The Befana and pearls: lasting elegance for January
The new year has just begun, and it is a good moment to start January with a touch of elegance and beauty.
Epiphany is a special day, full of traditions handed down for generations. Its heroine is the Befana, a figure of sweetness and mystery, who arrives with a sack full of surprises: candy, coal and, perhaps, a small jewel.
Like the Befana, who returns every year with her magic and her traditions, pearls stand for something that never fades.
They are the gift that outlasts the years, like a tradition renewed every January 6.
Every pearl jewel tells a story and keeps a link with the past, while still looking ahead with grace. Choosing pearls for your family or friends is like giving a piece of lasting elegance, one that lights up every moment.
In this article, we look at why pearls never lose their appeal.
Pearls remain a major trend in jewelry, and in 2025 they are expected to take center stage, with new interpretations and styles.
Classic round white pearls will always be popular, but 2025 will see more “imperfect,” natural pearls, such as baroque pearls, irregular and one of a kind in shape.
Baroque pearls suit anyone looking for jewelry with a more organic, contemporary look.
All-over pearl jewelry will be everywhere: pieces that cover an entire surface, such as rings fully covered in pearls or necklaces that use them in generous, continuous rows, for an “over-the-top” effect that is elegant and a little eclectic.
It was Coco Chanel who changed the way pearls were seen, opening them up to younger, modern women, while Audrey Hepburn, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), made a pearl necklace famous and turned it into a lasting emblem of elegance.
As for legend, the most common stories say that pearls are born from the tears of the gods.
When the gods were sad or grieving, it was said, their tears fell into the sea and turned into pearls.
In another version, the tears of the goddess of the moon, or of the goddess of love, fell into the water and hardened into shining pearls, symbols of divine beauty and purity. Pearls were therefore seen as heavenly jewels that brought purity and protection.
Unlike most gemstones, pearls are organic, which makes them more sensitive to their surroundings. They can lose their luster when exposed to perfume, cosmetics or sweat, and they need careful storage, ideally in a soft pouch or a velvet box, away from direct light.
To keep pearls lustrous, wear them often: contact with the skin helps preserve their natural sheen, since pearls are partly made of conchiolin, a substance that reacts well with the human body.
Not just for women. Pearls are a growing trend in menswear, too. Pearl necklaces and bracelets are increasingly popular with men, often worn with tailored jackets or dress shirts. The trend is breaking with convention and bringing pearls into men’s fashion, reinterpreted in a modern way.
What do you think of pearls? A classic that never fades, or have they lost some of their charm? Leave us a comment and share your thoughts. We are curious to hear your view.