Why Navajo Pearls are Trending
Why People Are Wearing Navajo Pearls More Than Ever
Even with high rises in silver cost, buyers are still trending toward Navajo pearls. I own Lantern Dancer Gallery, and Navajo pearls are consistently our best seller each year. The western influencer hubs like Vegas NFR, Houston Livestock Show, and Round Top Texas’s famed antique show are popping up with pearls.
Not the oyster type, but the Native American-made good stuff. Although our eye is often drawn to giant bolos now being worn by women just as much as the boys, or the ever-iconic squash, look between the lines and you’ll see by far the most worn thing is pearls.
If you can afford it, handmade is by far the most prized by collectors. These pieces of handmade greatness take days to weeks to create, and don’t let the small pearls fool you—they are harder and more laborious than the big ones. But even the machine-made ones are sterling and absolutely lovely.
With celebrities like Hailey Bieber bringing the minimalist look into mainstream with her tiny jewelry and low-impact makeup looks, pearls offer a not-too-flashy look with delicate layering that still delivers on the “I’m a cowgirl” through-and-through vibe. Wear a pearl with a clean Ralph Lauren button-down, and it’s an instant classic. No need to be a maximalist—keep it clean and tight. Throw on a 4mm 16” on a casual day or pop on a turquoise pendant, and you’re ready to look the part without a big budget.
For fancier occasions in a modernistic world, Navajo pearls are not missed by the little black dress. We are often styling celebrities like Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, and Instagram influencers who need some Southwestern jewelry to hit it right when wearing tight-fitting night attire. Pearls layered are perfect for this. Create a waterfall effect with 16” 4mm, 18” 6mm, and a lovely 8mm 20”.
Lastly, with the rise of minimalism and slow fashion comes capsule wardrobes. Comfort is prized, along with small, high-end pieces. Pearls are surprisingly lightweight but look substantial. Our clients are often amazed at how lightweight our pearls are when they lift them from our jewelry counter. Unlike heavy squash blossoms or big bolo ties, Navajo pearls really can be worn comfortably all day—say, at a wedding or shopping all day at Round Top—and you won’t even know they are there.
For me personally, I love tiny pearls that are handmade, or our famous almost-always-sold-out seed-bead-sized pearls in a 30” with a locket-type pendant at the end so that I can feel like I’m living in the roaring ’20s. Another go-to for me is multi-generational pillow-top pearls by Marietta Daukai. They are her most laborious pieces she makes and one of my prized possessions. Girls love their pearls, and it makes me smile when I see a customer post a picture of their pearls on Instagram, going to a favorite spot or hanging out with a friend wearing them. Pearls are not going anywhere, and people truly are wearing them more than ever.
