Pearls are timeless and versatile, making them something of a designer’s dream to work with. They bring elegance and sophistication to any design, but if you’ve never used them before, you might be a little apprehensive to implement them into your own pieces.
As a designer, you need to know how to work with pearls to take your pieces to the next level and make a positive impact on your clients. Here’s everything you should know before you incorporate pearls into your next design.
Table of Contents
Know the Different Types of Pearls
Before you start designing, you need to know what types of pearls you plan to use—and that means being aware of exactly what’s out there, and how different pearls are formed.
- If you want to start with something more affordable, look into freshwater pearls. These tend to have a lower price point and come in all shapes and sizes.
- Akoya pearls are smaller and more lustrous (meaning bright and reflective of light), which makes them a great choice for classic designs.
- If you’re planning statement pieces, you might be more interested in South Sea and Tahitian pearls, which are typically larger and have distinctive colors.
How to Choose Pearls for Your Design
When you’re choosing pearls for your design, there are a few things you’ll want to consider, including:
- Size
- Shape
- Color
- Surface quality
Round pearls are the more traditional option, but if you want something more unique, you might prefer to go for pearls with baroque or irregular shapes.
Also think about how you’ll match the pearl color to the metals or other materials you’re using. You might want to complement warm or cool metals with subtle undertones, or create strong contrasts to make a bolder statement.
How to Handle Pearls
Pearls are one of the more delicate jewellery pieces you can work with, so it goes without saying that you need to handle them with care.
Make sure your hands are clean before you adjust or string them, and if you need to use a cloth, go for the softest one you can find. Pearls might get damaged by harsh chemicals or perfumes, so keep them well away from these, and store them separately from other jewelry to prevent them from getting scratched.
Where to Seek Inspiration
Not sure where to begin? There are plenty of sources of inspiration if you want to see how well-known designers have already used pearls in their designs.
Take a look at runway shots from recent fashion weeks, or visit the website of a reputable pearl jewellery seller, like Freya Pearls, for inspiration for the types of pieces you might create.
Tips for Designing Around Pearls
When you’re creating your designs, think about how pearls will work with the overall picture. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here! We all know that they look great in necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, so consider starting with one of these pieces.
If you want to get more creative, see how you can layer different sizes or combine pearls with gemstones or metals, adding some interesting texture and depth. Keeping things simple often highlights pearls best, but there’s no rule to say you can’t make them the focal point of a piece.
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