Knowing the value and underappreciated beauty that pearls offer, I delight in sharing new jewelry finds with readers whenever I meet a designer doing something clever with them. And last week, I met new designer Savannah Stranger, a Los Angeles–based artist who is doing something truly unique with keshi pearls: She’s casting them.

“I worked for a pearl company for years, and I wanted to offer a modern take on pearls and the organic nature of them,” Stranger told me. Making them more accessible (since prices for keshi, a 100 percent nacre by-product of the culturing process, can be prohibitive for some) was another goal—this one accomplished by casting their shapes and silhouettes in 18k gold. Stranger cleverly captures the silky rumpled surfaces of keshi pearls and their bulbous outlines in gold, sometimes with similarly organic-looking rough-cut diamonds as mates. Also of note: She likes coral, so the textured branches of the reef dwellers are also evident in diminutive karat-gold homages. See her options for all in rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces starting at $1,500 retail at the Couture show at the MUSE booth #838.

Ring in 18k gold with South Sea keshi pearl, $1,500; Savannah Stranger for Muse (Couture MUSE #838)

Medium stud earrings in 18k gold featuring cast keshi South Sea pearl motifs, $1,950; Savannah Stranger for Muse (Couture MUSE #838)

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JCK