The pearl necklace is a must-have accessory for men, women and non-binary people of all ages. The iconic Vivienne Westwood designed the three-strand pearl choker over 30 years ago, and it's just as relevant today. Although pearl chokers are being called 'the 'TikTok Necklace', these jewellery items are not only for the youth - there are many different lengths, styles and colours to suit everyone.
So, what's the best pearl necklace for you? Whether you want a long, beaded vintage necklace or you're more of a pearl pendant person, we've got just the thing. From high-end real oyster pearls from John Lewis to bargain buys from ASOS, we've chosen the 10 best pearl necklaces available in the UK and included a buying guide to make sure that you pick the best one for you. Let's dive in!
Quick List - Top Pearl Necklaces
TreasureBay
Amazing Value Pearl Jewellery Set
A B Davis
Luxurious Layered Necklace With Tonnes of Pearls
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Table of Contents
Are you looking for a string of pearls that resemble the iconic Vivienne Westwood necklace, or would you prefer a single pearl pendant? This section will take you through how to pick between the many stunning options available.
There are many types of pearl necklaces, so the first step is to decide if you're looking for a string of pearls or a single pearl pendant on a chain. While a string of pearls is very versatile, they are definitely more of a statement piece than the pearl pendant.
Strings of pearls work just as well paired with a shirt for an office look, as they do with a simple tee and jeans for heading out to the pub. The same goes for a pendant, but as pearls catch the light, strings end up being much showier than a simple metal chain. The right one for you really depends on your style.
Love being complimented for your jewellery and being the centre of attention? Go for a string of pearls. If you are more reserved and don a more understated style, the pendant might be better. Of course, nothing is stopping you from mixing the two. Layered necklaces are a great way of levelling up any look and are perfect if you're indecisive!
Choker, princess necklace, opera necklace or pearl rope? Finding the right length is essential for achieving the pearl look that you crave. Read on to find out what these terms mean so that you can pick the right one for you!
Pearl chokers are all the rage right now, but they're definitely not just a trend. They've stayed stylish for decades; it's only now that the TikTok generation is catching up. They're the optimum choice from rappers to royalty as they're both classy and edgy. Depending on how you style it, you could wear a choker to a wedding or an underground rave.
The average choker size is 14-16 inches, but if you work out a lot or have a bigger neck than average, you might want to measure your neck first as you don't want your choker to literally choke you!
The princess necklace is usually 17-19 inches long and is the go-to length for most first-time pearl necklace buyers. These look amazing over a shirt collar or with a strapless dress - as pearls look gorgeous on bare skin.
If you're unsure which length to go for, the princess necklace is a great choice as it's not too long or too short - it's somewhere in the middle. If you're completely lost as to what length you want, purchase a few cheap faux pearl necklaces in various lengths and take them for a spin before getting real pearls.
The opera necklace is not as versatile as its shorter siblings, but it's just as sexy. It's around 25-26 inches long and can be worn as either one long, statement strand or doubled up to become two necklaces in one! It can also be knotted at the neckline, which is great for a vintage look.
Opera necklaces are usually worn in the evening, but again this depends on your style. Most people would wear it as a special occasion look, but there aren't any rules when it comes to fashion - it's all about outwardly exhibiting your personality and mood.
If you thought the opera necklace was long, wait until you get a load of the pearl rope. These luxurious strings are usually around 36+ inches long. Though typically very expensive due to the sheer amount of pearls it takes to create one, they can also be made up of several clasps and broken down into multiple shorter necklaces, which is ideal for pearl lovers who want every look.
Like the opera necklace, the pearl rope can also be doubled or even tripled to give the appearance of wearing multiple necklaces. After all, the legendary Coco Chanel said that "A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls". Of course, that doesn't just apply to women! Pearls are universally flattering.
Nothing says 'I'm on top of things' than strings upon strings of pearls. These also look amazing when worn down the back of a backless garment, adding drama and ultimate class to your evening look.
There are many different types of pearls; freshwater, Tahitian, Akoya, but which one's are the best? Well, Tahitian pearls (aka black pearls) and Akoya are so rare and expensive that we haven't included them in our top 10. We consider freshwater or faux to be the way to go for those of us who aren't millionaires!
Freshwater pearls are the most common, meaning that they're the most cost-effective way to purchase real pearls. However, just because these pearls aren't rare, it doesn't mean they're not special. What sets freshwater pearls apart is that they come in eccentric, unique and beautiful shapes, unlike the traditional round pearl.
They also vary in size and colour, with pearlescent overtones of white, pink, rose, cream and even shades of black. These pearls are ideal for those on a budget and those who like their jewellery to be unique, as one freshwater pearl necklace will never look the same as another.
If you don't have the cash to invest in real pearls, aren't interested in spending loads of money on your jewellery, or just want to try pearls out to see if you like them, faux pearls are a great option. Faux pearls can be created from shell, plastic, glass or ceramic, and then painted to achieve that signature pearl sheen.
The downside of faux pearls is that most of them are low-quality, and the paint can wear off, revealing the dull plastic underneath. To overcome this, just make sure not to get your faux pearls wet, and remember to take them off once you're finished wearing them.
Pearls are also not vegan, as they are produced by molluscs when a foreign thing enters the shell. Interestingly, they are technically cruelty-free as they aren't produced by testing on animals, but they are an animal product. For that reason, vegans tend to gravitate toward imitation pearls.
Pearls are usually white, but many have different coloured overtones. Some can have a silvery tint, some rose and some lilac. Sometimes, the overtones are so dominant that the pearl themselves appear to be pink!
If you're aiming for the classic pearl look, go for white or cream, but if you want something a bit more soft and feminine, go for lilac or rose-tinted pearls. Though these colours are indeed characterised as feminine, they look amazing on men too and are great paired with a contrasting black leather ensemble.
Want something a little more edgy? Take a look at black pearls! They look great with pretty much anything. If you love mixing colours or just can't choose between them, why not just go for a pearl necklace with different coloured pearls! There are so many options available, that we're sure you'll be able to find a necklace that you'll love.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bella Hammered Heart Pendant Necklace | ![]() | A Modern Twist on a Classic Necklace | |
2 | mengnuo Choker Alphabet Pearl Necklace | ![]() | Gorgeous Personalised Pearl Choker | |
3 | TreasureBay Natural Baroque Pearl Necklace, Bracelet & Earrings|Multicolour | ![]() | Amazing Value Pearl Jewellery Set | |
4 | A B Davis Freshwater Baroque Pearl 6 Row Twist Opera Length Necklace|Pink | ![]() | Luxurious Layered Necklace With Tonnes of Pearls | |
5 | A B Davis Freshwater Pearl Long Knotted Rope Necklace|Black | ![]() | A Long and Dramatic Statement Pearl Necklace | |
6 | IBB 9ct Gold Freshwater Pearl Sunray Pendant Necklace|Gold | ![]() | Spectacular Sunshine Necklace With Peal Pendant | |
7 | ASOS DESIGN Choker Necklace in Graduating Faux Pearls | ![]() | Simple but Stylish Faux Pearl Choker | |
8 | ASOS DESIGN Faux Pearl Neckchain in Multicolour | ![]() | Technicolour Dream Faux Pearl Necklace | |
9 | ASOS - Reclaimed Vintage Chain with Mixed Faux Pearl & Flower Bead Necklace|Silver | ![]() | 90's Style Contrasting Duo Necklace | |
10 | Claudia Bradby Freshwater Pearl Drop Lariat Necklace|Silver | ![]() | Super Sexy Adjustable Pearl Necklace |
Claudia Bradby reinvented the classic pearl necklace with this gem. Combining the organically shaped freshwater pearls with the hammered heart pendant and T-bar clasp modernises the classic pearl necklace in a new, fresh way.
Being incredibly unique and so beautiful, we feel that this one is definitely worth the money. The silver pendant also makes this necklace extremely wearable for all occasions. They also have matching bracelets that come in purple, pink and white, so you can truly live your true pearly fantasy.
Not only is this choker excellent value for money as it's made from real pearls, but you can also add a personalised touch. This makes for an excellent present for a loved one, or a cheeky present to yourself - just because you deserve it!
The metal initial pendant is made from gold-coloured stainless steel, meaning that it's durable and scratch-resistant. Plus, the organic style of the metal serves to make this necklace a little more casual so that it can be dressed both up and down.
Fancy a full matching set of pearls? Well, with this choice, you get a gorgeous pearl bracelet and earrings with your necklace for an extremely good price. Due to the sterling silver adornments on these accessories, they're also hypoallergenic.
Being described as 'baroque', these pearls have a dramatic shape, making them even more unique and stunning. Plus, you can choose from a variety of colours, from plain white, white and silver and black.
This necklace really is the epitome of luxury and not for the faint-hearted. If you love pearls, why not get 6 rows of them?! This necklace also comes in white, grey and peacock (black with hints of blue, red and purple), so you're really spoilt for choice when it comes to colour.
The way the pearls twist around each other gives this necklace an edge over your bog-standard single-strand piece. You're guaranteed to feel like an absolute boss in this, but it does cost a pretty penny to wear this many real pearls!
This super long pearl necklace is the epitome of luxury and will definitely turn heads. Because of its length, you can wear it loads of different ways - doubled as a long necklace or choker, tripled as three necklaces, or tied at the back.
Although expensive, it is very well-priced for a rope length pearl necklace; just think about the number of pearls! This is also available in classic white on John Lewis, so if black isn't your style, there's something for all tastes.
If you live for the hot summer days and want to bring some of that sunshine with you to every season, then this is the necklace for you. It's perfect if you want to try pearls but aren't too keen on a full string.
For a necklace so dainty, it is a little on the expensive side, however, you'll be hard-pressed to find a necklace this beautiful. Plus, as it's small, it'll look great when combined with other pieces.
If you're looking to get into the pearl choker trend but want to get something a little different to the hundreds of Vivienne Westwood knock-offs, this is a great option that shows you're fashion-forward without being a sheep.
With three slightly larger pearls at the front, it adds a little intrigue and class to an otherwise simple accessory. However, at just £6, you're getting what you pay for with this necklace, quality-wise, but it does look great!
Live your true pastel fantasy with this multi-colour, faux pearl necklace. Due to the unique colouring, you may not be able to fool people into thinking these are real pearls, but honestly, who cares!
They're fun and cool, and though the model is wearing white in the picture, it would look even more striking when styled with a dark outfit. It would also look fabulous layered with the ASOS DESIGN choker if you want to go all out.
We love this combination of faux white pearls, flower beads and a silver chain. It will look killer in the summer with trunks or a bikini and looks just as cool over a tee. This also may well be the must-have festival accessory you've been searching for!
If you love mixing vibes, from soft to hard in one look, then this is the one for you. Though this may not be the most durable necklace, it'll be great while it lasts, and a two-for-one is always welcome!
You might be thinking that this is pretty steep for just two freshwater pearls with rhodium-plated sterling silver chains, and you might be right. But hear us out - its design is its biggest appeal.
Not only is this beautiful necklace chic and simple, but it's also adjustable. Wear it to the back to show off a backless number, adjust it so that the pearl pendants hang off a chocker, or have it as one super long chain.
No matter what you're wearing, a well-thought-out piece of jewellery can always elevate an outfit. From a glittering stack of rings to a simple yet elegant bracelet, adding a touch of silver or gold is the cherry on top.
We bet you can't wait to take your new pearl necklace out for a spin! Pearl necklaces are a sound investment because they'll probably never go out of style. We hope you enjoyed our buying guide and list of the top 10 best pearl necklaces in the UK.
Author: Lara Delmage
No. 1: |Bella Hammered Heart Pendant Necklace
No. 2: mengnuo|Choker Alphabet Pearl Necklace
No. 3: TreasureBay|Natural Baroque Pearl Necklace, Bracelet & Earrings|Multicolour
No. 4: A B Davis|Freshwater Baroque Pearl 6 Row Twist Opera Length Necklace|Pink
No. 5: A B Davis|Freshwater Pearl Long Knotted Rope Necklace|Black
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