Pearly Greats : Wrap Up Fabulous Fakes for Fraction of the Cost of Their Cultured Cousins

These are not your grandmother’s pearls. For one thing, those were probably real. These are just real fun.

These days pearls are wrapped not just around the neck, wrist and fingers, but also the midriff, ankles and biceps. So going Grandma’s route--with natural or cultured pearls--can be costly. A 16-inch to 30-inch single strand of cultured pearls (quality: poor to average) can cost from $200 to $600.

And one strand won’t get you covered this season, when strands are going to great lengths, with some necklaces reaching 10 feet.

What does one do with this much necklace? “You can call this the six necklaces in one,” says Elizabeth Freitas, fashion jewelry buyer for Nordstrom Orange County stores. A single 16-inch strand of Nordstrom hand-knotted imitation pearls is $10.

Double it, triple it, quadruple it, knot it, tie it at the waist or wrap it close at the neck and let the rest fall in a “short and long” look borrowed from the ‘20s, she says.

For this much drape, get real: Go faux.

Imitation pearls, rather than being harvested from an oyster, are created in paste pots or chemistry labs. The cost for a strand of faux pearls? About $1 an inch at Impostors in MainPlace/Santa Ana and Brea Mall.

“That’s for glass beads that have been coated with real crushed pearls and individually knotted on silk thread,” says Monique Gallego, manager of Impostors in Santa Ana. “We don’t sell plastic ones because they chip and peel and last just a few months, but they (plastic) cost about $8 at other stores.”

For a fabulous fake-out, Irene Vincent, co-owner of Zia Jewelry in San Juan Capistrano, says to look for a strand of pearls in which each pearl looks subtly different.

“Natural pearls are different sizes, so don’t wear something in which every pearl has an identical shape,” she says. “Another key is to find imitation ones that have a sheen or luster to them like real pearls.”

Vincent, who only sells genuine gems, says she’s seen poorly crafted imitation pearls that have visible seams or rough edges. “Real pearls don’t have edges,” she advises.

Price is not the only advantage to imitation pearls. “You can do things with faux pearls that you wouldn’t do with real ones,” Freitas says.

For today’s layered themes, combine pearl strands with a few gold link chains and a big studded cross, medallion or choker. Mix it all up with crystal beads, she says, and the look goes from day to evening.

Also inching up on this lengthy trend, especially for the long and lean bohemian--is the illusionaire necklace, which suspends pearls (coupled with antique gold or other beads) along a barely visible chain, giving a free-floating appearance. A Dabby Reid necklace sells for $89 at Nordstrom.

“These pearls can be worn as the hippie-chic look, conservative or the casual look with denim,” Freitas says.

Carolee, Mariam Haskell and Carol Dauplaise cover all the bases in faux pearl jewelry.

The multistrand pearl choker has long been a favorite for classic dress-up ( a la Sophia Loren at this year’s Academy Awards), but formal attire isn’t the only cue for today’s pearl choker: Levi’s 501s and a white cotton shirt or a tank top can justify a pearl embrace.

For the streetwise, choker chic takes hold in leather, velvet and ribbon, with pearls in settings shaped as hearts, ovals and teardrops. The woman who wants it all at once can accent her ‘70s-inspired floral dress with the romance of a Victorian-style pearl cameo worn over work boots for that blue-collar grunge touch.

One of the most dynamic duos in faux vogue is gold and pearls. In this, the Chanel legacy is undeniable as designer Karl Lagerfeld continues to add luster to the pearl scene. Gold chains, textured beads and intricate settings keep company with classic round to baroque shapes. Companies such as St. John and Anne Klein follow in this tradition with their own interpretations of gold meets pearl.

Gold rings feature big imitation pearls with accents of faux diamonds or pearl clusters. A ring on every finger is the current credo. Bracelets also get multiple exposure, venturing beyond the wrist and well up the arm. Individual bracelets can be worn in bunches. Also popular are the accordion bracelets which, like Slinky toys, go round and round and can be adjusted to fit the upper arm.

Finally, for those who’d like to venture beyond the single strand necklace and stud earrings--but not too far afield from Grandmother’s classic realm--there are diamond-and-pearl combinations. Christian Dior and Swarovski interpret the look in elegant styles that attract modern brides-to-be and others with a regal flare.