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I find joy in seeking out the latest birthstone jewels as each new month begins, though in the past, June always felt less exciting.
Don’t get me wrong—pearls are exquisite, classic, and most certainly a staple in anyone’s collection. But from this writer’s point of view, pictures of pearl strands were just that—pictures of pearl strands. You don’t see the luminescence of the gems, can’t experience the sensory joys of a cool line of pearls in your hands. It’s a bit boring, even if the actual product is not.
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The last several years, however, have shown us that pearls are playing a big part in visually stimulating pieces, thrilling even as photographs on a web page. And really, what else is there to say that hasn’t already been written?
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I remember the moment pearls became something more—the gem everyone was talking about. Dior had just released its Mise en Dior pearl earrings in 2013—that much-replicated look in which a pearl sits on each side of the earlobe, the larger of the two in the back. Either pearls took off in a major way after that, or I was just more receptive to them. Regardless, I’ve been more open to pearls since and greatly rewarded in the creations that have come.
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These are just a handful of exciting members of the cool pearl gang.
Top: Iris earrings in 18k yellow gold with 2.27 cts. t.w. mandarin garnets, akoya pearls, and 0.6 ct. t.w. diamonds, $8,900; Laura Gallon
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