Painters from the Dutch Golden Age have always been a favorite of mine—I love their use of moody shadow, saturated color and beautiful melancholy. The still lifes speak to me, but The Girl with the Pearl Earring…well…she’s magnetic. I’ve always found her over-the-shoulder stare to be far more captivating than Mona Lisa’s smile (sorry, da Vinci), and my obsession with her only grew after reading a fictionalized account of her creation and watching the subsequent movie starring Colin Firth as Mr. Vermeer himself.
All this is to say: I’m so glad pearls are having a moment in the spotlight. No longer are they relegated to the purview of 17th century painters and Southern grandmothers; lustrous pearl drops can currently be found decorating the lobes of today’s top style makers. And your friendly neighborhood DIY blogger! After weeks of lusting after stunning pearl jewelry from Anni Lu, Nina Kastens and Faris, I took matters into my own hands and set about making myself an affordable pair of pearl earrings. Keep scrolling to see how you can make your own for about $25.
For this project, you’ll need the following:
• needle-nose pliers
• 2 baroque pearl beads
• 2 oval crystal settings
• 2 headpins
• 2 earring posts
• E6000
1. To make the first earring, slide one pearl drop onto a headpin.
2. Make sure the bottom of the pearl is right up against the bottom of the pin, then trim off the excess pin using the needle-nose pliers. Make sure to leave about 1/2″ of extra pin.
3. Next, twist the end of the pin around the round end of your needle-nose pliers. This will make a small loop at the end of the pin. You can leave the loop a little bit open at this stage.
4. Repeat with the second pearl, so you have two little drop pendants.
5. Apply a small dab of E6000 to the back of your crystals, then firmly press the earring post onto the back of the crystal. Hold for 30 seconds, then let dry overnight.
6. After the glue has dried, attach the pearl drops to the ring on the crystals and use the needle-nose pliers to squeeze the pin eyes shut.
That’s literally all there is to it. After just a few steps, you’ll be in possession of a pair of beautiful baroque pearl drop earrings that may just inspire a priceless piece of art—or at least a few admiring glances on the bus.
