Pearls the Way the Old Masters Painted Them
Hand-sorted freshwater and baroque pearls on 14k gold-filled findings, strung to order in our atelier.
Enter the collection
Galleries
Wander the rooms
Five rooms, one obsession. Each gallery holds a different chapter of the pearl.
Current Exhibition
Pieces on view
Numbered, catalogued, and one of a kind — like the pearls themselves.
The Measure
Generations
Three generations of pearl traders stand behind every strand we release.
Freshwater Pearls
Genuine cultured freshwater and baroque pearls. Never shell, never plastic.
To Your Door
Insured, discreet, and tracked. From our vault to yours within three days.
The Maison
Three generations of hands that sort pearls by north light
NACREUSE began with our founder's grandmother, a pearl stringer who sorted baroque pearls by a north-facing window and trusted her fingertips before her tweezers. Three generations later, every pearl we set is still chosen by hand — luster first, shape second, character always.
We string the classical way, with silk knots and gold-filled findings and nothing rushed, but we prize what the trade once called flaws: the baroque curves and asymmetries the Old Masters painted. A NACREUSE pearl is never repeated by nature, so we never try to repeat it ourselves.
Visitors’ Notes
“My solitaire's pearl has a tiny tail shape you would never see in a catalog photo, and I love it more for that. The stringing is flawless.”
“A graduated strand like my mother's, but lighter and more modern on the collar. The gold clasp is beautifully weighted.”
“The twin drops catch light like the portraits at the Gardner — I wore them to opening night and three people asked about them.”
“Wore the bridal duo at my wedding and the baroque solitaire photographed like an heirloom. My mother has already claimed the drop earrings.”
“The oyster cuff holds its baroque pearl like a sculpture in a vitrine. Museum-piece feel, comfortable everyday weight.”
“The dome ring's pearl sits flush enough to type in — rare for a statement ring. It reads antique at arm's length and modern up close.”
Curator’s Answers
Before you ask
Are the pearls real?
Every pearl is a genuine freshwater pearl — layered nacre, never plastic or shell composite — and the baroque shapes are grown, not molded. That means no two are alike: yours will arrive with small variations in curve and luster, and that irregularity is how you know it is real.
How fast do orders ship?
Each piece is strung and knotted to order in our atelier, so orders leave within two to three business days. US delivery takes three to six days with free tracked shipping, and every box travels in pearl-safe padding.
What is your return policy?
Live with your pearls for 30 days; if they do not feel like yours, return them unworn for a full refund. Return shipping within the US is free, and a prepaid label is included in every order.
How do I choose sizes and lengths?
Rings come in standard US sizes 5 through 9 — when in doubt, size up. Necklaces range from 16 to 22 inches: 18 sits at the collarbone while the Y lariat is designed to fall longer, and bracelets come in 6.5, 7, and 7.5 inches.
Does it arrive ready to gift?
Yes — every piece comes in our deep-navy keepsake box lined with silk, and the bridal duo needs no wrapping at all. We never include prices in the package, so it can go straight from our box to hers.
How do I care for pearls?
Pearls are the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off — perfume, hairspray, and chlorinated water all dull nacre over time. After wearing, wipe each pearl with the enclosed soft cloth and store the piece flat in its box so the silk can rest.
Private reservations
The Bridal Duo awaits.
Silk-lined, ribbon-sealed, and presented as an occasion.
View gift pieces