Pearl Earrings: Studs, Drops and What to Wear Them With

Pearl stud earrings go with every neckline and every dress code, so they're the pair to own first; pearl drops and baroque pearls are the dressier choice for weddings, parties and open necklines. Freshwater cultured pearls are the usual budget-friendly real option, and glass or shell faux pearls look much the same from a few feet away.

This guide covers the four styles worth knowing, the difference between cultured and faux pearls, and which pair to wear with which dress.

Pearl earring styles

Four styles cover almost every outfit. Start with studs, then add the one that suits how you dress.

Pearl stud earrings

Pearl stud earrings are the pair that goes with everything: a work dress, a sweater, a cocktail dress, a wedding guest gown. A single pearl on a post sits close to the earlobe, so it never fights with a necklace, a collar or your hair.

Size changes the mood. Small studs look quiet and everyday; larger studs look more formal and show up better from a distance, which helps at an evening event. Check the size in millimeters on the listing, and look at the metal and the back type too. Screw backs and secure push backs stay put better than a loose butterfly back.

Pearl drop earrings

Pearl drop earrings hang below the lobe, either a pearl on a short post or a pearl at the end of a chain or hook. The movement makes them dressier than studs, and they draw the eye down toward the neckline.

They're the classic choice for weddings, rehearsal dinners and evening parties. Short drops suit almost any face and hairstyle; longer drops look best with hair up or tucked behind the ears. With a high neckline, keep drops short so they don't rest on the collar.

Pearl huggie hoops

Huggies are small hoops that sit snugly around the earlobe, often with a single pearl hanging from the hoop or pearls set along it. They're the modern, everyday version of pearl earrings: easy with a knit dress, a T-shirt or a slip dress, and comfortable enough to wear all day. Choose a small hoop for a close fit; large hoops with pearls look busy.

Baroque pearl earrings

Baroque pearls are irregular in shape: lumpy, oval, flat or twisted instead of round. Each one is a little different, which makes baroque earrings look less formal and more artistic than round pearls. They suit a simple black dress, a linen dress or a plain sweater, where they become the statement. Wear them with gold for a warm look, and keep other jewelry minimal.

Freshwater, cultured and faux pearls

Pearl jewelry falls into three groups. Here's how they differ:

• Freshwater cultured pearls. Real pearls grown in freshwater mussels. GIA notes they come in many shapes and sizes, typically 6 to 12 millimeters, and in white and soft pastel shades. Freshwater pearl earrings are a good place to start if you want real pearls.
• Saltwater cultured pearls. Akoya pearls are known for a white color and a sharp, mirror-like luster; Tahitian pearls for dark colors; South Sea pearls for their large size.
• Faux pearls. Imitations made from glass, plastic or shell beads with a thin pearly coating. Coated shell and glass imitations can feel as heavy in the hand as real pearls, while plastic ones feel noticeably light. Any of them is fine for occasion jewelry you'll wear a few times a year.

GIA explains the difference between natural and cultured pearls: a natural pearl forms around a tiny irritant inside the mollusk, while a cultured pearl starts when a bead or a piece of tissue is placed inside on purpose, which the mollusk then coats in nacre. When an affordable listing says "real pearl", expect a cultured pearl. Read the listing for the words "freshwater cultured", "shell pearl" or "imitation" to know which kind you're buying.

What to wear pearl earrings with

Match the earring to the neckline first, then to the event.

By neckline

• High necks and turtlenecks: studs. Anything longer touches the collar.
• Crew and boat necks: studs or short drops.
• V-necks and scoop necks: drops, which echo the line of the neckline.
• Strapless and off-the-shoulder: drops or larger studs, especially with hair up.
• Everyday knits and shirts: huggies or small studs.

By event

For a bridal shower or a daytime party, studs or huggies go with a floral or pastel dress; see bridal shower dresses for outfit ideas. For a wedding, drops are the natural choice, and wedding guest jewelry covers necklaces and bracelets to go with them. For a formal evening, a larger stud or a pearl drop with a little crystal at the top works with black tie attire. And for the office, small studs are as polished as jewelry gets.

Pearls also suit the holiday season, from a velvet dress at a work party to a sequin dress on New Year's Eve. For dress ideas, see holiday party dresses.

Pairing pearls with the rest of your jewelry

Let one pearl piece lead. Pearl drops plus a pearl necklace plus a pearl bracelet looks like a costume; pearl drops with a fine gold chain looks current. If your earrings are the statement, keep the necklace thin or skip it. The same goes for accessories. Pearl drops with a pearl-beaded bag look deliberately matched at a wedding or a holiday dinner, as long as the dress is plain; pearl bags covers that look.

Pearls mix well with gold and silver. White pearls look crisp with silver and warm with gold, so pick the metal that matches your other jewelry or the hardware on your bag. Pearls in your hair work too, as long as the earrings stay simple: see pearl hair clips for that look.

Last on, first off

Pearls need a little care, mostly because their surface is soft. The pearl seller Pearl Paradise advises keeping them away from cosmetics, perfume and hairspray, which can dull the shine, and making them the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.

After you wear them, wipe them with a soft, damp cloth. Store them apart from other jewelry so harder stones and metal don't scratch them, in a soft pouch or a lined case rather than an airtight plastic bag. A small travel case with separate compartments keeps a pair safe in a suitcase or a handbag.