Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, today we continue our series dedicated to jewellery etiquette and how to gracefully wear these masterpieces. Today, we will focus on the pearls necklace, especially on how big the pearls depending on your age. For this, we still invite Yves Lemay, Jewellery master, to present some advice.
Recently we published here about the pearl necklaces length etiquette. But according to the rules of the etiquette, diameter of the pearls is important too. It should be directly proportional to the age of the women who is wearing the string. The older you are, the larger the pearls could be.
Teens: 12 to 16 years old
Delicate small pearls for a delicate teenager
They will normally wear 5 to 6mm freshwater pearl strings. It is usually bought for young teens but may also be appropriate for an extremely petite woman. It gives a gracious, innocent and feminine impression, which suits their appearance.
freshwater pearls
Young adults: 16 to 25 years old
This young person is wearing too large pearls for her age
Pearls strings between 6 to 7 mm diameter must have their preference, and will most often be fresh water pearls as well as Akoya. We are still in a fresh and innocent feeling, but for ladies entering the social world, where they shall not be too arrogant with their jewellery.
Akoya pearls
Young women: 25 to 30 years old
Grace Kelly, 25 here, is wearing an appropriate necklace
Pearls of 7 to 8 mm in diameter are perfect for them. This is basically « The Classic Pearl Necklace », you really can’t go wrong here. This size is very elegant and looks great whether you’re at the office, shopping at the store, going out to dinner, special occasions, basically this size goes anywhere and everywhere. The nature of the gems here can be any of Akoya, fresh water, Tahitian or South Sea pearls, with the first 2 types being most often found since the later 2 are hard to find in such small sizes.
Tahitian pearls
Young ladies: 30 to 37 years old
Audrey Hepburn is wearing large pearls here, too large to be worn in public considering her age. They may be considered as fake otherwise
The 8-9 mm pearl size range is the beginning of luxury pearl territory. These pearls will have a nice « heft » to them, and look a tad larger than average for an elegant and glamourous presentation. These will tend to be more Akoya, Tahitian or South Sea pearls, even though top quality Fresh Water pearls are perfectly fine as well.
South sea pearls
Ladies: 38 to 45 years old
For 38 to 45 years old, or for extremely successful 30s women, 9 to 10 mm Akoya, Tahitian or south sea pearls are preferred. For a refined, discriminating woman who is serious about her pearls and won’t settle for anything but the best. Also a solid choice for a woman on her way into upper management who now needs to notch it up over her well-worn 7.5 x 8mm strand.
Venerable ladies: 45 years old and older
Letizia Ortiz, Queen of Spain, is wearing pearl too large for her age (43), but matching her social status
Venerable pearls for venerable ladies. Bigger pearl strands of 11 mm and up are best for mature ladies of 45 years of age and up, also in the Tahitian and South Sea Pearl varieties even though Akoyas (hard to find in these sizes) and Fresh Water pearl would also fit. These gems, when ticking all the boxes in terms of quality, can be very expensive.
I hope you appreciated this advice, and that it will be useful next time you wonder how to wear a pearl necklace. Follow us to continue receiving our next etiquette articles!
