As the leaves turn and wardrobes shift towards deeper shades, one pearl keeps catching the light at the Coleman Douglas atelier: copper. Glowing somewhere between burnished metal and autumn bracken, it has become one of our most requested colours over the past year. Along with its darker sibling, bronze, it’s also the only pearl colour we dye.
In this post, Chrissie Douglas explains why copper earns its exception, who it suits and how to wear it this season.
A pearl for the turning season
Every September, something shifts in the way we dress. Linen gives way to knitwear and velvet, and the colours follow.
“Copper pearls are extraordinarily beautiful at this time of year because they go with our autumnal colours,” says Chrissie. “In autumn we gravitate towards caramel, burgundy, deep green, camel – rich jewel colours and rich earthy colours. A copper pearl will look amazing within that wardrobe.”
Copper shares the warmth of those tones without competing with them, so it works as a finishing note rather than one more colour to coordinate. A single strand can lift a camel coat or a burgundy knit in a way that classic white sometimes can’t, such as our Copper Freshwater Pearl & Smokey Drop Quartz Necklace.
A year of rising demand
Copper hasn’t crept back quietly.
“There’s been a massive upsurge in copper pearls this last year, and I think it’s because they’re very unusual,” says Chrissie. “Both with us and our stockists.”
That makes a copper strand unlikely to be one you’ll spot on someone else across the room, and in a season of dark coats and grey skies, it brings warmth to the neckline.
Why copper is our exception
Dyeing is common in the pearl trade. Freshwater pearls in particular are often coloured into shades nature rarely produces, and the quality of the results varies enormously.
“As a company policy, we don’t have dyed pearls, because they tend to look very imitation, very fake,” says Chrissie. “They can be neon colours, or any number of colours. But hold one up against a real pearl in the colour it’s meant to imitate and you’ll see just how fake it looks. Our copper and bronze pearls are dyed to our specification, and they have a fantastic lacquer finish.”
That control over shade, depth and finish is the difference. The colour is chosen to sit naturally against skin, with a glossy surface that catches light much as lustre does. And if you’ve ever wondered about a strand in your own jewellery box, our Are My Pearls Real? quiz is a good place to start.
Who suits copper pearls
Colour-matching sits at the heart of every Coleman Douglas consultation, and copper is a shade where hair colour and complexion make a real difference.
“Copper pearls look beautiful on Celtic complexions,” says Chrissie. “Redheads look stunning in them. Copper pearls with auburn hair looks amazing too – as does the combination of brown and black hair with copper pearls. They tend to be really good if you tan well.”
For those who burn rather than bronze, though, there’s one adjustment worth making.
“If you tend to go beetroot in the sun, they still look fantastic, but on a block colour that you might wear,” says Chrissie. “Block black or grey, caramel or camel, a deep green, cerulean blue and turquoise. It’s the most extraordinary combination. It is truly beautiful.”
Keep the clothing simple such as a plain roll-neck, a wrap dress, a tailored coat. Then let the pearls do the talking. Our Copper Freshwater Pearl Drop Earrings would sit beautifully against any of these.
Try copper for yourself
Chrissie’s advice for anyone still unsure is refreshingly simple: “If you look good with a copper or bronze item of jewellery, you will look amazing in copper pearls.” If you’d like a second opinion, send us a photo ahead of a personal consultation and Chrissie will help you find the shade that lights up your face. Book your consultation today or browse our copper pearl earrings, copper pearl bracelets and copper pearl pendants for inspiration.
