Symbolizing love, immortality, and fidelity, ivy leaf was often used in Victorian and Edwardian jewels. Pearls that represent wisdom and protection strengthen the meaning of this Victorian-era bracelet.

It doesn’t get much more romantic than this Victorian keepsake depicting two connected hearts. And as a brooch, this jewel feels even more sentimental worn over the heart.

William Ruser, known as the jeweler to stars during Hollywood’s golden age, handmade this ring with yellow gold wrapping around a freshwater pearl. It’s truly one of a kind.

David Webb isn’t afraid to make a statement—and that’s certainly the case with this 20th-century necklace with oversize gold links and diamond-encircled pearls.

Lang Antiques put it best when describing this turn-of-the-century piece on its website: “Fine wine doesn’t grow on trees—it comes from leafy vines with succulent grapes such as is artfully depicted in this charming grapevine brooch.”

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The Edmonton, Alberta, jewelry company created the limited-edition bracelet from two of its popular styles: a freshwater pearl bracelet and the Layla paper-clip chain. The Asian Heritage Hope bracelet combines two different looks in one unique, on-trend piece, says Chau Lui, co-owner of Paris Jewellers.

Paris Jewellers will donate 100% of the net proceeds from the bracelet to the Asian Solidarity Fund and Stop AAPI Hate, two nonprofits fighting intolerance, prejudice, and injustice. (The Asian Solidarity Fund is Canadian; Stop AAPI Hate is based in the States.)

“Jewelry holds a moment in time,” ” Lui says. “It makes us feel or remember something every time you put it on. Our hope is that this bracelet lets people feel beautiful but also that they’ve had an impact and they’ve made a difference.”

Asian Heritage Hope debuts online May 12. Paris Jewellers focuses on May for the introduction, as it is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. The company has raised more than $20,000 for nonprofit organizations on previous fund-raising jewelry projects, Lui says.

After Lui’s mom, Thu Luong, immigrated to Canada from Vietnam, one of her first jobs in her new country was as a goldsmith, and she had to use a Vietnamese-English dictionary to communicate with customers. The family opened its first jewelry store in 1987, and the company is now co-owned by Lui and her sister, Trang Wong.

“If my mom could overcome those kinds of challenges in terms of language and learning a new culture, we know as a family we can overcome anything,” Lui says.

The Heritage Hope bracelet’s pearls represent Thu, who loves that gem, as well as Lui’s daughter Asla, who has a birthday in June (pearl is June’s birthstone). The paper-clip chain is named after Lui’s other daughter, Layla, so the final piece blends two generations.

“We love the style. It’s timeless turned trendy,” Lui says. “We are mindful of creating jewelry that you can wear every single day, whether you want to dress up or dress down.… The pearl and the paper-clip chain could not be more different, but they come together so beautifully.”

Top: As part of its fund-raising jewelry collection, Paris Jewellers is debuting the Asian Heritage Hope bracelet on May 12. Money raised from its sale will go to groups that support Asian Americans and Canadians. (Photos courtesy of Paris Jewellers)

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Stocking up on all things new gives you a reason to invite your clients to the store, and gives your clients a reason to get excited. It encourages you to get up to speed on trends, and to retire pieces past their prime.

To whet your appetite, we’ve highlighted three designer jewelry brands that have all introduced new collections this season. Ready, set, stock!

Arizona and Crystalline by Jia Jia

In 2017, Jia-Jia Zhu, a former fashion buyer at Bergdorf Goodman, decamped to Bali to spend a year practicing yoga, meditating, and working with crystals.

“During one of my meditations, I unlocked my third eye and started seeing incredible colors and visions,” Zhu tells JCK. “I had this calling to go to Tucson to learn more about crystals.”

At the gem shows, she befriended a crystal seller who gifted her a tray of clear quartz crystals that formed the basis of her Jia Jia collection of 14k gold and crystal jewelry, introduced in 2020.

“Being a fashion jewelry buyer at Bergdorf, I never saw crystal jewelry that resonated with me,” says Zhu. “This was my opportunity to create something that felt good to me. What we do is all one of a kind. We don’t use glue or epoxy. They groove each crystal based on its shape and custom hand-set each piece with gold and diamonds.”

Handcrafted in New York City, the brand recently introduced new styles in its bestselling Arizona and Crystalline collections, including crystals featuring gem-set bars with colored stone accents.

Empreinte Animale by Lalique

For most jewelers, the name Lalique conjures the delicate, naturalistic creations of the Art Nouveau master René Lalique. This spring, the jewelry brand that carries his name is introducing a collection inspired by the creatures of the jungle, incorporating chain-link styles that feature feather, fur, and scale motifs for an intriguing hint of texture.

Diamond Dipped, Sable Doré, and Sable Noir High Deco by Tejen

Tejen recently updated its collection of bold, sculptural jewelry with a handful of new pieces featuring black pearls and opals and generous heaps of diamonds. The Diamond Dipped range, for example, pairs high-polish Fairmined gold with sizable white diamonds for a gleaming day-to-night look, while the newest pieces in the Sable collection highlight the perennially-in-style chicness of gemstone beads in unusual 18k gold settings (exhibit A: the tangled pair of High Deco opal drops below).

Top: Arizona Rainbow Sapphire Crystal Charm necklace in 14k gold, $1,400; Jia Jia

While peak season is over, cherry blossoms can be found all around the area still blooming their sweet shade of pink, while other flowering trees—magnolia, dogwood, jacaranda—echo their beauty in shades of purple, pink, and white.

It’s a marvelous treat for the eyes (not as much for the allergy-prone nose) and puts a spring in the step of all who see it. Much like this transitional season, though, the blossoms are all too fleeting, which is why we adore jewelry that commemorates them.

No brand does that better than Mikimoto, whose cherry blossom jewels have a long history. I only recently learned that a Cherry Blossom Queen is crowned at the close of D.C.’s annual festival each year with a ceremonial pearl crown by Mikimoto, gifted to the U.S. in 1957. (How did I, a jewelry editor, live in Washington for almost 10 years and not know that?!)

Mikimoto updates the cherry blossom motif in its newest offerings, with the brand’s signature pearls anchoring necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. I’m partial to these pretty earrings, with their scalloped lines of rose gold sparkling daintily with diamonds. They’re modern and appear youthful but attain the right mix of classic and on-trend, especially given our current fascination with fresh pearls. And they’re worthy of bequeathing to the next generation.

“The magnificently full and blushed floral presentation has been appreciated throughout centuries and across cultures,” said a statement from the brand. “Mikimoto’s ode to these beauties and their significance in Japanese culture can be seen throughout their stunning and delicate cherry blossom collection.”

Top: Cherry blossom earrings in 18k pink gold with 6 mm Akoya cultured pearls and 0.05 ct. t.w. diamonds, $2,500; Mikimoto

That’s the question we asked a number of jewelry designers and jewelry PR consultants, because who could possibly know better than people who not only live across the pond, but dedicate their professions to jewelry as well?

The most common answer, as even a jewelry novice might have supposed: the brooch.

While the first documented metal brooches date back to the Bronze Age, there are a number of moments in the history of the brooch that involve the British Royal Family in one way or another, from Queen Victoria’s mourning and cameo brooches to the more recent pieces worn by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

On the topic of the royal family and jewelry, pearls may come to mind as well.

“For me, pearl jewelry has always felt quintessentially British,” says British designer Kitty Joyas. “From adorning the necks of British Monarchy for centuries to the use of pearl jewelry as the go-to for British countryside fashion, pearls feel synonymous with British culture in many ways. I love working with pearls, but crafting with them through a modern lens using contemporary forms, and injecting some of my other principal influences.”

If you ask Cameron Tewson, PR consultant for Cameron Tewson PR, you’ll get a very modern answer, maybe one that’s poised to be a new classic: lab-grown gems.

“I think the U.K. market is more open-minded and available to use both lab-grown diamonds and lab-grown colored gemstones,” says Cameron Tewson. “I equally believe it lends itself well to savvy consumers who are interested in investing in great jewelry at affordable prices. The British consumer is also knowledgeable when it comes to purchasing and probably over the past few years more so have become deeply interested in the ethics and environmental changes that their purchases can change and pave the way with.”

This sounds pretty familiar to the American consumer as well, but Tewson tells JCK he believes the U.S. is more focused on lab-grown diamonds in bridal and wedding jewelry rather than everyday fashion jewelry. While that’s subjective, there are many brands out of the U.K. that have built their businesses solely on lab-grown diamond fashion jewelry, as opposed to other brands we know that started with natural diamonds, and have either switched to lab-grown or started offering their customers the choice.

Much like in the U.S., our community across the pond sees a wide variety of different styles and trends dominating their market—it’s a small world, after all. But history and tradition still dictate some of the most classic styles in demand, with an eye on the future of jewelry as well.

Top: Drop earrings in 14k yellow gold with freshwater pearls and white and gray diamonds, £1,480 ($1,760); Ruth Tomlinson

Lucci has worn many hats throughout her career and is currently focused on her fitness brand. If you’ve ever seen her in interviews or on the home-shopping networks that sell her products, she’s vivacious and genuinely warm and well-meaning. These qualities make her a natural fit to be an American Heart Association ambassador.

But there’s more to it than that. In 2018 Lucci underwent emergency heart surgery due to two blocked arteries. Recognizing the signs of an impending heart attack saved her life; a second incident in 2022 also resulted in surgery. Today she’s committed to raising awareness about cardiovascular health, especially among women, even lobbying on Capitol Hill for congressional support of policies that could address the disease, which remains the leading cause of death the U.S

Now, as part of her ongoing heart health activism, she’s partnered with Tiary, an online jewelry brand specializing in custom fine jewelry, on a series of design projects, the first of which launched this month in honor of Women’s Heart Health Month. The two pendants are pictured below; 25% of the purchase price will help fund the American Heart Association’s education and research efforts.

“I designed the necklace out of a desire to shine a new light on fundraising for the American Heart Association because of all they do,” Lucci tells JCK. “That was on my mind during this collaboration because AHA gave me the opportunity to get my message out and to tell my story in the hopes that even just one woman might hear it and get to the doctor if they had symptoms.

“I think the Empower Your Heart necklace is certainly appropriate for Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day or a gift from you to someone you love, like your mom or your best friend. And it also can be a gift to celebrate your wins, it can be a gift of self-love, there are many different ways to look at it. And I just think that this first necklace really is appropriate for all of those occasions, because at its core it’s about love in all its forms.”

Lucci confirmed that the Tiary collaboration will include future pieces but couldn’t reveal the specifics just yet. What she did reveal: her great love of fine jewelry and some favorite pieces she’s acquired over the years, plus some tidbits from her time on All My Children. Our conversation, ahead.

The Tiary collaboration is not your first foray into jewelry design. If I remember correctly, you had a collection on HSN.

Yes, the jewelry line was something I was doing on HSN for several years. That was a different kind of collaboration, where I really had a chance to explore the world of faux and costume jewelry, which was great. We ran the gamut, offering everything from glamorous to everyday pieces, and that was really a great a learning experience for me. A lot of that jewelry was being manufactured in Rhode Island at the time, and I was very happy about that as well. The jewelry was definitely a reference to the Erica Kane character, and that made it fun for me and fun for the audience. But also, truly, Erica and I had very similar taste. The only difference was that Erica would wear the Dolce & Gabbana and fabulous going-out earrings just answering the door during the day at her house or going into a business meeting or going on an airplane.

Would you describe yourself as a “jewelry person”?

I did not begin as a jewelry person, I evolved into a jewelry person. I think maybe I inherited this from my mother, who was very much a jewelry person. Not that we’re talking about any enormously expensive pieces, but my mother had great taste. And if we were walking on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach—where you cannot take two steps without seeing some of the best jewelry in the world—we could not possibly pass a jewelry store without her stopping to look and tell me her opinions. It was basically a lot of oohing and aaahing. I have a couple of her pieces that make me so happy. I have a beautiful pearl necklace from her—pearls on a wire, not her ordinary pearls but more of a design-forward element of her jewelry wardrobe—and there are matching earrings. I just discovered that I have them, and I can’t wait to wear them.

Besides these wonderful pearls, what are some other treasured items in your personal collection?

It’s funny because my husband [Helmut Huber, who died in 2022, after 52 years of marriage] also had wonderful taste, and I am very, very lucky to have such beautiful pieces from him. One is a double strand of opera-length pearls with a diamond clasp. And what was really very special about not only the necklace, and the thought and love that went into giving it to me, was the sense of joy he put into the presentation. It was Valentine’s Day. I had mentioned to him earlier that I was looking at some pearls, and that I love pearls, and he didn’t seem very interested. And then we were sitting at breakfast on Valentine’s Day morning and out from under the table, he just pulled out this double strand of opera-length pearls. It just took my breath away. He was someone who had a big presence; he was very fun and very funny, so this was very him. And actually these pearls meant so much to us that at one point we had an interior decorator and a painter come and do some trompe l’oeil work in the foyer of our house—by the window on the landing of the staircase, she painted a bird flying with a double strand of pearls in its beak. And it’s still there.

There’s another piece that comes to mind. As I said, my husband was very generous to me and would often take me to Fred Leighton for special occasions. This one year we were in Fred Leighton and we were looking at different things. I knew how lucky I was, but I didn’t really know what I would want to have. And this particular time, Mr. Leighton brought out what is still one of my most beautiful and cherished pieces of jewelry: a diamond pendant with a ruby in the center, from the 1930s and from Paris. And the marquise diamonds are en tremblant so they have movement. It’s delicate, and it’s on a very delicate chain that also has little diamonds interspersed. It’s very beautiful, and that whole memory is very special to me.

What pieces do you wear every day?

I wear a Cartier Tank Française and a beautiful rose gold link bracelet from the Tiffany HardWear collection. It was a Valentine’s Day gift I received two years ago, again from my husband. I’ve purchased things for myself over the years, but nothing means more to me than the jewels my husband gave me.

What jewelry designers do you collect and covet?

I’ve learned over the course of time that the pieces that hold the most value are the pieces that are signed. I happen to love Van Cleef—who wouldn’t?—and Cartier.

Has your jewelry style evolved over the years?

Oh, for sure. And certainly this was the case with Erica Kane. I mean, in the 1980s I could not get enough jewelry on me or enough stuff, bells and whistles of all kinds. I don’t know how they got it all in one frame. The earrings could not be big enough or long enough. I remember the 1970s being very “back to the earth”—suede cords and beads—and then the 1980s, it was so just so big. I did a cover of TV Guide and those earrings are so big and so long that you hardly see the person! The 1990s got very, very delicate, and I think that was the road back to refinement. But there was also an absence of jewelry, and I remember thinking, “Oh, women are going to get really fed up with this pretty quickly. You’re going to want to wear your jewelry!”

Is there a big Erica Kane jewelry moment that you can still recall from your many years of playing her?

No, I don’t remember anything like that. But what I will tell you is that I started playing Erica as a 15-year-old high school girl [in 1970], when Erica was going to New York and wanting to be a model and all of that. And of course her character is very willful and self-involved, so I understand why the costume designer wanted to put all this jewelry on her. But I remember saying, “Please don’t make her all about jewelry. This is a character who is really self-indulgent, but she’s not a poodle. She’s really spunky and capable, and let’s focus on those aspects of her rather than the jewelry.” And jewelry is fabulous. But it is meant to make you feel good and maybe make you feel more beautiful. But when it was excessive, it just looked silly to me. And I didn’t want that for my character.

All of my friends and family are going to be so jealous that I just spent my morning talking to you about jewelry.

Thank you. Say hi to them for me, will you?

Top: Susan Lucci during her appearance on Good Day New York earlier this month as part of a publicity campaign to help raise awareness for Women’s Heart Health Month. In addition to the Tiary pendant she co-designed with the brand, she wears the Cartier Tank Française watch and Tiffany & Co. bracelet that are mentioned in the interview. (Photo: Michael Simon)

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Thanks to celebrities like Harry Styles and major fashion houses such as Marc Jacobs, men wearing pearls has gone from a surprising moment to a long-term play with Kentaro Nishimura, COO of Mikimoto America, noting that pearls are “essential jewelry for everyday life for all genders and generations.”

At Jacobs’ New York Fashion Week show on Feb. 2, all the runway models wore classic Mikimoto Akoya pearl strands and studs as a balance to the designer’s 1990s punk-inspired Heroes collection.

Jacobs himself walked in Mikimoto while wearing a black sweater, black skirt, and black chunky boots. Jacobs has worn pearls for several years now, sharing in interviews how his pearls have become his good-luck charm, so he wears them daily.

Considering that the Mikimoto history with the world’s first cultured pearl dates back to 1893, it’s an amazing journey from then to now, Nishimura says.

“The momentum at which pearls have grown in popularity is incredible—and is in large part due to their timelessness and elegance,” Nishimura told JCK in an email interview. “We’re celebrating our 130th anniversary this year, with new campaigns and product launches, and are looking forward to share the beauty and history of Mikimoto and its high-quality pearls with the world.”

It’s about time men stepped up to wearing this classic within the jewelry world, says Leon Rbibo, president of the Pearl Source and Laguna Pearl.

“Men, welcome to the current century,” Rbibo says. “Pearls for guys are going to continue to trend in 2023. We’ve seen everyone from Sam Smith to Pharrell, Harry Styles, and A$AP Rocky pull off the pearl look in 2022. Don’t expect that to stop.”

Rbibo says he expects jumbo pearls and long drop earrings to trend this year. Pearls can go large without breaking the bank, he notes, especially if you look at freshwater as an option. He also thinks pearl studs—his own brand’s and others, such as the Mikimoto ones worn at the Jacobs show—are perfect for men with everything from dressy wear for upscale events to “ripped denim for brunch the next day.”

“The bigger the better. The chunkier the better. The more layers, the better. You get the idea,” Rbibo says. “Customers are looking for statement pieces that give that wow factor, and they get it with both of these categories [necklaces and earrings].”

Athletes are hopping on the bandwagon too. Alex Cannon, co-founder of men’s jewelry brand Craftd London, says his company got a big PR push when soccer star Raheem Sterling wore its pearl necklace with his club’s uniform.

“I love seeing athletes showing glimpses of their fashion style on the pitch. Raheem is leading the way with his fashion choices, as per usual,” Cannon says. “We’re proud to have Raheem wearing Craftd. He’s a world-class player and an inspiration to many. Every man wants to feel confident and our pieces are designed to help them achieve that feeling.”

Top: Men who want to try pearls can wear a simple single pearl, like this Golden Baroque pearl necklace on a leather band ($139), says the Pearl Source’s president Leon Rbibo. (Photo courtesy of the Pearl Source)

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This pair from Mejia Jewelry has pearl, but it’s also got a whole lot more.

With a shoulder-grazing length that’s currently superhot, a versatile design, and the addition of snakes—snakes!—these sterling silver earrings easily make it onto spring and summer wish lists.

The earrings come from Mejia’s line of peekaboo hoops, which feature small cabochon gemstones set so they sit right below the earlobe. They’re convertible, so they can be worn alone or hung with charms, lending them a versatility that makes them long-lasting favorites.

“I’ve always wanted to create long pearl shoulder duster earrings that swayed so gracefully and playfully against the neck,” says Mejia’s designer and founder, Elise Thompson. “Customers will love the versatility of these earrings because they can layer on the charms and make it as playful as they want or wear the hoops by themselves. The snake charms and pearl charms come off, so wear the snakes one day and pearls another, or wear them together for an eclectic and dynamic duo.

“I love that there is an added surprise on the bottom of the keshi pearl in the drop,” says Thompson. “I set a bright rubellite tourmaline bullet cab on the bottom of the pearl, so while it’s not noticeable at first, it’s a pleasant surprise when you point it out for people and something special the wearer knows is there.”

Versatility is important when it comes to tackling current trends—while popular styles in the jewelry market tend to move really slowly, shoppers looking for shoulder-length earrings have the flexibility each day to wear elements of these earrings or not. And if one really wanted to mix it up? The mismatched pairing of small hoop in one ear and long dangly in another is a pretty cool way to show these off.

Top: Shoulder duster earrings with snake charms in sterling silver with pink keshi and freshwater pearls, rubellite bullet cabochons, and custom-cut Ethiopian opals, $1,200; Mejia Jewelry

Before she cofounded this modern pearl brand, Jungsura got her master’s in international management at the Royal Holloway in the United Kingdom, studied hospitality in Switzerland, and worked within this industry in Bangkok, where she was born and raised. So, you could say welcoming people with charm and grace is both her personal and professional skill.

Jungsura is one of three founders of Matara, which since its beginnings in 2014 has worked to develop a pearl brand that reaches luxury buyers as well as Gen Z trendsetters. That’s why Jungsura says having a hospitality mindset has proven its value time and again over the past eight years.

“It was a great introduction to the international, customer-focused world as well as enabled me to live in and work in close contact with people from all over the world—those discerning people who well understood fashion, luxury, travel, and lived experiences,” Jungsura says.

Jungsura was born in Thailand and grew up fascinated with pearls and jewelry. Her mother, who was born in June, always loved her birthstone and wore pearls frequently. The pearl’s beauty captivated her in a memorable way, she says.

“It’s had an enchantment for me on a personal, intergenerational, and family bond level,” Jungsura says. “Like most girls growing up, I also had a great love of jewelry and often wondered where some of the beautiful and imaginative designs that high-society ladies and global celebrities would wear had been created.”

Jungsura’s education was her primary focus as a child and teen—something that influences her as well today in that school is where she met her Matara cofounders. While attending St. Francis Xavier Convent School, Jungsura met Salil “Tangmo” Andraphan and Patchaploy “Prae” Matarungsombat, and the three became a bonded trio. Andraphan serves as the brand’s CCO  and Matarungsombat is its COO.

They all continued together to Chulalongkorn University, but went down different career roads from there while remaining friends. Jungsura says that “everlasting friendship” is what drew them together to see pearls as their entry point into the jewelry industry.

“In 2014, we aimed to be a power trip in the world of jewelry and decided to set up a pearl jewelry business as we saw a gap in the market,” Jungsura says. “Our concept was we want to change traditional view and reinvent pearls for young, modern women. At the same time, we also wanted to educate consumers about pearls and make them part of our journey.”

Having that hospitality background was key to this part of the process, Jungsura says.

“There is a great deal of creative expression from our perspective in driving the market beyond what it has traditionally expected of pearls and pearl jewelry. For example, young jewelry buyers have traditionally looked beyond pearl, believing that it’s something for an older generation, or that it may not be suitable for young, edgy, or clean-cut fashion, and instead gravitate toward more minimalist pieces or celebrity-led styles,” Jungsura says.

“We pressed ahead because we could see there is so much that we could offer through our brand and artist collaborations and collections that embrace modern themes and in-vogue societal aspects, such as diversity, bonding, inclusion, freedom, and international cultural influences, which are once again delightfully being unleashed by the removal of global travel restrictions,” she says.

The coronavirus pandemic and its related shutdowns gave Matara a focus on commissions and custom designs. The brand has grown to offer a fine jewelry collection, high jewelry, and a flagship Matara Diamond collection along with its boutiques. Its latest location debuted in December in the Gaysorn Centre.

“We’ve been fortunate post-covid that we’ve managed to rely on our strong, small niche community of clients who enjoy wearing our designs and stay in close contact for special commissions, or simply to follow our latest international jewelry designer collaborations,” Jungsura says. “Our customers have played a huge part in our origin story and rise to international repute.”

Top: Jongjin “Jin” Jungsura and her two childhood best friends cofounded pearl brand Matara in 2014 with more than 30 collections today that she says are fresh, modern, and new takes on this beloved gemstone (photos courtesy of Matara). 

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It’s gone beyond a single celebrity or red-carpet moment, says Los Angeles–based jeweler LAguna Pearl. The brand recently announced its latest launch: A gender-inclusive pearl jewelry line, the aim of which is to fulfill the demand for custom pearl jewelry for everyone—especially men.

While the line can be worn by anyone, LAguna Pearl president Samuel Rbibo says the brand is purposefully designing and marketing this line to men. Its two collections, Fame and Fortune, are meant to open up people’s minds in terms of what pearls are and what they can look like when worn as a style statement.

“Put simply, this gender-neutral approach to the current trend in the pearl industry is only going to rise higher,” Rbibo says. “I would expect that this will continue well into 2023 as more celebrities and A-listers gravitate toward new eclectic and trendy looks.”

LAguna’s sister brand, the Pearl Source, has been importing high-end pearls from French Polynesia and Asia for more than two decades. It has historically remained traditional in its designs and product lines. But custom requests from L.A.’s entertainment scene gave rise to LAguna Pearl, a brand that Rbibo says favors bold, edgy designs using pearls in ways they are not traditionally utilized.

“Our brand was created from the rising trend and overall need among younger millennials for edgy, gender-neutral jewelry for all,” Rbibo says. “Our core business line was historically based on traditional pearl designs. But with the change in trend, this new product collection was meant to address a modern audience. And, yes, owners and employees alike wear the new collection.”

The styles have become popularized by artists such as A$AP Rocky, Harry Styles, Drake, Pharrell Williams, and Jason Momoa. LAguna’s most recent private design was a $250,000 piece for an attendee of the 2022 Grammy Awards.

“Traditionally, pearls have been geared more toward the feminine market, but with the shift in more gender-neutral fashion and accessory trends, we have noticed a rising movement and natural gravitation for pearls even among male demographics,” Rbibo says. “Certainly, education would help, but the pieces being worn by some of the most followed celebrities and artists currently should speak for itself.”

LAguna’s new line includes some expected elements: Bigger gemstones, chunkier chains, and alternative metals and materials to accommodate larger necks and wrists. But it also features smaller pearl pieces that can be layered, stacked, and draped to create visually striking looks. Colors and tones also deviate from the more classic whites and creams to include Tahitian black pearls and blue and green peacock hues.

“All of our creative branding and marketing has been geared to illustrate the fact that pearls are for all and need to break out of their shell, no pun intended,” Rbibo says. “Since the collections are aimed at younger millennials, we are prominently placing ads and marketing efforts on TikTok, Instagram, and multiple other channels.”

Top: LAguna’s new gender-neutral pearl line can be worn by anyone, the brand says, but it is marketing its two collections specifically to men in hopes the trend of celebrities and everyday male consumers wearing pearls continues to grow (photos courtesy of LAguna). 

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