Drop earrings can be stunning compliments to the face. A drop earring can be long and tapered like a shoulder duster earring or short and stubby depending on the desired look. Long drop earrings add to a slender neck and gives a graceful look to an evening gown. Short drop earrings may compliment a larger central jewelry piece like a bib necklace or a fringe necklace.

Pearl drop earrings are fairly common because pearls that are round or baroque shaped tend to make great end dangles on drop earrings. They are in effect the stylized handle at the end of the dagger. Drop earrings with pearls can come in a multitude of configurations. Some of the most popular are graduated pearl drop earrings with two or three pearls strung together separated by textured metal with the end pearl dangle being the largest. Some pearl drop earrings use a designed hoop from which to dangle a pearl drop like this earring from John hardy where the hoop can be worn by itself or with the pearl.

Diamond drop earrings are popular, especially when they take the format of the three stone graduated diamond earring. Diamond drops usually have a larger then life diamond at the very end of a shoulder duster type stiletto design. The diamonds can be bezel or prong set and are usually separated from the rest of the earring with a jump ring so that it can dangle freely and catch the light.

swaying, sparkly drop earrings are all about movement. Drop earrings sway more gracefully than chandelier and medallion earrings. Chandelier earrings are meant to shimmer and draw attention to themselves whereas drop earrings are meant to call attention to the gracefulness of a woman’s neck or her majestic hairstyle. In most cases you would not want to wear a standout necklace with an elaborate pair of gold drop earrings or silver drop earrings. The necklace would detract from the face and dress and call attention to the neck. If a necklace is to be worn it must be worn with only the simplest of earrings.

Sterling silver drop earrings are best exemplified in John Hardy’s collection of two tone sterling silver drop earrings like the one below.

Crystal drop earrings have a style of their own as young women who are into beading design many of these earrings along with such well known brands as Swarovsi and Nadri. These drop earrings use large faceted crystals in myriad of shapes from briolettes and rose cuts to geometric prisms. They are not really meant to look like diamond drop earrings but have a style of their own. Crystals come in a wide range of colors including black. Black drop earrings made from black crystal is all the rage since they are fairly inexpensive and still look like nice pieces of fashion jewelry. They also come in briolette shapes which is always a popular shape for tear drop earrings.

White gold drop earrings are typically in the pave diamond style with a prominent design in pave diamonds at the end of the drop. Sometimes the center stone of the drop is a diamond and at others it may be a precious colored stone like emerald or sapphire. Semi precious stones are also used in this type of design, notably bright colored stones like amethyst, blue topaz and citrine.

Pearl rings are a leading contender for best value in jewelry that is under $500. With the price of gold an diamonds today there are now many options in a pearl ring made of sterling silver and affordable freshwater pearls. This type of pearl ring is a relative bargain because realistically, what can you find that would be considered a real piece of jewelry for under $100? In diamonds, gold, semi-precious, precious and even palladium it is just not available.

Affordable freshwater pearls are still one of the best values when you consider price and beauty. Check out the freshwater black and white pearl ring to the left. The latest trend in pearl rings is the multicolor freshwater pearls. Popular last season were the enhanced freshwater chocolate hues mounted in sterling silver, yellow gold and vermeil. A deep chocolate pearl ring is a thing of beauty, especially when its a bleached Tahitian of 12 mm or more.

A pearl diamond ring needn’t be expensive as there were many options available for chocolate pearls in a light yellow gold mounting with a couple of diamonds on the shoulders. Not a whole lot of bling but just enough to enhance the look. The gold pearl ring has been popular because the freshwater variety does a good job of mimicking the gold Tahitian pearl ring. When you mount this pearl in vermeil it looks just like those expensive antique pearl rings with the larger than life South Sea golden pearl. An antique pearl ring will presumably have an akoya pearl or a south sea pearl because freshwater pearls did not come on the scene in the sizes and qualities that can now be seen on the market

Pearl engagement rings have risen in popularity despite the fact that pearls are less durable than other gemstones. Black pearl rings are the best option for this type of ring because even though they don’t look like an engagement rings  per say , they do have that poise and dignity that indicates marriage, fidelity, longevity and all those qualities that we associate with marriage.

A black pearl ring can have a dyed freshwater pearl, a black akoya pearl or a Tahitian pearl and all of these will have different looks and different price points. The dyed black pearl is the least expensive followed by a range of Tahitians. Black akoyas can be frightfully expensive in large sizes like 10mm and up but can also be reasonable in lesser qualities in sizes of 7mm and under. The Tahitians depending on quality and size will be the most expensive. 15mm and up sizes with nary a blemish command premium pricing. The black pearl ring to the right is a high quality Tahitian with green overtone set with diamonds in an organically styled setting.

A pearl ring is the ultimate e jewelry fashion accessory because of the affordable pricing and colors that are available. Tonal blends become possible with pearl rings because you can put white and black pearls together on the same ring to create a neutral combination that will enhance all your white, gray, and black outfits as well as add some pizazz  to some of the brighter colors of the season like lemony peridot colored fabrics. The colored mother of pearl ring offered in a rainbow of colors through artificial coloration give an almost tie dye like effect when colors are combined with the chatoyancy of mother of  pearl. These are not meant to be confused with formal white mother of pearl rings but are more like party colored rings for teenagers and for when you go to the beach in your bright colored bikini and sarong.

Pearls are some of the most versatile gems around. They come in myriad qualities, colors, shapes and sizes. What’s there not to like about pearls? Although technically an organic gem, pearls have a more feminine appeal then fossil gems and can be worked into most any design. The range of qualities is so vast in pearls that even though lay people can quickly pick up the 4 Cs, pearl grading is something entirely different, yet oh so obvious to the eye.

Pearl rings are some of the most feminine pieces of jewelry around. They are quite different from gemstone rings in that they have a more organic look to them. Whenever you need to lighten up the hard edges of a ring design you might want to think of how you can mount a pearl on the ring. Pearls are not the most durable of gem materials in comparison to gems that are minerals. Pearls have a soft layer of nacre that can be damaged if given a blow.

Pearls are also affixed differently to a ring. They are actually glued on like this pearl ring on the left and can come off with repeated exposure to water. They are also sensitive to perfumes and other astringents that would not affect other gems. So what is it about pearl rings that makes us want to own them?

One of the qualities of pearls that is a tad bewitching is the pearly luster that you can see in the ring to the left that most women find quite beguiling. The clearer and more mirror like, the better the pearl. The second is the range of colors that pearls come in. A black pearl ring is one of the most beautiful jewelry pieces around and has quite a bewitching quality about it.

Pearls no matter the color pair up very well with all precious metals whether platinum, yellow gold, rose gold, or some of the newer metals like titanium. Pink and peach colored pearls have been quite popular in recent years especially in combination with rose gold. Black pearls on the other hand go very well with white metals like palladium, platinum or white gold.

Then you have the exotic colored pearls like pistachio, chocolate and cinnamon colored Tahitian pearl rings that look quite regal when mounted in a well designed ring. Mother of pearl rings round out the budget end of the pearl family which although not technically nacre is still considered pearl material. Mabe pearl rings are what are called cultured blister pearls that are actually formed on the inside of the shell by affixing a “seed” to the inner shell.

A Tahitian pearl ring is in the higher price range as far as pearls go because of their quality, rarity and size. The gold pearl ring is more popular in the far East where skin tones better compliment the golden color of this pearl. Tahitian pearl rings although from the far east have taken up residence in the Americas and Europe as the most popular organic gems mounted in rings.

There are many brides that would prefer a pearl engagement rings but this is simply not practical because of durability issues. Most women who would like a pearl in their engagement ring will typically have it mounted on the shoulders instead of the center and keep their center stone as a diamond. Then there is the pearl diamond ring which has elements of design that marry the hard brilliance of diamonds with the soft elegance of pearls.

Pearls and diamonds have been ideal companions for a long time since they bring their very different qualities to the design table. pearls are organic and flowing and add a sense of openness to ring designs. Diamonds must be positioned carefully and symmetrically so that their game with light can be played to the fullest advantage.