Peipei by JLL Pearl

Peipei is the baroque pearl cluster necklace I designed around abundance — not as excess, but as presence. Several large baroque freshwater pearls — each between 12 and 15mm, AA+ quality — hang individually from a central knot on a grey satin cord. Because each pearl sits at the end of its own strand, the cluster moves with the body, shifting with every step.

The pearls

The baroque pearls I choose for Peipei carry a visible character. Moreover, each one differs from the next — some elongated, some flattened, some almost round. Still, together they read as a whole, a coherent handful of form. Their surface iridescence ranges from pale silver to warm cream. Therefore, against the softness of the grey cord, they appear almost luminous.

The cord and the closure

The cord is fine grey satin — supple, matte, quiet. Furthermore, the sliding knot closure allows Peipei to move from collarbone length to mid-chest. I finish the cord end with a single small baroque pearl, so the piece holds its character even from behind.

I make each Peipei by hand, in my atelier in Greece, tying each strand individually at its knot. As a result, no two pieces fall the same way. In this way, this baroque pearl cluster necklace carries something irreducible — a shape that belongs to no other piece. Peipei arrives in its JLL Pearl pouch with a certificate of authenticity. Because I work with natural pearls, no two pieces are identical.

Materials

• Pearls: multiple large baroque freshwater pearls, 12–15mm, AA+ quality, white to silver iridescence
• Cord: grey satin with multi-strand cluster construction
• Closure: adjustable sliding knot
• Finial: one small baroque pearl
• Handmade in Greece by Patricia Mulko