How To Pick A Pearl
Some of the most iconic women in fashion history have been a fan of pearls. Think Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy, Coco Chanel, Princess Grace, Audrey Hepburn – all of them rarely seen without a strand of pearls. With old-style Hollywood glamour set to be this season's fashion du jour expect to see pearls making a huge comeback. Here, Lucia Blash shows you how to pick the perfect pearl.
Thickness in nacre. The thicker the nacre is, the longer the pearls will last, and usually the better their lustre will be.
Lustre. Always choose pearls with the deepest lustre within the budget, if necessary compromising on size and blemishes, as it is the lustre which will flatter the wearer’s face.
Colour. Choose the colour to suit the skin tone:
Olive toned skin (golden pearls); Dark skin (white or warm cream pearls); Rosy complexion ( rose to cream pearls); Pale skin (rose to white pearls).
Surface Perfection. Check the purity of the pearl surface; a few marks give the pearls the hallmark of genuineness, but very blemished pearls drop in value.
Size. It is essential to consider the overall build of the wearer. A single strand of pearls would look too lightweight on someone very tall and broad.
FAMOUS PEARL WEARERS
Princess Diana: Look back at any photo of the princess and more often than not she’s wearing pearls. Her use of simplistic jewellery like pearls with daring dresses is what helped turn her into a fashion icon.
Jackie Kennedy: The First Lady made pearls an essential part of her outfits and took them from casual wear to chic.
Audrey Hepburn: When the actress came out in Breakfast At Tiffany’s with that little black dress and dramatic set of pearls it was an instant moment in fashion history.
Sarah Jessica Parker: In both the series and movie of Sex And The City, SJP often wears long strands of pearls, showing us true, classic and innovative style.
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