Pearls: Beyond classics for June's birthstone

The notion that pearls are boring, a charge leveled by my stylish friend Christine, has led me to dress the Passage's windows with some unusual and beautiful pearls for June, the gem's birthstone month.

The romantic antique

Antique Victorian natural pearl and conch pearl pin from Beladora; price, $4,650.
 
I can hear her snort, "Well of course you can find interesting pearls for that much!" But I've seen that price for just one conch pearl the size of the center pearl. Add the exquisite natural pearls and you have an heirloom, a museum-quality piece (which is an in-joke between us).

The standout single

A little easier on the budget, a single pearl piece lets you splurge on quality.  

Pristine simplicity: a single Tahitian pearl floats on the end of a 14k wire cuff bracelet. By Mizuki; price, $770.

A deep blue 8.9mm Tahitian pearl ring set on a 14k yellow band, $342 from Kojima Company:

The stunner strand

Pearls are not all round whites! I doubt my forthright friend was thinking of eleven strands of Japanese keshis with a diamond-sprinkled clasp. (From Kojima Company; price, $2,300):

Or luminous, dramatic 15mm coins that would light up her face (from Pacific Pearls; price, $600):

If you look beyond the clichéd wedding strands—which are deliberately created to play second fiddle to the dress—the pearl's luminous natural beauty emerges, for this June, and many Junes to come. 

At least for some of us!