How To Wear Pearls

Times have changed. There are new cultured pearls to wear and new ways to wear them. Twisted, layered, wrapped or knotted. In fact there’s only one pearl fashion rule now. Wear cultured pearls anytime, anywhere and with (almost) everything. Mix different colors, lengths, shapes and sizes. South Seas and Akoyas. Freshwaters and Tahitians. Wear lots of pearls or a single strand. Two, three, even ten strands of different cultured pearls.

The Long and Short of It

Throughout history pearls have had their ups and downs – some generations wore them longer, some opted for the dog collar look. In the Great Age of Pearls over five hundred years ago, fashion leaders wore ropes of pearls with shorter strands in-between. That’s the spirit of today’s fashion world. In this New Great Age of Cultured Pearls, you need strands of different lengths (or a versatile rope of cultured pearls) to get the Looks that are right now.

Some favorite lengths and types of necklaces to wear together or solo:

Collar: 12-13 inches, Usually three or more strands of pearls with a single clasp.

Choker: 14-16 inches, A single strand worn "tight" around the neck.

Princess: 17-19 inches, A single strand worn long enough to show a bit of throat.

Matinee: 20-24 inches, A longer single strand for lower necklines.

Opera: 28-34 inches, Worn as a single strand or doubled as a choker.

Rope (Sautoir or Lariat): over 40 inches Knot it or loop it. A single rope can become a double or triple strand.

Bib Necklace: A necklace with three or more strands that fit together like a bib.

Convertible Necklace: Two or more strands that clasp together to form a single unit. The individual strands can be worn separately, attached or in bracelet/necklace combination's.

Graduated Necklace: The size of pearls gradually increases – smaller ones near the clasp, the largest in the center.

Uniform Necklace: All the pearls are nearly equal in size. A variation tolerance of .5mm (1/50 of an inch) or less.

Pearls are the essential now. With jeans or a T-shirt or dressed for a gala. Suited, booted, anywhere your’re going they’ll get you there in style. One strand does it all. 100 inches of pearl power gives you fashion by the yard. Looped, knotted, or layered, over a dozen looks with a single rope of glorious lotus pearls.

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