The Story of Freshwater Pearl Jewelry

Pearls have been part of Pacific island life for centuries. In Hawaiian tradition, the ocean is not background but sustenance, the source of food, travel, and the materials that define island craft. Freshwater pearls belong to a different branch of that tradition than the dark pearls of French Polynesia, cultivated in cooler, calmer inland waters rather than open lagoons. They are softer in color and character: white, pink, and peach, with a luminosity that shifts in different light. Hawaiian freshwater pearl jewelry pairs that natural quality with designs drawn from island imagery and set in materials built to last.

Designs in the Freshwater Pearl Collection

The collection brings together pearl pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings, most pairing a freshwater pearl with Hawaiian motifs in 14K gold or sterling silver settings. The pearls arrive in white, pink, and peach tones, each giving a different character to the same setting. White reads formal and classic. Pink reads warm and a little romantic. Peach sits between them, with an earthy warmth that works well against yellow gold. Some pieces present the pearl simply, in a clean bezel or drop setting. Others place it within a Hawaiian motif: a plumeria, a wave form, a maile leaf. The pearl becomes part of the design rather than the whole of it.

Craftsmanship

Freshwater pearls are cultivated gems, not simulated ones. The cultivation process takes time, and the pearl that results is a genuine product of the mollusk. Settings are made in solid 14K gold or sterling silver. Pearls are secured in settings built to protect them. The gem is softer than most stones and benefits from a bezel or recessed prong that keeps the nacre from catching.

Choosing a Freshwater Pearl Piece

Freshwater pearl jewelry make stunning gifts for any of life's milestones and occasions. We've crafted casual and simple styles that highlight pearl's natural beauty, as well as more ornate settings and additional diamonds to compliment pearls into dazzling formal statement pieces. Pearl earrings in any tone are also popular for daily wear. For someone drawn to pearls but looking for something with more drama in color, the Tahitian Pearl Collection presents the darker, richer end of the Pacific pearl jewelry.