Pearls have spent the better part of four decades in the wings of the jewelry world — present, but rarely the headline. In 2025, that has quietly changed. Pearls are back on the runway, on the red carpet, and in the front of the case.

At Isaac Westman, where pearls have been the founding chapter since 1982, the renewed attention isn't a surprise. It's a return.

What's driving the pearl return

Three things, mostly.

Versatility. Pearls now layer with chunky chains, sit alongside diamond studs, finish a denim jacket as comfortably as they finish a wedding dress. A 5.5–6mm freshwater strand reads as a choker for day and a classic for evening — the same piece, two different lives.

Sustainability and craft. Cultured pearls are an inherently slower form of production. The oyster gives two to three years per pearl, and the supply doesn't accelerate. For customers reading more carefully about provenance, that pace becomes the point.

Personal expression. Pearls accept a wider range of design treatments than most stones — the Tahitian and South Sea ranges in particular reward designers who treat the pearl as the centrepiece, not the accent.

How we're wearing them

Bridal. Akoya and South Sea pearls are the bridal piece of the year. The classic strand with a hidden clasp. The South Sea drops paired with a simple updo. Pearls were always meant for this moment.

Everyday. A pendant on a chunky gold chain. A pearl stud with a paired diamond stud — same size, different stone. Pearls read more polished than they used to, with less effort.

Statement. Baroque shapes, oversized Tahitian drops, layered strands of different lengths. Statement pearls aren't a new idea, but they read fresh now because the rest of the case has been so spare.

What Isaac Westman brings to the trend

Pearls were our founding category, in 1982. We were among the first direct importers of freshwater pearl in the United States. Forty years on, the relationships we built then still feed the current collection — Akoya from Japan, Tahitian from French Polynesia, South Sea from Australia and Indonesia, freshwater from cultivated farms.

Every pearl that carries our name is selected at the source for luster, surface, and overtone. Then finished at the New York atelier.

A note on care

Pearls reward attention. Apply perfume and lotion before the piece. Wipe gently with a soft cloth after wear. Store flat in a fabric pouch. We restring and inspect as part of our complimentary annual service.

Enchanting. Intriguing. Refined.

Explore the Pearl Atelier.