Modern Pearls

Modern Pearls

Indeed, as classic formal wear – camel coats, skirt suits and three-piece trouser suits – regained prominence, so did that classic accessory, the pearl, as seen everywhere from J.Crew to Christian Dior.

At the latter, artistic director for costume jewellery Camille Miceli even produced a collection consisting entirely of pearls (prices from £870). But these aren’t your grandmother’s best any more.

“The idea of subverting the pearl is really modern,” says Thakoon Panichgul, new creative director of the Japanese jewellery brand Tasaki. His designs include a pair of diamond earrings turned upside down with the pearl on the back of the lobe (prices from £800). “It’s not about wearing it to a wedding or with twinsets.”

Linda Fargo, women’s fashion director at US department store Bergdorf Goodman, says: “We’ve had numerous seasons of oversized stones, so the style pendulum has swung in favour of these pretty little white gems – they are the newer jewel.”

More about the modern pearl.