When most of us think about pearl jewelry, what comes to mind is a pearl necklace or pearl earrings. Pearl jewelry has come to be associated with elegant simplicity. Increasingly, however, fashionistas are trending toward more unconventional pearl jewelry.

Pearl Colors

Pearls are always white, right? Wrong. Tahitian pearls are black, and freshwater pearls can be white, black, pink, or purple. South Sea pearls can be cream colored, golden yellow, and even silver. While black and creamy white pearls command top dollar, pearls in other colors can be equally lustrous and beautiful - and eminently more affordable.

Pearl Shapes

The classic pearl shape is round, and the rounder a pearl is, the more expensive it is. An Akoya pearl necklace, for example, is made from round white pearls, while a Tahitian pearl necklace is usually made from round black pearls. Most people don't realize that pearls actually grown in a variety of shapes, from teardrops to sticks to asymmetrical shapes. When you choose pearls that aren't in the traditional round shape, your pearl jewelry becomes a unique personal statement.

Pearl Settings

Once you get away from the traditional round white pearl necklace and plain pearl earrings, the fashion possibilities are endless. For example, you can select a multicolored pearl pendant with three pearls, one pink, one black, and one white. Or you can opt for pearl earrings that add a Swarovski crystal roundel and a fiery red carnelian stone. You can even choose multiple strands made from freshwater pearls, silver, Hematite, and crystals. Depending on how you overlap the strands, you can wear them as a necklace, bracelet, belt, or choker.

Lately, spectacular coin pearl earrings have been catching on. Lustrous and energetic with their tropical purple color, the pearls are fairly flat and are accented with Swarovski crystals set off in silver roundels. Similarly, coin pearl bracelets can be seen on the wrists of trendsetters. These bracelets take, for example, copper coin pearls and accent them with Swarovski crystals, silver roundels, and a toggle clasp.

Other Colorful Pearl Jewelry Combinations

Pearls and Swarovski crystals aren't the only pairing worn by fashionistas. For a cool, colorful summer look, multicolored pearls (sometimes up to ten different colors) are combined with a dozen different colors of seashell pieces to create a vibrant necklace. For an extraordinary evening look, irregularly shaped freshwater pearls are combined with irregular shapes of bright coral and gold spacers to protect the pearls. This kind of chunky necklace is the perfect accessory to the simpler, more tailored lines in fashion this spring and summer.

When it comes to buying pearl jewelry, tradition certainly has its place. But it's important to remember that pearl jewelry can also make a fashion statement, and can be incorporated into your everyday personal style.