Freshwater Pearl Drop Necklace

One pearl, no crown, no plating to hide behind.

Silver was never the consolation prize.

What this necklace is

This necklace pairs a 13mm freshwater cultured pearl pendant with a 40+5cm adjustable chain in polished 925 sterling silver. There is no gold plating on this piece — the silver is left bare and polished, worn as a deliberate finish rather than a base layer. House Of The 18th sells this alongside its gold-plated pieces as the silver option in the same collection.

Is this pearl natural or cultured?

The pearl is freshwater cultured, meaning a freshwater mussel produced it around a nucleus inserted by a pearl farmer, rather than forming without human intervention. Freshwater culturing is the standard method behind the vast majority of pearls sold today, including in fine jewellery.

Why no gold plating?

Gold plating exists to add colour and shine to a base metal. A pearl already does that on its own — the nacre layers refract light in a way plating would only compete with. House Of The 18th left this one in raw silver so the pearl stays the only thing catching light.

How the 40+5cm length wears

At 40cm the pendant sits at the base of the throat, just above the collarbone. Extended to 45cm with the attached 5cm chain, it drops slightly lower, closer to the collarbone itself, and layers more easily under a collar or alongside a second necklace.

How to care for the pearl and silver

Pearls are organic and soft — remove this necklace before swimming, showering, or applying perfume, and wipe it with a soft cloth after wearing to remove skin oils. Store it flat and away from other jewellery, since pearls scratch easily against harder stones and metal. Unplated silver will tarnish naturally over time and can be brought back with a silver polishing cloth.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a real pearl? Yes, it is a genuine freshwater cultured pearl, grown inside a freshwater mussel rather than forming without human intervention.

Why isn't this necklace gold-plated like the others in the collection? This piece is sold as the unplated silver option in the House Of The 18th collection, styled to let the pearl's natural lustre stand against bare polished silver.

How durable is a pearl for daily wear? Pearls rate 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them one of the softest materials in fine jewellery, so they need more care than a mounted gemstone and should come off before water, perfume, or exercise.

Will the silver tarnish? Unplated 925 sterling silver will tarnish with air exposure over time, which is normal and reversible with a silver polishing cloth, unlike plated pieces where polishing too hard can wear through the gold layer.

Can this necklace be layered with other pieces? Yes, the 40+5cm adjustable length is designed to sit short enough to layer under or alongside a longer chain from the same collection.