Holiday Pearl Trends 2026: Ombré South Sea, Edisons & Color

AGTA’s new holiday outlook, “Let’s Glow: Pearls Are Positioned to Shine This Holiday,” asks pearl specialists what will sell this season and how jewelers can turn the renewed interest in pearls into sales. Eric Yen is one of the dealers interviewed, and four of the article’s photos come from our inventory: white strands with pink overtones, natural metallic purple strands, an Edison necklace with a matching pair, and an ombré strand that shifts from dark gray to white to gold.

Pearls in the spotlight. Trade-show conversations about pearls have been upbeat all year, and pearls were everywhere in 2026, from the Met Gala red carpet to Wimbledon. Eric told AGTA that no single celebrity moment showed up in sales on its own. What he does see is that almost every new buyer at our booth asks whether pearls are making a comeback, often naming the stars and athletes they saw wearing them. The attention is reaching the people who buy.

Color sets a store apart. Classic white strands always sell, but every store already carries them. Eric’s advice is to show customers something they haven’t seen before, such as natural metallic purple pearls or true blue Akoya. Colors like these give sales staff a story to tell and set them apart from the peacock Tahitian and golden South Sea pearls most shoppers already know. The article notes that demand for colored pearls is rising while quality and availability vary widely, and that fine peacock Tahitians are getting harder to find and command top prices.

Everyone wants Edisons. Edison pearls, bead-nucleated freshwater pearls grown in China, keep getting better, with strong colors harvest after harvest. We now give Edisons their own display case at trade shows, in a full range of sizes, and purple, lavender and mauve are the colors buyers ask for most. The article also points to blue and green Edisons as a lower-priced alternative to the Tahitian look, with a reminder that the pearl’s origin must always be disclosed.

Hot for the holidays. Holiday shoppers want pairs, so earring pairs in every size are a must, and fine Japanese Akoya pearls remain a seasonal favorite. Eric is putting the spotlight on ombré South Sea strands from 7 to 11 mm and on double-graduation saltwater necklaces. In these necklaces the pearls grow from small to large and back to small across two or three sections, while the color moves through a matching gradient. The specialists also agree that one exceptional piece does more for a display than several ordinary ones.

Closing the sale. The article ends with practical selling tips. Keep pieces ready to try on, because skin tones differ and pearls come in many shades of white. When a customer is buying a gift, ask about the recipient’s skin tone and lipstick color, or ask to see a photo. Placing a fine strand beside an ordinary one lets a client see the difference in luster, surface, color and matching without a lesson in grading. And a store doesn’t need to stock everything: it needs a supplier who can find a specific color or size quickly.

That last point is where we come in. Yen’s supplies cultured pearls to jewelers, designers and manufacturers, including ombré South Sea strands, natural-color Edison pearls and pairs, and fine Akoya. If a holiday client is asking for a particular size, color or graduation, apply for a trade account below to see wholesale pricing, or visit us at our next show.