Sterling silver pearl pendants in solid .925 silver â freshwater cultured pearls and mother-of-pearl, worn plain or set with diamonds, cubic zirconia and colored gemstones.
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More about these pearls
Why silver for a pearl
Silver is the metal that makes a pearl an everyday piece. The price lets a pearl be worn to work rather than kept for occasions, and a white metal reads as a continuation of the pearl rather than a contrast to it. Most of these carry a rhodium finish, which is what keeps that white bright.
Pearl and mother-of-pearl
Part of this range is freshwater cultured pearl â grown whole in a river or lake mussel. The rest is mother-of-pearl, the iridescent lining of the shell, carved and polished into shapes a grown pearl cannot take: hearts, dolphins, owls, turtles, a cameo. Both carry the same shifting luster. The product page names which one a piece is.
What the pearls are set with
Plain settings let the pearl carry the piece. Elsewhere the pearl is paired with diamond, cubic zirconia, marcasite, onyx or a colored stone â garnet, amethyst, citrine, peridot, blue topaz, sapphire. The teardrop designs pair a pearl above a faceted colored stone below.
Pendants, slides and charms
Most hang from a bail and go onto any chain you already own. Chain slides thread onto the chain instead, lying flat and staying centered. A few are lobster-clasp charms, which clip straight onto a bracelet or a charm carrier.
Caring for silver and pearl together
The two want opposite things, which is why the order matters. Silver darkens with air, and a polishing cloth brings it back â but never let polish or dip touch the pearl. Wipe the pearl with a soft dry cloth only, and keep ultrasonic cleaners and steam away from the piece entirely.
Common questions
Is this solid sterling silver?
Yes â .925 solid silver throughout, stamped .925, which is 92.5 percent pure silver alloyed for strength. Many carry a rhodium finish, a surface treatment on solid silver that keeps the white bright. Nothing here is silver over base metal.
Are the pearls real?
The pearls are freshwater cultured pearls, grown in a living mussel. A number of the pieces use mother-of-pearl instead, which is genuine shell rather than a grown pearl. Each product page states which one it is.
Why is silver so much less than gold for a similar pearl?
The metal, not the pearl. A pearl of the same size and grade costs the same whichever metal holds it; silver simply costs far less per gram than 14K gold. It is the reason a silver pearl pendant works as an everyday piece.
Will sterling silver tarnish against the pearl?
Silver darkens with air and moisture over time. A rhodium finish slows it considerably. When you do polish, keep the cloth off the pearl â polish and dip damage nacre, which is the only part of a pearl anyone sees.
What is a chain slide?
A pendant that threads onto the chain rather than hanging from a bail, so it sits flat and stays centered instead of swinging. It needs a chain it can pass over, usually an omega or a slide chain, and the product page states what it fits.
Is a chain included?
No â these are sold as the pendant alone. Browse sterling silver chains to match one; a fine cable, box or rope chain keeps the pearl the focus.
Can these be worn every day?
That is what they are for. Solid silver and a cultured pearl both stand up to daily wear, as long as the pendant goes on after perfume and hairspray and comes off before swimming or washing up.
