Tagged with 'Giving pearls'

A favourite of women for centuries, the pearl necklace holds a key place in any jewellery box. There are so many different occasions to wear pearl jewellery and many styles of pearl necklace lengths to choose from. Depending on the look that is desired, whether it is fine jewellery for a formal occasion, wedding jewellery, the office or casually at the weekend, here is a short guide on how to choose the best length for a pearl necklace.

THE COLLAR NECKLACE

The collar necklace is about 30 to 33cm in length and is typically made of smaller 5mm diameter pearls that are worn in three or four strands. This elegant necklace sits snugly around the neck. The pearl collar is typically worn as evening or bridal jewellery and can be matched with a multi-strand bracelet. A pearl collar necklace with lustrous white pearls will look amazing with an off-the-shoulder black dress.

THE CHOKER NECKLACE

A choker is about 35 to 42cm in length and is often made with slightly larger pearls that are more than 9mm in diameter. The pearl choker lies just over the collarbone, complementing the neckline and can be worn in the evening or in the office for an eye-catching contemporary appearance.

THE PRINCESS NECKLACE

A princess necklace, of about 43 to 49cm in length, is the classic and most popular length for a pearl necklace. Pearls of all sizes, shapes and colours work well with the princess necklace length, which lies about two centimetres below the collarbone. This everyday necklace is incredibly versatile, being perfect for an evening out or it can be worn simply with jeans. It can be made with Freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian or South Sea pearls.

THE OPERA NECKLACE

An opera necklace is about 65 to 90cm in length, with the extra length over the princess necklace giving a more casual and modern style. As a single strand it lies about halfway towards the waist or, if looped over the head, it can resemble a pearl choker.

THE SAUTOIR

The sautoir necklace, also known as a long rope necklace, is 95 cm in length or more. Worn as a single strand, the pearl sautoir can reach the waist and has a style reminiscent of the 1920s. The sautoir is also one of the most versatile pearl necklaces as it can be looped around the neck up to three times or can be worn knotted at the front. With the current fashion for layering jewellery, the pearl sautoir is one of our most popular items.

There are many ways to wear pearls. Read more about Buying a Pearl Necklace here.

There are as many types of pearl earrings as there are candies in a sweet shop: round, oval or baroque pearls, white, pink, silver or black pearls, studs and drops, diamonds or precious stones.

 

Pearls have a unique characteristic of capturing and reflecting light, which means they will match with almost any colour or look. Choosing which pearl earrings to wear on which occasion might give you a sugar rush, so here is a simple guide to choosing and wearing pearl earrings.

PEARL EARRINGS FOR EVERY DAY

 

Amongst all the earrings in a women’s jewellery box, the simple yet elegant white Akoya pearl earring is the earring of choice for everyday wear. Stud earrings are also so comfortable that you can almost forget that you are wearing them.

 

For a relaxed style we would recommend choosing a pearl that is not too large for your ear. If you have more petite features, consider a stud with a 6-7mm diameter pearl or if you have more pronounced features consider an 8-9mm diameter pearl. If you prefer a bolder look, why not try larger button shaped pearl earrings? Button pearl studs can be easily worn in sizes over 9mm for a more contemporary style, without pulling on the ear.

 

One of our preferred pearl earrings is the pink pearl earring stud, which is a fun alternative to white. Pink Freshwater pearl earrings look absolutely amazing if you are wearing red, pink or purple clothes or accessories.

PEARL EARRINGS FOR AN EVENING OUT

 

If you are looking for the ultimate evening pearl earrings to wear with a little black dress, consider South Sea pearls. These pearls have an ice-white or golden silky shine and are typically found in larger sizes of over 10mm diameter. A simple South Sea pearl earring is quite beautiful, and even more so when matched with diamonds. Diamonds and pearls have long been a girl’s best friends as the sharp sparkle of diamonds works beautifully with the soft warm lustre of pearls.

 

If you are looking for a more contemporary evening style, consider wearing Tahitian pearl earrings with their dark and more exotic colours. Their baroque shapes and peacock colours will also make unique and envied pearl earrings.

PEARL EARRINGS FOR THE OFFICE

 

Powerful political and business women are frequently seen wearing pearls. The classic white pearl will bring a discreet, yet polished touch to any suit or business attire. We would recommend Akoya pearl earrings for the office as these pearls are more often perfectly round and are known for their strong lustre and quality.

 

Finally, if you are looking for that difficult corporate casual look, why not try a drop earring? These retain their tasteful discretion whilst still catching the eye with a gentle movement.

Since 1912, the pearl has been recognised as the modern birthstone for June by the Jewelers of America, a celebration gift of pearl jewellery providing safety and fortune. By date, the pearl also happens to be the birthstone for the Cancer and Gemini zodiac signs.

Traditional birthstones were based on the months of the Gregorian Calendar and did not include the pearl at all.  The traditional birthstone for June is agate, a semi-precious stone. Why today do we celebrate the meaning of a pearl ?

From very ancient times, pearls were regarded as objects possessing mystical properties, associated with gods, lightning bolts and dragons.  In literature, pearls have also represented symbols of purity, happiness and tears. In both Europe and Asia, ground pearls have been used as medicine with special healing powers to help with eye disease, leprosy and even childbirth.

The beauty of a pearl, direct from nature, has captivated the world for centuries. If it is your birthday this June, why not celebrate with a pearl !

The start of summer is also the end of a long academic road for many.

If you are thinking of celebrating college, high school and university success and achievement with a graduation gift, then pearls are a perfect choice.

At Winterson, we have an extensive range of beautiful pieces of pearl jewellery that make ideal graduation gifts. Classic pearl necklaces or pearl earrings are very popular, but if you are looking for something unique then our range of pendants would also be a special gift.

A truly classic choice, Japanese Akoya pearls have the timeless elegance of fine jewellery. This type of saltwater pearl was the first to be cultured in Japan in the early 1900s and today are continued to be loved for their quality.

Akoya pearls are typically white, with an overtone of pink, and are admired for their excellent lustre. Lustre describes the way that light is reflected by the physical structure of the pearl's surface. A strong lustre is one of the key qualities to look for when buying pearls and will help create a flattering glow for its wearer.

A pearl jewellery set of Japanese Akoya pearl necklace and stud earrings, perhaps completed with a bracelet, is a classic piece in any jewellery box. These pearls would be a beautiful graduation gift to be enjoyed on Graduation Day and as a reminder many years later after the ceremony.

To make the pleasure of receiving pearl jewellery as a gift more special, we offer all of our jewellery in a soft travel pouch presented in a luxurious jewellery box. Each item is gift-wrapped in our signature zig zag pattern and sealed with a Winterson flower.

Please Contact Us and we would be delighted to answer any questions that you may have or if you would simply like some advice about our pearls.

One precious day in every year, mothers are celebrated around the world.

The origin of Mother’s Day and its actual date varies depending on each country, but the sentiment is in essence the same. It is a day to to thank our mothers for their love and support.

As Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States said, “All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel Mother”.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which will be the 3rd of April this year. Historically called Mothering Sunday, it was a day taken off work by young servants in order to visit their mothers and family.

This year, why not treat your mother with a gift for Mother's Day that she can cherish and love.

Pearls with their beautiful colours and shining lustre make an ideal Mother's Day present. At Winterson we have selected a Mother’s Day Gift Guide to pearl jewellery to help you choose a pearl necklace, earrings, bracelet or pendant that is sure to make her smile.

Valentine's Day is almost here.

So celebrate by entering the Winterson Love to Give competition to win this stunning multi-coloured Freshwater pearl bracelet, a gorgeous classic piece of jewellery made with 7-7.5mm multi-coloured freshwater pearls and finished with an 18 carat yellow gold lobster clasp.

The rules of the competition are very simple.  All you have to do is complete all of these 3 steps:

1. Follow @WintersonPearls on Twitter

2. Tweet "Love to Give...enter the @WintersonPearls competition to win a pearl bracelet http://bit.ly/gX7sni"

3. Leave a comment here on the blog to say that you have entered. Remember to leave your Twitter name so that we can contact you.

We will choose the winner at random on 14th February 2011 at 6pm.

The giveaway is only open to UK residents only. The competition prize is offered with no cash alternative, with only one entry allowed for each entrant. The competition closes at 6pm on 14th February 2011 and no entrants will be considered after this time. The winner will be notified within 7 days of the competition closing.

By entering this prize draw, you agree that Winterson has permission to retain your details for future marketing purposes. All entrants are bound by these terms and conditions.

Good luck !

Oysters and pearls throughout history have been enduring symbols of love, romance and more than a little passion. It is said that the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra seduced Marc Antony with a ground pearl in a glass of vinegar and that the famous 18th century lover Casanova would eat over 50 raw oysters every morning for breakfast.

In more recent times, Richard Burton presented Elizabeth Taylor with the unique pear-shaped pearl La Peregrina as a gift for Valentine’s Day. This perfectly shaped pearl, which was bought at auction in 1969 for $37,000, has a particularly colourful history. La Peregrina is remarkable for having been owned by a number of royal families in Europe, including Mary Tudor of England and Emperor Napoleon III of France, even disappearing behind a sofa at Windsor Castle and still bearing some slight bite marks from Elizabeth Taylor’s puppy.

 

Some of the most romantic gifts of jewellery continue these historic traditions. Popular kinds of pearls as gifts would include simple white pearl jewellery symbolising beauty or pink Freshwater pearls for romance. Our favourite gift from our collection of Valentine's Day Gift Ideas is a pair of pretty pink Freshwater pearl earrings, pictured above.

A pearl necklace is one of the finest pieces of jewellery that a woman can own. The diversity of pearls available today can inspire many different looks, both classic and contemporary. Customers often ask us how to buy a pearl necklace and what to consider.

PEARL COLOUR, SHAPE AND SIZE

The choice of pearl colours available today, with white, gold, silver, grey, black, pink, peacock and natural multi-coloured pearls, is simply dazzling. Different pearl colours will match and reflect skin tone or colourful clothes and accessories.

Pearls can be cultured in a variety of shapes, including the classic round pearl, the informality of an oval shape or the individual complexity of a baroque pearl.

Pearl size is also an important factor. Smaller pearls with diameters up to 9 mm typically make more discreet and classical jewellery, whilst larger pearls above 9 mm will be more eye-catching and luxurious. As pearls increase in size to more than 10mm diameter, their rarity and price also increases.

THE NECKLACE LENGTH

One way to choose the length of a pearl necklace is to consider the occasion when it will be worn. In general the shorter the necklace the more formal it may appear.

A choker pearl necklace that nestles at the base of the neck is really best suited for evening wear, a long sautoir may be worn fashionably loose, knotted or long around the neck and the traditional princess length pearl necklace will sit elegantly below the collarbone for a classic and versatile look.

Read more about the different lengths in our article on pearl necklace lengths.

THE CLASP

The clasp is not typically the centrepiece of a pearl necklace, however it is an important aspect to consider when buying a pearl necklace. A difficult clasp can be awkward to take on and off.

A good clasp will be secure, robust and with a smooth finish. The lobster clasp, fish hook and spring ring clasps are most commonly used with strings of pearls. There are many more clasps available, including designer clasps with diamonds. Consider the choice of materials used such as gold, coated gold vermeil, silver and gemstones.

Read more about our experience with different necklace clasps.

IF YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE

The price of a pearl necklace will vary from a few pounds to tens of thousands of pounds. Unless your budget is unlimited, you may need to compromise on certain qualities of the necklace.

Consider an off-round pearl shape or reduce the pearl size as a way to reduce the price of the necklace. In our experience the allure of a pearl necklace is the iridescent shine of its pearls, so we would recommend selecting pearls that have the best lustre that will match your budget.

PEARL NECKLACES AT WINTERSON

The Winterson range of pearl necklaces and long rope necklaces offers a beautiful selection of luxury jewellery that is suitable for all occasions. Our standards of quality are set high and we hand select our pearls, in particular looking for good lustre.

Discover our necklace collections here, with luxurious South Sea pearl necklaces, exotic Tahitian pearl necklaces, iconic Akoya pearl necklaces and versatile Freshwater pearl pearl necklaces.

Are you looking for some great jewellery gift ideas?

Did you know that pearl jewellery is often given to celebrate an important event or anniversary?

 

Pearls are the traditional birthstone for those born in June, bridal jewellery to wear on a wedding day, a thirtieth wedding anniversary gift, for Mother’s Day, graduations, Christenings, for communion bracelets, Christmas, Hanukkah and other celebrations.

 

Or just as a treat...

 

Amongst gemstones, pearls make a perfect gift choice. Pearls have a unique surface property that flatters the complexion of ladies of every age. The shining surface of pearls, which is made of nacre, reflects light and helps brightens the face. The organic touch of pearls against the skin is comfortable to wear as they will feel silky and luxurious. Pearls are symbols of elegance and beauty.

 

 

At Winterson we have assembled a selection of pearl gift ideas to help you find the perfect gift to treat a loved lady in your life on a special occasion.

 

Our collection of Gifts for Mothers is a selection of jewellery to celebrate Mother's Day with. From the prettiest of pink freshwater pearl earrings, to a long white pearl rope necklace or a multi-coloured freshwater pearl bracelet, the collection is filled with surprises that she can enjoy every day.

 

A Graduation Gift will mark an important milestone in the life of a young lady. Graduation day is an opportunity to celebrate academic achievements with family and friends. Our selection of graduation gifts features classic designs, including our white Japanese Akoya pearl necklaces and pearl stud earrings. These truly jewellery classics will complement her graduation dress for the ceremony and be a keepsake that she can enjoy for years after the special day.

 

All the jewellery from Winterson is presented in our elegant coral, black and ivory white packaging. The jewellery is protected in a soft travel pouch within a luxurious jewellery box that is gift wrapped and sealed with our Winterson flower.