The pearl necklace is a classic piece of jewelry that has remained popular for literally centuries. Few pieces of jewelry have as much versatility and appeal as a high quality pearl necklace. If you have never purchased a pearl necklace, you will want to consider the type, size, color and length of the pearl necklace.
The four major types of cultured pearls are akoya, freshwater, south sea & tahitian pearls. For a complete description of the various types of pearls please visit our Pearl Type Page.
Typically a woman's first pearl necklace will be a classic white Freshwater or White Akoya pearl necklace. A white pearl necklace is extremely versatile and works well with all skin tones and styles. For something a little more unique, there are pearls ranging in color from black, lavender, pink to multi-color pearls.
For the average sized woman, a pearl in the 7-8mm range is the most common choice, while pearls smaller will suit teenagers, young or petite women. Anything in the 8-16mm range would be considered large pearls and typically adorn the necks of mature, high stature women or woman with a bold style.
The length of the pearl necklace is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a pearl necklace. A pearl necklace in the 16-20" range will be the most versatile, and most pearl necklaces purchased fall in this range.
