Recently in Pearls Category

A mixed assortment is the trend but if you don't have the time to sort through everything and come up with your own combination, Marlaina Stone has this perfectly mixed necklace that is as full of personality as if you did it yourself. It is a potpourri of Snow quartz, Amethyst, Lepidolite, Herkimer Diamonds, Glass, Hand-made Satin Flower and Freshwater Pearls on a vintage chain and charming vintage watch face clasp. Wear this with florals and prints to create a bouquet look, or spice up your solids and LBD. At Charm and Chain for $1700.

Ranjana Khan has clearly become my favorite costume jewelry designer. You get drama, bling and feminine luxury. This new collection of pearls and crystals is a cascade of everything you love - frills and shiny things! The Chain Necklace has cultured pearls and faceted glass crystals with a silk rose making this a dream for the most girly of all girly girls. For $920, you are getting a romantic journey into a world of whim, fantasy and distinct sophistication. The Crystal and Flower Bracelet is a must with this piece, for $330. At Neiman Marcus.

Not only is Ginger McGann one of my closest friends but I am proud to say, she is also amazingly talented and the most creative person I know. She began her collection a year ago but she has been designing since the day she could hold a pencil and draw. Even after all these years of being impressed by everything she does, the latest Industrial collection is blowing my mind and turning me into one of those annoying friends who keeps nagging her to make some pieces for me! These are so bold and expressive with absolute originality. She is really showing her personal style with these and as always, standing out above the fray from the in-the-box jewelry designers.

The Tyra (above) is a super fun and funky piece of lucite cubes and black onyx squares on a silver metal neck collar. It is a choaker length at 16", you can rock this out or wear it with a simple LBD, for $400.

The Gretchen necklace is my absolute favorite, one that I must must have. It also comes in silver but I have been in a gold mood lately. The golden safety pins are strung with black onyx, pearls and glass beads and haphazardly interlocked together to create a cluster that looks dangerous and feminine. There is nothing sexier than being able to pull that off!! The length is 17" so it sits against the neck but is not super tight. The entire thing is surprisingly lightweight so it is comfortable enough to dance all night with it on. This is the perfect New Years Eve accessory! For $500.

Coco Chanel did not corner the market in costume jewelry, Miriam Haskell has been doing it since 1924 and has glittered Hollywood ever since. Malin Akerman wore the silver and pearl tassel necklace at the Chicago premiere of Couples Retreat. The details on this piece are stunning - a slinky 8" tassle, handwired European filigrees, and embellished clear crystal beads hang from silver plated snake chain necklace. Necklace is wrapped with lurex ribbon with the closure in front. Measures 26" from end to end. I love this most of all because it can go from red carpet to lunch with girlfriends, just a simple top and jeans. Trust me, this is all you need to make any outfit! Miriam Haskell Silver & Pearl Tassle Necklace for $960.

Henri Bendel Debutante Pearl Bracelet
More often than not, you will see me wearing a combination of two things - pave and pearls. While virtually everyone loves pave, I feel like pearls still get a bad rap. They're still perceived as prissy, stuffy and/or conservative, and evoke images of repressed '50s housewives holding apple pies with forced smiles.

Well, I think it's high-time we shatter that arcane image and embrace the pearl as a permanent fixture of our jewelry wardrobes, particularly when the pearls are decked out with dual-grosgrain striped ribbon, Swarovski crystals, and striped cubic zirconia beads. Too cute - and for $148, it's a steal.

Pearls are year-round, go with anything and brighten up any outfit. You can layer them with near-abandon, mix them with other jewels as well, and so long as you don't screw anything up balance-wise, combining them with chain link, leather, cameos, etc. is permitted!

Power to the pearls.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing La Peregrina Pearl; Portrait by Diego Velazquez of Queen Mariana of Spain wearing La Peregrina Pearl

I went to see Cartier's 100th Anniversary exhibit at their Rodeo Drive store and there were a lot of incredible pieces, many worthy of individual mention but since I love other people's drama, the one that caught my full attention is La Peregrina Pearl, on loan from Elizabeth Taylor. Seriously, a movie or entire soap opera saga can be based on it's 500 year history.

The origins are a bit fuzzy, there are several versions with varying details but the basic story is the same. It was found in Panama in 1513 by a slave and brought to Spain and given to the Crown Prince, Phillip II. He rewarded the slave with freedom. The pearl was given to Mary Tudor of England (daughter of the notorious womanizer, Henry VIII, she was the daughter of the first of his 6 wives) as an engagement present in 1554. She ascended the throne in 1553 and was a sweet and well like Princess. But she had differing views on religion from her dad. See, he needed to keep divorcing or beheading his wives because they couldn't give him a son. Catholicism, and mainly the Pope, wasn't so hot on his marital practices so Henry had to turn the entire country Protestant in order to get his divorce.

The problem is, the person he needed to divorce was Mary's mother, Catherine of Aragon, who was Spanish and devoutly Catholic. Henry made Mary sign some papers renouncing Catherine as ever being the Queen, basically making Mary a bastard. She held a grudge and was pretty bitter so when she ascended to the throne, she made the country Catholic again, which didn't go over so well. Many died during this period, for which she was held accountable thus given the lovely nickname "Bloody Mary". Now you know what had to happen the next time you're hungover and enjoying one of those. Mary died in 1558 to the relief of the entire country and the throne went to her half sister, Elizabeth I, whose reign is knowns as The Golden Age (like the movie!).