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Pearls are one of the oldest forms of jewelry, dating back all the way to the 5th century B.C. Since then, millions, if not billions, of people have viewed pearls in high regard, and many wish to wear the material themselves. Even in this day and age, where pearls can be cultured and handled by businesses, they’re still very popular among women and men around the world.
Pearl earrings are one of the best ways to showcase a beautiful pearl. They’re simple enough to hold a single pearl in each ear, and you can make them even more extravagant by adding multiple pearls or precious stones. The possibilities are nearly endless with pearl earrings, and there’s bound to be an arrangement or design that speaks to you.
The highest-quality pearl earrings that money can buy, of course, cost thousands of dollars. But you can get your hands on a pair of great pearl earrings for less than a hundred bucks these days. We’ve found five great pearl earring options that look great without bleeding your wallet dry. Take a look!
(Before we go further, it’s worth mentioning that all the pearl earrings in this article are cultured, not genuine. This means that they’re made in controlled conditions and not out in the wild. We’ll discuss more on this later, so keep on reading to find out more!)
Reviewing the Highest-Quality Pearl Earrings of 2024 in Detail
The Pearl Source Earrings — Best Overall
Key Features
- Made by recognized pearl brand
- With two gold color options
- Six pearl size options
- Good quality
This set of freshwater cultured pearl earrings is a great choice if you like pairing jewelry with other forms of precious materials. In this case, we have a pair of pearl earrings with 14K gold. The gold can either be white gold or yellow gold: the choice is yours. However, white gold can easily be mistaken for something like silver or even plain metal, so if you really want to showcase gold, then it’s best to pick the yellow gold option.
The earrings are available in various pearl sizes. The sizes range from 6.0mm all the way up to 11.0mm. This gives you plenty of options to choose from, so if you’re afraid a certain size is too large or too small for you, you have other options to work with. The company that makes these pearls, The Pearl Source, is a part of the Jewelers of America, so it’s a brand that you can trust.
Pearlada Earrings — Best Hoop Option
Key Features
- Hooked design
- With silver hooks
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Handpicked
Hoop earrings set themselves apart from other types of earrings due to their unique shape. The hoop adds a little more volume to the earrings than other designs, and it’s also fairly sturdy, as it doesn’t rely on chains or other components. These pearl earrings are connected with silver hoops, making the metal and the pearls shine together in a very similar fashion. The earrings are made with handpicked pearls, so you know that the pearls are, at the very least, of good quality.
The pearls are made via culturing and are 100% genuine. No extra materials or synthetics. Because the design of hoop earrings makes them so simple, they’re great to give as a gift, as they can be worn by virtually anyone. There’s even a 60-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with your purchase, so be sure to make use of that should you ever change your mind after buying (though we bet you won’t!).
VIKI LYNN Earrings — Best Studded Option
Key Features
- Studded form
- 7-9mm size options
- With hypoallergenic 925 sterling silver
- 30-day money-back guarantee
In somewhat stark contrast to the large form of hoop earrings, these stud earrings are perfect if you don’t want to show off too much. The studded design makes it so that you’ll only really see the pearl most of the time. But that doesn’t mean the back of the earrings looks plain - in fact, it’s made out of hypoallergenic 925 sterling silver, so even if the pearls aren’t visible from behind, you’ll still have something nice to show off.
The pearls in this line of earrings range between 7mm and 9mm in size. While this may not be as many size options as other earrings on our list, it’s enough for most people, as 7-9mm isn’t too large or too small. You can also take advantage of their 30-day money-back guarantee should you feel unsatisfied with the product after receiving it. Whether it’s for a gift to a friend or as a personal addition to your earring collection, these stud earrings are a solid choice.
PAVOI Earrings — Best Size Options
Key Features
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Sold by American-owned business
- Made with 14K gold
- Clear silicone back
Like the previous pair of earrings, this pair also has a studded design. However, there are a few key differences between the two. For one, the metal isn’t made out of silver, but gold instead - 14K gold, to be exact. The back of the earrings is also made out of clear silicone material, allowing one to fully see the 14K gold. The pearls themselves vary in size, and you can pick anything between 5.5 to 11mm. However, you won’t be able to pick the exact size all the time, so expect a 0.5mm variation at most.
The pearls are made by an American-owned business, so if you prefer supporting local businesses, then you’ll be happy to know that these pearls are sold by a company operating on American soil. In terms of money-back guarantees, you have up to 90 days, more than the other guarantees on our list, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide whether or not the earrings are meant for you.
Charisma Earrings — Best Bang for Your Buck
Key Features
- Faux pearl stud earrings
- Hypoallergenic
- High-quality design
- Affordable
While it is easier to get your hands on a genuine pearl these days compared to centuries ago, they still require a bit of work to prepare. As such, there’s an even cheaper alternative to cultured pearls: faux pearls. As the name suggests, faux pearls look like pearls and even feel like pearls, but they aren’t. If you simply like the look of pearls and don’t really care much for their authenticity, or if you’re on a budget, faux pearls can be a great choice.
This seller provides sets of faux pearl stud earrings. With multiple pairs available, you can wear more than two on your ear at a time for a more extravagant look. The pearls and metal are hypoallergenic, so you won’t have to worry about any infections or the like as long as you prepare accordingly. Because they’re not real pearls, be a little mindful when giving someone these as a gift, as they may assume that they’re genuine pearls.
Buyer's Guide: Finding the Perfect Pearl Earrings
Pearl earrings can be a little tricky to choose from. This guide should help point you in the right direction regarding what you should look out for when buying these earrings.
What Are Pearl Earrings?
Pearl earrings are a special type of earrings made out of pearls or faux pearls. They can be made in various shapes and sizes, and can also be either natural, cultured, or faux.
Why Should You Use Pearl Earrings?
They’re a classic accessory
As we mentioned before, pearls have been in style forever, and even today, many people wish to own a pair of pearl earrings. There’s just something about pearls that makes them so alluring, especially if you know how they’re made.
For those who don’t know, pearls aren’t actually stones, despite how they look. They’re actually formed inside mussels and oysters. The pearls are a result of a build-up of minerals inside the sea creature over time. Not all of these build-ups result in a pearl, which is why finding one naturally is quite rare.
These days, pearls can be cultured through various means, and even replicated using synthetic materials. Even so, people have already recognized the beauty of pearls, whether or not they know of the process behind making such a beautiful material.
They can be worn on all sorts of occasions
Pearl jewelry is actually very versatile. They’re luxurious enough to be wearable in even the most formal events, while also being simple enough that you can wear them every day as well. Pearls occupy this special place between casual and formal, and you can get away with wearing them no matter what outfit you’re rocking for the day.
Of course, there are some exceptions to this. It’s not ideal to wear pearl earrings during athletic activity, for example, and it may even be a little over-the-top to put them on if you’re just heading to the convenience store for some milk. But in general, no one will find it strange that you’re wearing pearl earrings, whether you’re relaxing at your local coffee shop, reading at the park, and so on.
Things to Consider When Buying Pearl Earrings
Size
The size of the pearl in your pearl earring is very important, especially when considering your ear’s own size. A pearl that’s too large will look awkward on your ears, and a pearl that’s too small won’t stand out at all. You’ll need to find a good balance if you want the pearls to look just large enough.
Metal
Pearls don’t just attach to your ears on their own. They are connected to a piece of metal or plastic which is then connected to your ear through piercing or some other method. The metal can be either made out of simple materials or with precious metals such as silver and/or gold.
Pearl Earring Types
Pearl earrings can be classified into three different types based on the pearl’s authenticity.
Natural
Natural pearls are pearls that are obtained from oysters and mussels in the wild. Because the conditions in the wild are not controlled, many natural pearls look more uneven than cultured or faux pearls. However, a natural pearl with a great shape and luster can sell for thousands of dollars.
Cultured
Cultured pearls are pearls made in a controlled environment. While they’re genuine and made from mussels or oysters, they’re also made in artificial conditions. This makes them cost less than pearls that can only be found in the wild.
Faux
Faux pearls aren’t actually pearls. They’re simply synthetic spheres made to look and/or feel like a real pearl. These pearls are often the cheapest of the three types as they’re very easy to manufacture.
