Pearls: Why We Keep Coming Back to Them — And How to Find One That Speaks to You

Pearls: Why We Keep Coming Back to Them — And How to Find One That Speaks to You

PEARLS. 

There’s a reason the world never lets go of pearls.

They’ve been worn by queens, poets, punks, designers, and modern icons. They’ve symbolised wisdom, femininity, rebellion, love, and grace. And somehow, they always feel current—reinvented with each new generation.

In my own design journey, I’ve been drawn to pearls more and more—not because they define my work, but because they speak to something that feels real. Timeless. Grounded. Emotional. And judging by how many of you are now collecting them, I know you’re feeling the same pull.

This post marks the beginning of a new series where I’ll share everything you need to know about pearls—from their history to how they’re made, and how to wear them in your own way. But first, here’s why pearls are having a quiet renaissance—and how they continue to feel so right, right now.

✧ What Makes a Pearl So Special?

Pearls are unlike any other gemstone.

They’re not mined, faceted, or fire-treated. They’re formed naturally inside living creatures—usually oysters or mussels—when an irritant enters the shell. In response, the mollusk begins to coat it in layers of nacre (mother-of-pearl), a luminous substance that slowly, over months or years, becomes the pearl itself.

Every pearl is a product of time, environment, and protection. No two are ever exactly alike. That’s what makes them so soulful.

✧ Pearls are the only gemstone born from a living creature. They hold energy. They glow, softly. They carry the ocean within them.

✧ Who Has Worn Pearls Throughout History?

Pearls have always been a symbol of power and elegance. They’ve moved through time with meaning—and always on the necks, wrists, and ears of culture-shapers.

  • Cleopatra is said to have dissolved a pearl in wine to flaunt her power.

  • Marie Antoinette wore ropes of pearls as royal currency.

  • In the 1920s, flappers wore them as symbols of sexual freedom and style rebellion.

  • Coco Chanel paired her iconic pearls with black suits, making them a staple of Parisian chic.

  • Audrey Hepburn gave them cinematic elegance.

  • Prince and David Bowie wore pearls with velvet and eyeliner, showing their genderless power.

  • Harry Styles, and Timothée Chalamet have redefined pearls for the now—softening masculinity, adding mood, and flipping tradition on its head.

✧ How We’re Wearing Pearls Today

Pearls are no longer reserved for “classic” or “occasion” wear. The new pearl is personal, playful, and powerful.

We’re seeing pearls:

  • Layered with heavy chains and mixed metals

  • Worn raw and baroque for texture and movement

  • Paired with denim, tees, leather, and blazers

  • Mixed with charms, gemstones, and unexpected silhouettes

  • Styled across all genders, all ages, all moods

✧ Pearls today are not about tradition. They’re about expression. They soften and sharpen an outfit at the same time—and they adapt to whoever wears them.

✧ How Pearls Are Made (In Simple Terms)

There are two key types of pearls:

  • Natural Pearls – Rare, formed without any human interference. Mostly antique and no longer harvested.

  • Cultured Pearls – Grown with a little help (a bead or tissue is gently inserted into the mollusk), but the nacre layering process is still 100% natural.

Both types are organic and carry the same structure. Cultured pearls make beautiful quality accessible and sustainable.

✧ A Glimpse at the Types of Pearls

Here’s a simple introduction to the five types I use in my work. Each has its own tone, texture, and personality.

Freshwater Pearls

✨ Soft, natural, expressive
Baroque shapes, pastel tones, great for layering and styling without rules.

Akoya Pearls

✨ Classic, refined, luminous
Perfectly round with high luster. Think old-world elegance with a modern frame.

Tahitian Pearls

✨ Dark, moody, magnetic
Grown in French Polynesia, naturally grey, black, and green-toned.

South Sea Pearls

✨ Large, rare, glowing
White or golden tones, extremely luminous with thick nacre.

Baroque Pearls

✨ Irregular, wild, one-of-a-kind
Each is uniquely shaped. No two ever the same.

✧ Pearls Aren’t Chosen — They’re Felt

One of the things I love most about pearls is that they don't demand to be chosen based on rules. There's no “right” pearl for your face shape, your age, or your wardrobe.

They work across styles, across moods, across moments.

A luminous round Akoya might feel sleek and timeless on one day. A bold, raw-edged baroque might feel like a form of self-expression on another. What you’re drawn to shifts. That’s the beauty.

✧ Pearls adapt to the wearer. They’re not about matching. They’re about magnetism.

Trust the one you can’t stop thinking about. That’s where the connection begins.

✧ Pearls Are Just the Beginning

While pearls have become a signature thread in my collections, they don’t define me. I work across textures, metals, shapes, and emotions—but pearls always find their way back in.

They’re more than a material.
They’re a feeling. A story. A way to carry softness with strength.

If you’ve been drawn to them lately—trust that. This is your place to begin.

✧ Explore The Pearl Edit — A curated capsule of sculptural, soulful pearl designs.
Layered. Luminous. Made to move with you.

✧ What’s Coming Next

In the next blog, I’ll be sharing:

  • How pearls are formed in more detail
  • A complete guide to the different types
  • What sets them apart, and why that matters when choosing your piece

Sign up to the mailing list if you want first access.

More soon,
Freya x

 

Back to blog