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Style & beauty

If you have pearls (of any kind), do you wear them?

(99 Posts)
Casdon Tue 07-Oct-25 21:48:38

I’ve been making an effort to wear all my earrings, and realised I haven’t worn any pearl earrings for years. So, I put a pair on today, and I enjoyed wearing them again - but it got me thinking, you don’t see pearls worn much at all now, except by the royals, and I wonder why - I’ve got a necklace too, but I haven’t worn that either, not for probably 25 years.

dotpocka Wed 08-Oct-25 16:36:19

mom gave me her moms i just gave them to my niece beautiful strand 1934s
earrings too
i kept the fresh ones like them better
5 rows
one maked intoa naval ring

JdotJ Wed 08-Oct-25 17:13:59

Gosh, you've got me thinking now.
I was given a beautiful pearl necklace by DH for our Pearl Wedding Anniv some years ago and I can't remember where it is !
Off to hunt the house. Eeek

hollysteers Wed 08-Oct-25 17:31:13

Mine are all costume jewellery, a two piece necklace and bracelet set, each with a black silk rose attached, Chanel style. On a trip on the Orient Express, my DD wore the bracelet and I wore the necklace.

Today I bought a pearl choker, discounted, from Claire’s, as they are sadly closing down in this town.
I don’t believe the saying “Pearls are for tears”.

hollysteers Wed 08-Oct-25 17:44:53

I also love that Chanel style with pearls where they are layered in many differing rows with a black dress or sweater. I’m going to do it!

Glenfinnan Thu 09-Oct-25 13:43:31

I wear my pearl earrings every day and strands of pearls when I go out! Love them!

AlpineGranny Thu 09-Oct-25 13:49:01

Yes I wear my pearl earrings every single day and only change them if I'm going out in the evening. I also wear a pearl bracelet on occasions in the evening. I don't own a pearl necklace.

Grandmotherto8 Thu 09-Oct-25 14:02:54

I've got one set of creamy pearls with earrings and one set of the black Tahitian pearls. One set seems more spring/summer & the other set for colder days. I love them both & wear them regularly.

tattygran14 Thu 09-Oct-25 14:17:59

I bought, but have never worn, a pearl necklace when I was on holiday in Italy probably 40+ years ago. It is ankle length, I’m sure it will be very fashionable soon….?

Mojack26 Thu 09-Oct-25 14:20:20

Pearls are not something I wear but I do love my pearl earrings..I love my studs and my pear shape drop ones. I have a 1920 strand of pearls that my gran gave me on my wedding day 41 years ago. That is the only time I've worn them.

gertiejay Thu 09-Oct-25 14:23:06

Pretty much everyday.

cc Thu 09-Oct-25 14:35:48

I have two strings of pearls which can be worn together or singly and I really like them but seldom wear them now. I also have some south sea pearl drops which I occasionally wear.
It's a shame to have them just sitting there, but I don't live a "pearly" sort of lifestyle now and seldom dress up if we go out.
The last time the pearls were worn was when a friend went to a Buckingham Palace garden party, but that is the only time in about 20 years that they have seen the light of day.

Allira Thu 09-Oct-25 14:43:35

I have DM's and MIL's pears and some pearl earrings and a ring of my own but never wear them.

Grandma2002 Thu 09-Oct-25 15:42:11

I only wear pearl earrings it certainly saves time thinking about which pair to wear. I have a lovely single strand of pearls which was given to me when I left my first job after being there for several years. I am now 80 and still wear them on special occasions and have only had to have them re-strung once.

FranP Thu 09-Oct-25 15:46:56

I wear my mum's and gran's whenever the mood takes me

Junglebub Thu 09-Oct-25 16:06:02

I wore mine today when I went shopping in Tesco!

GolferGrandma Thu 09-Oct-25 16:21:08

I have a beautiful pendant and matching pale pink earrings from Jersey Pearl and really love them. As a retirement gift from work colleagues (2006) I bought a dark grey pearl and silver necklace and eventually sourced a pair of matching drop pearl earrings. These I always wore on ‘dressy’ occasions with black or cream outfits.
I too have a string of natural Hawaiian black pearls but have not worn them as frequently. I inherited a double row of Majorcan pearls from my Mother. However I found them to be fake as the surface lustre washed off when I gently tried to clean them!!

mabon2 Thu 09-Oct-25 16:37:33

I have a number of pearl earrings in a variety of styles, and wear them quite lot, also a pearl necklace, look good with scoop neck jumpers or frocks. I hasten to add they are not real pearls.

Alison333 Thu 09-Oct-25 17:39:27

I've got fake pearls from M & S and I'm desperate to clutch them!

Nothing's happened to cause this yet but I'm still hopeful.

Aldom Thu 09-Oct-25 18:05:54

Alison333. There's a thread on GN, I've just noticed. Haven't looked yet.
It's about rude songs!
Perhaps you can wear your pearls and have a look for me. I'll go and look for mine later. Then we can clutch them together. grin

Retired65 Thu 09-Oct-25 18:37:34

I often wear my pearl necklace.

Calipso Thu 09-Oct-25 18:46:37

I wore mine in labour

annodomini Thu 09-Oct-25 18:49:56

I'm wearing pearl stud earrings today - mainly because they were the first thing I saw when I opened the drawer this morning - beside which, they go with any outfit I'm wearing. I also have a pair of gold and pearl drop earrings which my sister gave me when I was her bridesmaid, nearly fifty years ago. I have a pearl necklace, which my father gave me on the same occasion and a longer, graduated string inherited from my aunt. Both are very wearable, though all too often they stay in my jewellery box.

CariadAgain Thu 09-Oct-25 19:14:45

I expect it's the way they were "made". As I recall - cultured pearls (which I think is most of them???) are made by deliberately inserting a bit of grit inside an oyster (for it to cover by making a pearl around it) - that I do know - and I presume it's painful for the oyster.

Beyond that - well I presume the oysters are killed when retrieving the pearl after it has formed.

So I expect that's the reason no-one wears them anymore - ie the same as no-one wears fur coats any more.

My mother offered to pass on her cultured pearls to me years back now - and I refused them.

AuntieE Thu 09-Oct-25 19:27:51

Does anyone really clutch her pearls?

I have never seen anyone do so.

suelld Thu 09-Oct-25 19:44:30

I love freshwater pearls and wear lots of all types and colours. Well I say lots I don’t eat to go to many occasions, ut they will accessorise with almost anything…no longer is it just a pearl necklace with a jumper and cardigan a la Grace Kelly, but they go with almost anything. I have a lovely large flat black/ purplish freshwater pearls and wear drop earrings.. wore them today to the hospital. The gent who took me commented on how lovely. They were cheapish from China. I remember looking at a multi strand necklace of pinkish/ grey / cream freshwater pearls back in the early 80s and wishing I could afford them. Now I can buy loads for a lot less than they were asking then. Similarly some ‘normal’ pearls, but I prefer the look of the lovely irregular freshwater ones!