Typical pearls can range in size from 2 mm to 12 mm or even larger. The right pearl size for you will vary depending on your style. Here are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind:

Larger pearls are the best choice if you’re looking to achieve a formal look, or for those high-wattage red carpet events. Big, bold pearl jewelry will make a big, bold statement, and for those occasions when you want to stand out, they can be the perfect choice.

By contrast, smaller or medium-sized pearls are generally favored for casual everyday wear. They can also convey a subtle, understated elegance, or be combined with other sizes to achieve a unique and modern fashion statement.

Age can also be a factor when choosing the right pearl size. Young women and girls will often find that smaller pearls work best for their needs, matching their smaller frames and more delicate features. Meanwhile, mature women may opt for larger statement pearls that convey sophistication and glamor. Time of day and the occasion at which the pearls will be worn are also important to consider.

The bottom line is that if you want to buy the perfect set of pearls that expresses your individual style and personality, you’ll have to do a little bit of digging into the various pearl sizes.

But don’t worry. In this article we’ll help you sort through all of those options so you can find the perfect set of pearls for you.

First things first, though, let’s talk about how pearls are measured, and the sizes you are likely to encounter in your research.

Read more about the different pearl types in our informative Types of Pearls guide.

The image below shows the most popular Akoya pearl necklace sizes, and how they compare to a U.S. nickel. You can see how each half-millimeter difference impacts the overall look of a pearl necklace.

What’s more, while a half-millimeter increase doesn’t sound like a lot, that extra volume can really add up, as shown in the pearl size chart below. Each half-millimeter increase in diameter generally translates to about a 15-20% jump in overall size. And the larger the pearl, the higher its price.

The best pearl earring size for most occasions is the timeless classic 7.0 - 8.0 mm size. This classic pearl size, particularly when set in pearl studs, are a staple of every jewelry box, and they are perfectly suited for everyday wear.

The 7.0 - 8.0 size is quite versatile, and can easily take your look from everyday wear to evening elegance. But there are other applications to consider, too.

A pair of elegantly understated 6.5 – 7.0 mm Akoya pearl earrings can be ideal for office wear, offering class and style without being too showy. Luxury pearl earring sizes, on the other hand — such as the eye-catching 11 – 12 mm Tahitian pearl earring — are a glamorous choice for an evening out.

You may have entirely other preferences, and that’s okay! After all, earrings create a frame for your face, and every face is different.

At Pearls of Joy, you will find a wide selection of 7.0 – 8.0 mm stud earrings, including lustrously gorgeous Akoya and Top Range Hanadama stud earrings, as well as lovely Freshwater pearl stud earrings in a range of pretty pastel colors.

The truth is that jewelry wearers often choose pearl size based on their individual preferences, as well as what works best with their personal style. This is true for stud as well as dangle earring styles.

While some jewelry wearers love luxurious “look at me” earrings such as Pearls of Joy’s Golden South Sea pearl earrings, others may opt for a more understated and sophisticated look. A pair of white stud earrings, such as Pearls of Joy’s 8.0 – 8.5 mm Hanadama Akoya earrings delivers that fabulously.

Also, certain pearl sizes can only be found in particular types of cultured pearls. For instance, you may find lovely smaller sized stud earrings in Japanese Akoya pearls, even as small as Pearls of Joy’s 5.5 – 6.0 mm Japanese Akoya pearl earrings. Tahitian or South Sea pearls don’t come in such a small pearl size, however.

On the other hand, you will find larger size stud earrings in South Sea pearls, such as Pearls of Joy’s 14 mm White South Sea pearl earrings, but this size is not available for Akoyas.

Stud earrings with different pearl sizes sit differently on the ears. Below you can see that an 8 mm pearl stud earring looks lovely and understated. However a 11 mm or 13 mm pearl stud earring looks much larger and more eye-catching by comparison.

The best size for a pearl necklace is 7.0 to 7.5 mm for most occasions. This pearl size is considered the “classic” choice, and it’s a versatile one that can be perfect for many wearers. But you don’t need to stick to the classics!

These days, the hottest trend is layering and creating a “neck-mess” by wearing multiple necklaces in different pearl sizes. For the fashionably adventurous, it can be a fun way to express your personal style.

Just like stud earrings, there are countless pearl sizes available for necklaces that can help achieve this look. From 6.0 mm Akoya necklaces with dainty and radiant pearls to a luscious 17 mm South Sea pearl necklace, there is a huge range of choices available.

Thus, buying from a reputable online pearl jewelry store like Pearls of Joy, where the selection of pearl necklaces is wide and deep, makes creating your own “neck mess” pearl style statement so simple!

Different pearl sizes work best with different pearl necklace lengths. A longer necklace, such as the opera (35”) or even the rope (54”) length, looks best with smaller pearl sizes, such as Pearls of Joy’s 6.0 – 6.5 mm opera length Akoya pearl necklace.  

By contrast, larger pearl sizes look perfect on shorter necklace lengths, including both princess (18”) and matinee (24”). Pearls of Joy’s 18” 9.5 -10.0 mm Hanadama Akoya necklace or their 24” 10.0 – 10.5 mm Akoya Pearl necklace have the ideal pearl sizes for these necklace lengths.

For pearl pendants, the best pearl size starts from 8.0 mm through 9.5 mm. This large size suggests glamor and luxury, with a large, lustrous pearl being the focus of the entire jewelry look.

Pearls of Joy’s stunning and lustrous Akoya pearl pendants or iridescent Tahitian pearl pendants easily elevates any look from boring to beautiful.

Pearl bracelets are the ultimate arm-candy, and these days are enjoying a well-deserved time in the spotlight. Just like necklaces, the current trend of layering bracelets means that playing around with pearl sizes creates the perfect modern, layered look.

But wearing only a single pearl bracelet is still a timeless classic and looks graceful and charming on everyone.

Try layering a 6.0 – 6.5 mm Akoya bracelet with 7.5 – 8.0 mm Hanadama Akoya and 11 – 12 mm South Sea pearl bracelets. Or wear them singly.

We promise, you will fall in love with both looks and all three bracelets!

Pearls are unique, and one aspect of their uniqueness is the different sizes you can find among different types of pearls. For each cultured pearl type — Akoya, Freshwater, Tahitian or South Sea — there are certain pearl sizes that are very popular among jewelry lovers.