Star Pearl Collection – Little Pieces of Night Sky from Our 2025 Harvest

Sometimes I feel that my whole journey with jewelry began with a single star pearl. Back in 2021, when my little shop was just starting, it was the star pearl necklace that carried my very first orders, my first Etsy bestseller, and my first messages from customers saying, “This feels like something I’ll keep forever.”

That’s why this new Star Pearl Collection means so much to me. Every piece in this series is made from our latest 2025 harvest of high-grade star pearls and moon pearls – carefully chosen 5A baroque star pearls that I’ve been quietly saving for people who somehow find their way here.

What Exactly Is a Star Pearl?

When we say star pearl, we’re usually talking about a star-shaped freshwater baroque pearl – a natural pearl grown around a special nucleus so that, over time, its nacre forms the outline of a star. These are not simple beads carved into shape. They’re cultured pearls, layer by layer, just like any other high-quality freshwater pearl, only with a much more difficult shape to complete.

During growth, so many things can go “wrong” in a beautiful way: water temperature shifts, changes in nutrition, the movement of the mussel itself… All of these affect how evenly the nacre wraps around the star-shaped core.

If the coverage is slightly uneven, one corner of the star may stay “bare”, or a tip may slowly become rounded instead of pointed. Add to that natural color variations and surface textures, and you’ll understand why a truly well-formed baroque star pearl with good luster and clean corners is incredibly rare.

From our experience at the farms, only a very small percentage of shells – sometimes around 1% of a whole batch – can produce star pearls that we consider “collection-grade.” And from those, we further select only 4A–5A quality pearls for jewelry: strong luster, pleasing symmetry, and surfaces that still look beautiful when you wear them, not just under studio lights.

Why Star Pearls Have Become So Hard to Find

In 2021, I could still find enough beautiful star-shaped pearls to offer them widely. They were the heart of my shop: star pearl necklaces, star pearl earrings, and tiny star bracelets that traveled to so many new homes.

But starting around 2022, things quietly changed. Most pearl farmers began to shift their focus back to classic round pearls, because the global demand and profit margins are much higher there. Star pearls take more effort, more risk, and produce fewer “perfect” pieces – which means they’re simply less attractive to mass production.

The rarest among them are the purple star pearls. Their color and shape together feel like a small miracle: a five-pointed star, wrapped in soft violet or blush-pink nacre, with a bright, clean glow. Asking for all of that at once – shape, color, and luster – is like asking the lake and the weather to agree with you for years.

That’s why I eventually stopped offering them everywhere and chose to quietly keep the best batches for this place only – for the people who find Alya Pearls and understand what they’re looking at.

From Farm to Jewelry Bench – How Our Star Pearls Are Chosen

Every piece in the Star Pearl Collection starts long before it reaches the workbench. Here is what happens behind the scenes:

1. Seeding & Growth
   A carefully shaped core is placed inside the mussel, and the pearl begins its journey. Over 2–3 years, layer after layer of nacre builds up – sometimes evenly, sometimes with little surprises.
2. Sorting After Harvest
   When a harvest season ends, we spread the pearls out under strong light. Most “stars” are not truly stars anymore: some have missing tips, twisted corners, or overly rough surfaces. Those are set aside. We only keep the ones with real character and beauty.
3. Grading – 4A and 5A Only
   For this collection, we select AA4A and 5A star pearls: high luster, recognizable star shape, and surfaces that still look smooth and glowing when worn on skin.
4. Matching for Jewelry
   This is the part I love most. One by one, we match each star or moon pearl with tiny companions: round seed pearls, moon pearls, or baroque links, until the piece “feels right.”

A lot of pieces never make it past this final check. If a star pearl doesn’t shine the way it should, it doesn’t go into your jewelry.

Meet the 2025 Star Pearl Collection

Every design in this series uses our latest 2025 star pearl harvest – mostly 5A stars and moons – and each piece is handcrafted in the studio. Here are a few of the designs you’ll find in our Star Pearl Collection:

Starry Pearl Necklace – Our Constellation Piece

The Starry Pearl Necklace is like wearing a small sky around your neck. Each strand is made from baroque star pearls with soft, dreamy luster. Some lean toward violet, others toward warm blush or pure white. No two necklaces are ever exactly the same.

If you love surprises and tiny variations, the purple star pearl necklace is for you. If you prefer a more consistent look, the white version feels calmer and more classic. Either way, you’re wearing something that’s nearly impossible to mass produce.

Star Pearl Stud Earrings – Quiet Everyday Magic

Our star pearl earrings are the pieces I recommend to anyone who says, “I just want something I can wear every day.” They sit close to the ear, catch the light from every angle, and add a soft, playful glow without shouting.

Because we use only high-luster 4A–5A star pearls, they look bright even in soft indoor light – the kind you have at home, in the office, or on quiet evenings out.

Moon & Star Pearl Pieces – A Small Universe

Some designs combine a single 5A star pearl with tiny round pearls that orbit around it – sometimes five little “satellites” wrapping the star like a tiny universe. These star pearl necklaces feel delicate, but they carry a strong meaning: you don’t have to shine alone.

We also have pieces that pair moon pearls with star pearls, turning the whole design into a small story about balance: calm and light, stillness and motion.

Pearl Christmas Tree – A Star at the Top

Even our Pearl Christmas Tree design carries a star pearl at the very top. We mix star-shaped pearls, round baroque pearls, and Biwa pearls, then carefully arrange them so the tree feels both festive and gentle.

Some versions become necklaces, some become earrings, some become brooches – but the idea is always the same: a little tree of light, with a star pearl to hold your wishes.

How to Style Star Pearl Jewelry

Star pearls may look playful at first glance, but they blend into everyday life much more easily than you’d think. Here are a few ideas:

• For everyday wear: try a single star pearl pendant on a simple silver chain, or tiny star pearl earrings with jeans and a white T-shirt.
• For a romantic look: pair a star pearl necklace in purple or blush tones with a soft dress, light knitwear, or anything flowy.
• For special occasions: choose pieces with larger baroque star pearls or layers – a star pearl necklace plus a simple pearl bracelet.
• For collectors: consider mixing star pearls with your classic round pearl jewelry – they make a beautiful contrast in texture and story.

If you’re not sure which piece fits your style, you can always send me a message. I’m happy to give honest suggestions based on your wardrobe, skin tone, or how “visible” you want your jewelry to be.

How to Care for Your Star Pearl Jewelry

Even though star pearls look playful, at heart they are still organic gemstones. They like the same gentle care as any fine freshwater pearl:

• Keep them away from perfumes, hairspray, and harsh chemicals.
• After wearing, gently wipe them with a soft cloth and store them separately from sharp metal pieces.
• Avoid long exposure to direct sunlight or very dry air – pearls are happiest in environments close to skin humidity.

For a deeper guide, you can read our full Pearl Care Instructions anytime.

Why This Collection Is Limited

Because high-grade star pearls are so rare, we can’t promise that these designs will always be available. We’re using our best 2025 harvest of 5A star pearls and moon pearls – once they’re gone, we can’t simply reorder them from a factory.

Every piece is handmade in the studio, and each star pearl carries small differences: a slightly softer arm, a deeper violet tone, a stronger glow at one angle. That means: the piece that finds you will truly be one of a kind.

If you’ve always loved the idea of wearing a little piece of night sky – not just a star shape, but a real star pearl grown in water and time – this might be the right moment to start your own tiny constellation.

Where every pearl finds its story – and some of them just happen to look like stars.
I’m very happy you found your way here.