At Leetie Lovendale, every piece of jewelry tells a story.
And some of our favorite stories begin decades ago — in small workshops, bustling factories, and creative studios, where artisans shaped pearls with care, skill, and a touch of magic.
Today, we honor their work by giving new life to vintage pearls: crafting modern jewelry pieces that still carry the soul of the past.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship: Japanese Resin and Glass Pearls
In the 1940s, Japan’s jewelry industry experienced a transformation.
With traditional lapidary and gemstone work halted during the war, artisans turned their tools and talents toward creating pearls out of resin and glass — industrial techniques paired with extraordinary skill.
The pearls they made were luminous, full of life, and designed to mimic the soft glow of natural and cultured pearls. These artisans didn’t just manufacture beads; they created little works of art.
Today, we are lucky enough to work with these treasures — vintage pearls originally crafted over 80 years ago, found wrapped in crumbling tissue paper inside old warehouses on the East Coast.
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The Rich Girl Necklace - available in gold or silver. 🌟
Hand-Knotted Pearls from the 1940s
Among our most cherished finds are the hand-knotted pearl ropes — long strands of glass pearls, each bead knotted by hand in Japan around the 1940s.
When we hold these ropes, we imagine the women who might have sat together, knotting pearls one by one, sharing stories, laughter, and dreams.
We can't know their exact lives — but we like to believe there was pride and connection woven into every strand.
These ropes were authentically knotted nearly 85 years ago, not by us — but by the original artisans whose work we deeply respect.
(Other pieces you’ll find in our collection are lovingly handmade in our USA-based studio, blending their artistry with ours.)
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Hand-Knotted Vintage Japanese Glass Pearl Rope Necklace.
European Deadstock Pearls from the 1980s–1990s
Fast forward a few decades to the 1980s and 1990s — where design innovation in Europe led to gorgeous resin and acrylic pearls, mostly made in West Germany.
These pearls have a playful elegance, from bold baroque beads to delicate cabochons that make perfect stud earrings. Their shapes, colors, and styles bring a fresh, retro twist to today's jewelry designs.
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Why We Choose Vintage Pearls
Working with vintage pearls allows us to bridge the gap between generations:
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✨ We honor the artistry of the past.
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🌎 We embrace sustainability, reducing waste and celebrating materials that already exist.
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💖 We create pieces that carry stories — not just trends.
Every pearl we use, whether made decades ago in Japan or Germany, was once the dream of a craftsman.
Today, we’re proud to share that dream with you.
Shop the Collection
Explore our Leetie Pearl Archives - Pearl Jewelry Collection and bring a little bit of history — and a whole lot of style — into your life.
