14K Gold Pearl Drop Earrings - 7mm Pearl on Fine Chain

Pearl Drop Earrings - A Single Pearl on a Fine Gold Chain

A shepherd's hook of solid gold, a coiled section and a small polished ball, then about two centimetres of fine trace chain, and at the end a single round cultured pearl roughly 7mm across. The pearl is white with a warm rose overtone and enough lustre to throw a sharp reflection. The pair weighs 1.81 grams in 14k solid gold - light enough that the chain does what it is there for.

Hanging a pearl on a chain rather than a rigid post is the whole design. A pearl fixed in place shows you one face and one highlight; on a chain it turns constantly, so the reflection travels across the surface and the overtone shifts as it moves. It is the cheapest trick in jewellery and still the best one for pearls, which is why the drop-on-a-chain has outlasted every fashion since.

FAQs

1. How do they fasten?
On a shepherd's hook - a curved gold wire that passes through the ear and hangs by its own shape, with no back to lose. It is the easiest fitting to put on and the fastest to take off.

2. How far do they hang?
The chain gives about two centimetres below the hook, with the 7mm pearl below that, so they swing clear of the lobe and move as you do.

3. What colour are the pearls?
White, with a warm rose overtone in the lustre - the pink is a shift in the light rather than a body colour, which is what a good overtone should be.

4. Are they secure enough to wear out?
A hook holds well on its own, and at 1.81 grams for the pair there is little weight to swing. If you would rather be certain, a small clear rubber stopper on the wire is the usual solution and costs almost nothing.

5. How do I care for them?
Put them on after perfume and hairspray, wipe the pearl with a soft damp cloth after wearing, and store in a soft pouch rather than sealed plastic. Never an ultrasonic cleaner, and never leave a pearl to soak. For the gold, see our Gold Care Card.

How to Style the Pearl Drops

The easiest pair here to wear and the hardest to wear wrongly - a single moving pearl suits a shirt, a knit or a dress equally. They layer happily with a small stud in a second hole. Explore the full 14k and 18k Gold collection, browse more Earrings, or visit JewelBuild™.