Arabelle

Arabelle is the baroque pearl gold choker I designed around a single idea: that gold and pearl have always belonged together. One large baroque freshwater pearl — 12 to 14mm, AA+ quality — sits at the centre of a braided gold satin cord. On either side, I press small gold-plated beads into place by hand, working until the spacing feels right.

The pearl

The baroque pearl I choose for Arabelle is large and near-round. Moreover, its surface carries a soft iridescence that shifts between white, cream, and the faintest rose. Because it is baroque, it is not uniform — and that irregularity is not a flaw. In fact, it is what makes the piece readable from across a room. Against the warmth of the gold cord, the pearl reads as something considered, something old.

The cord and the closure

The cord is braided gold satin, fine and supple. The closure is a sliding knot, which means you can wear Arabelle tight at the throat or let it fall lower against the collarbone. Furthermore, two small pearls hang from the cord ends — a quiet finish that makes the piece feel complete rather than cut off. Therefore, it works equally well with an open collar or bare skin.

I make Arabelle slowly, without a template. The bead placement, the tension of the knot — each one takes time to get right. As a result, each piece is slightly its own. Still, I make this baroque pearl gold choker for every day, not for occasions. In this way, it reflects how I work: by hand, in Greece, without shortcuts.

Arabelle arrives in its JLL Pearl pouch with a certificate of authenticity. Because I work with natural pearls, no two pieces are identical.

Materials

• Pearl: one large baroque freshwater pearl, 12–14mm, AA+ quality, white with soft iridescence
• Cord: braided gold satin with gold-plated beads
• Closure: adjustable sliding knot
• Finials: two small baroque pearls
• Handmade in Greece by Patricia Mulko