oysters, but do you know how they’re made? The semi-precious stones are formed when “irritants” make their way into an oyster’s shell. These are then coated with layers and layers of shimmering nacre until a pearl is formed. That takes anywhere from a few months to several years. Famed for its iridescent finish, mother of pearl is also made from nacre. Rather than covering the irritant, though, it coats the interior of the mollusc’s shell.