Gifting a pearl lover seems simple and obvious – what better gift than a gift of beautiful pearl jewelry? But there are so many options, how does one make the right choice? Here at Obsessed by Pearls, we are taking a look at pearl jewelry options for the pearl girl or the pearl guy on your list. Whether it be for a holiday gift or for a birthday, special occasion, or romantic gift, here is a gift guide for all pearl lovers. Luckily, the luster of pearls comes in a wide variety of options, so if your pearl lovers already have a strand or pair of earrings, there are many great gifts to add to their pearl jewelry wardrobe. 

The Pearl Necklace – Classic Strand or a Little Something Extra 

Chances are good your favorite pearl fan already has a strand, but there are various types of pearls strands to either add to or layer with their heritage strand or to give them more ways to wear this beloved lustrous gem.  When choosing a pearl strand, be sure to take into account critical factors like the type and size of the pearls, the length, and the option of graduation. See our blog post dedicated to How to Choose the Perfect Strand. There is nothing quite as lovely as the soft, radiant glow that the luster of magnificent pearls reflects upon the face. 

If they already have a classic white pearl strand, don’t be afraid to give the gift of color. Many pearl lovers admire colorful pearls and aspire to own them. Consider adding a Tahitian Pearl strand or a Golden South Sea Pearl necklace to their wardrobe. There are even multicolor Fiji pearl strands in an exotic array of hues. The breadth of color in Fiji pearls is sure to delight even the most well-supplied pearl connoisseur. 

Pearl station chains are another nice alternative to a strand. Having sections of chain in between the pearls, for example, adds a casual elegance. Choose a length based on your pearl lover’s wardrobe favorites. If they often wear high neck blouses like turtlenecks, sweaters, or buttoned-up shirts, a longer length is probably the best option. If they like sweetheart or peter pan collars and cowl necks, opt for a shorter length of station chain. Another option is to find a pearl strand with some color gemstone additions. Assael’s onyx, diamond, and Akoya pearl necklace is the perfect choice for someone who loves classic black and white combos. The black adds a little element of edgy chic, while the luster of the pearls softens the edge a bit, producing a subtle sophistication that feels empowering and is wearable with everything from a Chanel blazer to a little black dress.  

For the pearl girl or guy who already has lustrous pearl strands, gifting a necklace of pearls and diamonds is a good way to level up their pearl look. The Floating Bubble necklace by Sean Gilson for Assael is a platinum and 18K Gold wire collar with South Sea pearls that float along its surface in a random way. A sprinkling of diamonds adds to the asymmetrical appeal and makes this necklace more versatile. It can easily be worn on an everyday basis, but it also deserves the spotlight of red-carpet events. 

Baroque pearls are another great option for pearl enthusiasts. If they already have round pearls, add to the pearl treasure chest with a lovely baroque strand or a very fashionable baroque pearl drop earring. 

And if it feels like your pearl girl (or guy) already has a full suite of basic pearls, explore the Bubble collection by Sean Gilson for Assael. Now Assael’s best-selling collection, the Bubbles offer an exciting and contemporary way to wear pearls. They also pair beautifully with classic pearl strands or studs.  See more options in the bracelet, earrings, and rings sections below. 

Pearl Pendants – Portable Pearl Treasure

Pearl pendant necklaces are also a popular gift choice for pearl lovers.  A single pearl pendant, worn on a chain or a Y necklace, places the pearl front and center where it can be admired and adored. Pearl connoisseurs appreciate the intricate details and the natural beauty of the pearl, so for pendant necklaces, only the very best pearls must be used. The South Sea Pearl and Diamond lariat by Assael features an extraordinary 19 mm South Sea Pearl Drop dangling in a lariat style chain of diamonds (over 3 carats in total). The adjustable 24” chain can be clasped wherever you desire, so it can be worn high on the neck or on the breastbone or even as a belt for petite pearl lovers. 

Modest pearl pendants are also great gifts because they can be worn everyday as a reminder of your love and affection. Be sure to choose the metal color of your pearl fan’s preference. For white metal lovers, Assael offers Akoya pearl pendants in 18K white gold with a lovely diamond accent or a new blossom style with satin finish 18K gold or tiny pave cut diamonds on the bail. For those who prefer yellow gold, the warm sunny look of 18K gold pairs beautifully with Akoya pearls.  Fans of baroque pearls might also enjoy larger single baroque pearl pendants – either on a handmade 18K gold chain or on a silk cord with a platinum bail. Featuring such distinctive baroque pearls proudly and singly allows them to stand out and be admired for their lovely organic shapes and the depth of their luster. Think of it as a portable pearl treasure that can easily be taken with you wherever you go.

Beyond the Stud – Pearl Earrings   

Every pearl girl or guy needs a classic pearl stud earring – either a single or a perfectly matched pair.  Assael has an extensive inventory of magnificent pearls that is unmatched worldwide. With such a breadth and depth of inventory, the house of Assael is able to perfectly match pearls in terms of shape, color, luster, and smoothness for extremely beautiful, classic pearl earrings. Akoya pearls are the most common choice for pearl stud earrings, but for pearl lovers with big bold style, larger South Sea pearl stud earrings are also available. 

Most pearl devotees already have a pair of classic pearl stud earrings, though. When considering a gift for your favorite pearl girl or guy, think outside the box. Go beyond the basic stud and look for pearl earrings that can be worn with their pearl strands or ones that make a statement all by themselves. For example, a great pair of Bubble earrings by Sean Gilson for Assael, in white pearls or Tahitian pearls, can be worn with a beloved heirloom strand of pearls or on their own as a chic statement style. The Assael two-piece Bubble earring is another very contemporary option – they are worn with a single South Sea pearl in front and a mix of Akoya and South Sea pearls behind the lobe. 

Pearl drop earrings are also trending with runway looks for the last several seasons featuring baroque pearl drops, long pearl drops, and statement pearl drops.  And if your pearl fan has white pearl earrings already, another delightful way to surprise them would be with a pair of Tahitian pearl earrings. The Tahitian Bubble pearl earrings by Sean Gilson for Assael offer a cluster of lustrous dark shades that are versatile enough to wear with many different fabrics. There are several options of Tahitian Bubble earrings here.  

Assael also offers a wide variety of Tahitian pearl earring styles in their now famous Colors collection which pairs gemstones with pearls of similar hues. The gemstones gently coax the colors of the pearls’ undertones in beautiful, elegant, and very wearable designs. The In Reverse earrings featuring Tahitian pearls and Oregon green sunstone are a particularly popular example. If your pearl lover has a favorite color, look for an earring with a pearl and gemstone of that particular shade. Or consider matching the color of their eyes with the color of the pearl and/or gemstone. The best thing about a gift of earrings is that one can never have “too many” pairs of earrings. 

And if your pearl girl or guy already has “everything,” look for bold design choices that incorporate pearls. Assael’s all-new NatureScapes collection pairs pearls with unique gems that almost appear to have been “painted” by Nature. Unlike anything in your pearl lover’s jewelry box, the NatureScape earrings are breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly unique. Tahitian pearls are paired with Maligano Jasper that looks like Japanese landscape paintings of Sakura blossoms. White South Sea pearls are paired with marbled lapis reminiscent of the sky.  Golden South Sea pearls, Tahitian pearls, South Sea pearls and Fijian pearls are each paired with the many unique patterns of petrified wood for striking one-of-a-kind earrings.  

With so many pearl earrings to choose from, it’s easy to go beyond and delight your pearl girl or guy with a thoughtful gift chosen for her or him specifically. And if your beloved does not have pierced ears, no worries. There are many clip earrings at Assael, quite often the post is optional. 

Pearl Rings – Ringspiration in Perfect Pairings 

Pearl rings also make a distinctive and thoughtful gift for pearl lovers.  When shopping for pearl rings, it is best of you know your loved one’s ring size for the particular finger they will be wearing the ring on. If not, be sure to ask if the ring is sizable when purchasing. Assael’s “Perfect Pairings” rings feature unique combinations of pearl and gems in a toi et moi design motif. The orb of a magnificent South Sea pearl is offset by the rectangle of a radiant emerald-cut diamond. Or a uniquely shaped unheated blue cabochon sapphire is paired with a pink-toned Tahitian natural color pearl and set beautifully in 18K rose gold. Or a paisley shaped Aquamarine snuggles next to a lustrous white South Sea pearl.   

The Bubble collection by Sean Gilson for Assael offers unique pearl rings that can be worn on any finger and by any gender as a fresh take on a cocktail or pinky ring. A cluster of colorful Tahitian pearls float like bubbles in a glass of champaign or two single extra-large South Sea pearls seem to hover mysteriously on the finger in either South Sea white pearls or two colors of Tahitian pearls. These statement rings make the perfect cocktail ring for a pearl girl (or guy), and they wear well with bridal rings like engagement rings, anniversary/wedding bands because pearls go perfectly with diamonds or precious metals like gold and platinum. 

Sean Gilson also designed some classic, chic Wrap rings for Assael in which 18K gold ribbons wrap the finger and showcase a particularly beautiful pearl. Available in small, medium, or large designs, some of these Wrap rings feature a single diamond and others are all gold. Given the return to popularity of yellow gold in recent fashion seasons, the Wrap rings would be a very relevant and enduring pearl gift.  Sean also crafted the Encounter rings in either yellow gold with a South Sea pearl or rose gold with an Akoya pearl which feature a single pearl and a single discreet round diamond that whisper to each other in sophisticated open band style.  

Caution your loved one to remove their pearl rings when bathing, swimming, or household cleaning as repeated direct exposure to chemicals like detergents, hairsprays, lotions, perfumes, etc. can dull the pearl’s natural luster over time. For more details on how to care for pearl jewelry, click here. 

Pearls Bracelets – Wrap the Wrist in Luster 

For pearl enthusiasts, a bracelet is also a nice gift. Many pearl lovers will not already have a pearl bracelet, so adding to their lustrous style is a thoughtful gesture. Akoya pearl fans might enjoy a simple classic style like the 3-Row Akoya Pearl bracelet with diamonds. Perfect for a bride-to-be or for those who love their pearls with diamond accents, this bracelet can be worn with everything.  The diamonds add a hint of sparkle, making it relevant for special occasions, as well as for everyday ensembles.  

For pearl and gold lovers, the “Flex” bangle by Sean Gilson for Assael is hand-crafted using an anticlastic forming technique that makes the gold literally flexible. No hinge is required as this bracelet is flexible enough to twist as it is put on the wrist. The center row of Akoya pearls lie within the perfectly formed channel of gold. This feat of ingenuity won the Cultured Pearl Association’s “Spotlight” award in 2018! It is a new classic that can easily be worn with almost anything else in the jewelry box. 

For pearl girls or guys who wear strands regularly, a nice three-dimensional pearl bracelet makes the perfect gift. Fans of the Bubble collection by Sean Gilson for Assael will enjoy a Bubble pearl bracelet. The pearls are stacked upon a cuff of 18K white gold and as you can see in model image in the collage above, Bubble pieces wear perfectly with your loved one’s favorite strand(s). 

Once again, if you really want to think outside the box, opt for colorful pearls. Assael’s Golden South Sea Pearl, Turquoise, and Fancy Yellow Diamond bracelet is like wearing sunshine. Even Barbie wore sunny, golden pearls with her iconic pink and white polka dot dress.  Golden, Tahitian, or Fiji pearls can extend a pearl lover’s jewelry wardrobe while maintaining their devotion to the luster of magnificent pearls. 

Pearl Brooches 

Another terrific gift option for pearl devotees is a lovely and lustrous pearl brooch. Brooches have made a big comeback for Fall/Winter 2023-24. As seen on the runways at Gucci, Coperni, Simone Rocha, and Schiaparelli, brooches are definitely en vogue this season. Also seen on red carpets and even in Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime show, brooches are no longer reserved for the lapel only. Today, pins, clips, jabots are being worn in a wide variety of ways – on the bodice, belt, handbag, even in the hair. It has never been more timely to gift a pearl brooch to a pearl girl or guy. Their fun, creative options for ways to wear it are infinite. 

With so many ways to wow a pearl fan, shopping for pearl jewelry gifts should be fun. Be sure to shop from a reputable jeweler. For more tips on how to buy pearls, visit our posts on How to Choose the Perfect Pearl Strand, Pearl Styling Tips from Professional Stylists, and How to Buy Pearls as a gift. Enjoy the shopping but also be sure relish the delight on your favorite pearl lover’s face – not only when they open your gift but every time they wear it! 

Feature image at top – clockwise from upper left – Elegance with Attitude campaign image shot by David Benoliel – male model wears an Assael Aokya pearl strand and an Akoya pearl stud earring, Assael Akoya pearl station necklace, model wearing Linear Bubble Akoya pearl ring by Sean Gilson for Assael and Assael Sunset 7-Row Akoya pearl necklace, Model wearing Assael Frame earrings as seen in AC Mag, @lklevison photographed by @thecuriouseyes wearing Two-piece Bubble earrings by Sean Gilson for Assael, Bubble pearl and 7 carat emerald-cut diamond ring by Sean Gilson for Assael, model wearing Sean Gilson for Assael Bubble earrings with detachable pearl and dimaond drop and Bubble pearl and diamond choker necklace as seen in Saks holiday book, Elegance with Attitude campaign image shot by David Benoliel – model wears Assael In Reverse earrings, Assael Tahitian pearl strand, Assael Princess cushion-cut ring with bi-color tourmaline and baby Akoya pearls, Assael Princess pear-shaped ring with bi-color tourmaline and baby Akoya pearls, Assael Tahitian pearl and diamond jabot brooch

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