Modern Pearl Jewellery: How to Wear Pearls This Spring and Summer

Think pearl jewellery belongs in your grandmother's jewellery box? Think again. Pearls are back, and this time they feel relaxed, modern and made for real life, from a barefoot Sunday brunch to evening drinks in the city.

This guide covers why pearls are trending, the modern ways to wear them, easy styling ideas for an Aussie spring and summer, and how to care for your pearl jewellery so it glows for years.

Pearls are trending because they sit right between two big fashion moods: nostalgia and reinvention. Designers have always loved pearl jewellery, but today's take feels fresher and more playful.

• Layered strands and pearl chokers instead of a single neat string
• Sculptural and irregular pearls with an organic, handcrafted feel
• Pearls mixed with gold, silver and gemstones
• Everyday styling rather than special-occasion only

For Australian wardrobes, that adaptability is everything. Modern pearl jewellery moves easily from relaxed coastal days to dinner in the city.

Pearl jewellery is no longer just a single strand. Here are the modern shapes we love right now.

Pearl chokers and layered strands

Wear a pearl strand peeking out from an open linen shirt or layered with fine gold chains. It's the perfect mix of casual Aussie ease and polished charm.

Pearl drop and hoop earrings

Pearl hoops and drops add movement and light around the face. Keep your neckline bare and let them do the talking with a floaty sundress or crisp white tee.

Pearl cuffs and stacks

Organic, irregular pearls on cuffs and bracelets feel like treasure found on a coastal walk. Stack them with bangles or wear one on its own as a statement.

Pearl studs

A simple freshwater pearl stud is the easiest way to start. It works with everything from tailoring to swimwear cover-ups.

The trick to wearing pearl jewellery today is not to treat them too preciously. Mix them with raw textures, soft fabrics and modern cuts.

• Linen and layers: a pearl strand under a half-buttoned linen shirt, denim shorts and woven sandals.
• Coastal glam: pearl drop earrings with a floaty sundress for beach weddings, picnics or golden-hour drinks.
• Urban edge: pearl bracelets stacked with chunky silver rings, a tailored blazer and slip skirt.
• Minimalist: one strand of larger pearls with a monochrome tank and trousers.

Love a beachy look? Read our guide to ocean-inspired jewellery for an Aussie summer.

Pearl jewellery is a blank canvas, so it suits every style personality.

• The minimalist: clean, classic studs or a single pendant with crisp tailoring.
• The romantic: dainty layered strands with lace camisoles and flowing maxi skirts.
• The free spirit: irregular pearls in mixed metals, hoops and asymmetric designs.
• The maximalist: multiple strands mixed with gold chains, bracelets and statement earrings.

Australian style is famously laid-back, and pearl jewellery fits right in. Local designers pair them with cotton, linen and silk, the fabrics that suit our climate and lifestyle.

Pearls also have a special connection to Australia. The Kimberley coast of Western Australia, especially around Broome, is famous for its South Sea pearls, some of the largest and most lustrous in the world. That ocean connection gives Aussie pearl styling its organic, effortless feel.

Pearls are organic gems, so they're softer and more sensitive than most gemstones. A little care keeps your pearl jewellery glowing.

Everyday care

• Last on, first off: apply perfume, sunscreen and hairspray before you put on your pearl jewellery.
• Wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear.
• Wear them often, as a little skin contact helps keep their lustre.

What to avoid

• Harsh chemicals, chlorine and ultrasonic cleaners
• Swimming, showering or exercising in your pearls
• Storing them loose with other jewellery, which can scratch them

For more tips, read our guide to caring for handcrafted jewellery.

Pearl is also the traditional June birthstone, alongside moonstone and alexandrite. That makes pearl birthstone jewellery a meaningful gift for June birthdays, Gemini and Cancer.

• Pearl is linked with purity, wisdom and calm.
• Mother of pearl, the lustrous inner layer of a shell, gives the same soft glow in everyday designs.
• Pearls are also the traditional gift for a 30th wedding anniversary.

Discover more in our guide to pearl, the June birthstone, or meet June's secondary stone, moonstone.