Classic pearls get a modern makeover

Classic and refined, sophisticated and sensual, pearls are a quintessential favorite for brides on their wedding day. But the latest strands from the South Seas and beyond are anything but traditional.

From a surf-inspired starfish pendant to the hot peach and lavender hues of freshwater pearls, this season traditional pearls take a modern turn.

"Pearls are extremely popular. They are classic and they look perfect with a wedding dress. Just about everyone who's going to have a wedding is going to look at pearls," said Terry Shepherd, a certified gemologist and president of the Pearl Outlet.

Pearl pendants take top billing for spring weddings and the three-pearl drop pendant from the Pearl Outlet is in high demand, Shepherd said. The pendant features three freshwater pearls in white, peach and lavender — a stunning color combination that coordinates perfectly with the season's pastel palette. And, unlike some pearls that have been dyed, this trio features naturally occurring hues.

"For beach weddings, our Tahitian-pearl starfish pendant is also popular," Shepherd said. The pendant features a diamond-studded starfish, a single black Tahitian pearl and a white-gold chain.

Brides looking for something a tad more traditional will be happy to know that classic strands are still in vogue, but the latest necklaces have a new twist.

"You still see a lot of pearl ropes for weddings," Shepherd said. "The mystery clasp necklace is very popular. It really adds a huge amount of versatility to your pearl rope. You don't have to buy a completely separate necklace set for each occasion."

The 51-inch strand features an ingenious hidden clasp system; the necklace is actually four pieces in one. Four strands of various lengths combine to form an assortment of necklaces and bracelets thanks to clasps hidden inside the 7.5-mm pearls.

Shopping for pearls can be as complicated as selecting wedding rings. After all, not all pearls are created equal — and finding a necklace or bracelet that will last a lifetime requires some consumer savvy. Brides can quickly tell the good from the bad by looking at the luster of the pearls, checking for blemishes and buying only pearls strung with knotted thread.

"You can quickly tell the quality of a pearl by looking at the reflection," Shepherd said. "If you can look into the pearl and actually see your reflection, if you can make out your features, then you have a high-quality pearl. That plays into the price."

The clearer the reflection, the higher the quality, he explained. The highest-quality pearls will produce a mirror-like reflection, while lower-quality pearls reflect a blurred image. Blemishes also play into the price. A blemish-free pearl is quite rare, but a high-end pearl should be free from visible bumps, spots and abrasions.

Likewise, a high-quality strand will feature knots between the pearls, the idea being that should the strand break, the pearls won't scatter. A necklace or bracelet with no knots will generally feature lower-quality pearls, Shepherd said. High quality doesn't necessarily mean a high price, though.

"You can get a high-quality strand of pearls for a reasonable price that you can wear not only for your wedding day, but for the rest of your life and even hand down to your children," Shepherd said.

Owing to their affordability, pearls have become the gift of choice for women looking to indulge the wedding party in a timeless treasure. Brides decked out in brilliant pearls are quick to snatch up matching bracelets, pretty pendants or chic earrings for her bridesmaids.

"Most of the time when we have brides ordering pearls, they are ordering for their bridesmaids as well," Shepherd said. "Maybe the bride will wear a three-strand necklace and a two- or three-strand bracelet, while the bridesmaids wear a single-strand bracelet — but, the bride always gets the nicest jewelry, of course."