June is the month of pearl, among other birthstones, so it’s only right to spotlight the latest collections featuring the gem. But it certainly seems that we’ve been talking about pearl an awful lot lately, and that’s because it has given us so much to talk about.
Designers and jewelry brands have continued to find intriguing ways to make the age-old gemstone feel fresh and youthful—so often, in fact, that it seems to have become the rule rather than the exception. It’s really, really exciting—and I have to imagine it’s especially so for those born in June, who now have all these options for their birthstone, should they like to wear them.
The always absolutely fabulous Graziela has a new pearl-centric line to add to this mix (on the heels of a recently released, also gorgeous men’s collection), and it’s one splashed with color and movement. The line, the Brazilian designer’s first featuring pearls, reminds me of rolling waves and fresh air at the beach.
“I have been wanting to create a pearl collection for the last five years,” said designer Graziela Kaufman in a statement. “I wanted it to be different than anything else on the market: modern, sexy, flowing designs of colored gems mixed with pearls creating pieces that are very wearable, not so serious and traditional! I set pearls in unusual silhouettes like ear cuffs, hoops, and climbers to feel fresh and magical.”
Fresh and magical is absolutely an apt description, the collection combining whimsy with luxury and far and away succeeding with putting a fun—but never frivolous—spin on pearl.
Among my favorites is a constellation of colored gemstones forming a spiraling ring patterned with a crown of pearls—a piece that, while certainly statement-making, still appears easy-breezy to wear and enjoy. And then there’s a particular bracelet that’s like a wreath of good gems for the wrist: two rows of London blue topaz, emerald, and apatite, interspersed with the starring glossy pearls.
To choose a favorite pair of earrings would be impossible—the best option is to select them all. Even the relatively simplest pair, an oversize stud of sorts, is dressed with three lines of gemstones in a sort of organized cluster that’s so beautiful you’d never want to take them off (but do, because pearls). And then there’s the truly sensational ear climbers, hoops, and ladder-like danglers, all perfect for the need-to-be-seen styles we’re craving right now.
Though this collection might prove an intriguing option for those June-born and longing for pearl, it really is a revelation for everyone this summer, letting the gem be as elegant as it naturally is, with a whimsical twist that leaves it feeling more fun than overtly fancy.
Top: Pérola Concha earrings in 18k white gold with 19.29 cts. t.w. 3 mm–5 mm freshwater pearls, 3.29 cts. t.w. London blue topaz, 1.84 cts. t.w. emerald, and 1.05 cts. t.w. apatite, $7,350; Graziela
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