September Opening: Hoopla, pearled
Welcome back to the Passage; I hope your past few months were full of seasonal joys and are continuing, perhaps embellished by some late-harvest sweet corn and still-plush peaches.
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And now, our traditional re-opening pearl post, which this year borrows from the "Safe or Smokin'" series, which presents both classic and modern versions of the same item.
Pearls floated through our summer; relaxed, free-spirited pieces caught the long light. Once, watching diners at a rooftop restaurant, I counted seven women in pearl earrings. (And a twenty-something man in a strand, worn under his shirt, with that extra button undone.) Where was I?
I especially admired the pearled hoop earrings, because the form's negative space does not—except in the thickest versions—add visual clutter, and hoops provide a marvellous platform for pearls.
Safe and Smokin' in charms
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| Photos: Left, Ann Louise; right, Pilar Agueci |
Safe: Classic 14k white gold hoops with oval white 10mm x 9mm freshwaters. A calm, graceful pair at a very good price, $CAN 400, from Vancouver-based jewellers Ann Louise. (Hoop size not specified, looks like they are around 14mm.) Also made in 14k yellow gold; price, $CAN 450. Free shipping and return for Canadian orders.
Smokin': Recently chosen by my friend Celine to celebrate her 71st birthday: silver chunky hoops with 10mm x12mm dove grey baroque pearl charms—baroques always look ore casual than rounds. From Montréal jeweller Pilar Agueci; the Capri hoop charms are $CAN 140 for the pair (also sold separately); the 20mm sterling chunky hoops are $CAN 110. Hoops also available in 30mm.
Smokin': What if your hoops swirled..
Whites are beloved favourites, but there's a world of different pearl colours that add a touch of intrigue, and look especially chic set with yellow and pink gold, or brass. These "Gattaca" threader hoops are made from pink freshwater pearls on 9k rose gold wire.
The smoke here is a tendril wafting from a glowing fireplace, in a room with an old rug and a leather sofa.
From the lovely Australian jeweller Jan Logan, whose pearl designs make the exquisite wearable every day. Price, $AUS 591. Also made with white freshwater pearls.
...or climbed?
Pearl "Domingo" hoops with a distinct difference from Madrid-based Beatriz Palacios sold at Simons: a swath of white South Seas, in a heavenly sweep. I've included the ear shot from Palacios' site so you can see that these are not classic hoops, rather, a more fluid take.
Price, $395 on Simons' online site; also available on her site, and in onyx or coral.
Finale: Having it both ways
There is safe, and then there's stuffy; lovers of clean design sometimes wonder whether a simple pearl earring will look boring.
Like many other problems, the solution (time, trust, tea) starts with the letter "t": Tahitians. The simplest 14k white gold u-hoops hold breathtaking exotic Tahitians, sky blue 8.3mm rounds framed with a lavender halo. They are from the renowned, sustainable farms of Kamoka Pearls.
Price, $US 1, 029. Pearls for life, these.
If s/o do contact them; they refresh their inventory continually from their own atolls in French Polynesia.
As always, I have an eye on our wallets. If you already have hoops, you might add pearl charms. (The metal on the earring and charm should match.)
Avoid 'endless' hoops in which a wire end feeds into the hoop's tube without any kind of fastening, because they are less secure once you add weight of a charm. I like hoops with posts—you can add an extra back for security—or a snap-latch closure, but you do have to check those to be sure the latch still closes with a reassuring click.
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