Carrie K. shows us how to reinvent the classic pearl necklace

Diamonds may be forever, but pearls are definitely having a moment.

The organic gemstone, once regarded as regal and old-fashioned, can now be found everywhere. Commes Des Garçons has just released a line of punk-inspired pearl jewellery with Mikimoto, while Simone Rocha’s sold-out H&M collaboration was heavily embellished with the milky orbs.

In the jewellery world, there has been a rise in the popularity of pearl engagement rings (both Emma Stone and Ariana Grande have one), and more brands have begun experimenting with the natural gem.

Carrie K. was early to the trend. The homegrown fine jewellery label, founded by Carolyn Kan, is renowned for its playful pieces that offer a twist on traditional designs. You’ll see that especially in its signature Carrie K. Pearl Bar, which reinvents the classic pearl necklace into a one-of-a-kind design.

That’s thanks to Carrie K.’s signature duo system, which connects a string of pearls with a metal chain, or any one of the brand’s many charms and clips. The brand also offers an array of pearls for you to work with, including the precious Akoya and the darker Tahitian varieties. But the real genius of the Pearl Bar necklace lies in the fact that there are over 100 ways to style it, making it a very noteworthy addition to your jewellery collection.

So, where do you begin with such a versatile piece? For starters, you can sign up for Carrie K.’s Pearl Bar Workshop. Conducted by the brand’s jewellery stylist, the 90-minute session covers all you need to know about pearls — how they are formed, what types of pearls are there, and what makes a gem quality pearl.

For the hands-on part of the workshop, you’ll get to rediscover the pearl necklace and customise it to your tastes. You’ll be led through all the possibilities of the Carrie K’s duo system, tweaking it as you see fit. You’ll also learn how to transform the Pearl Bar necklace into a choker, a bracelet, and more.

The workshop will take place on 21 March (3pm and 5pm) and 29 March (1pm and 3pm). It will be held at Design Orchard, the one-stop shopping destination for the best local design brands in Singapore. There, you’ll also get to discover the rest of Carrie K.’s fun jewellery pieces, as well as the offerings of brands like State Property and Marilyn Tan Jewellery. Fellow homegrown label Jouer by Simone, will also be available to shop from 22 March to 4 April.

An afternoon dedicated to discovering gemstones — what more could a jewellery enthusiast want?

Tickets for the Carrie K. Pearl Bar workshop are priced at S$128. Register for the workshop by emailing designorchard@taff.org.sg

Header photo credit: Carrie K.