After color, this is my favorite design element.  Am wondering about a specific project where I'm stuck with this element.  I have the lustre of grey freshwater pearl and want to make the piece elegant rather than funky and fun.  What's anyone's opinion regarding mixing it with:

refraction - crystals; reflective - opaque color or metallic; matte - opaque color or metallic; clear?     Any ideas?

Sounds fun!  You could make a three strand bracelet or necklace using the pearls for one strand, clear crystals in a soft grey (Swarovski Crystal Silver Shade) for a second strand (or a darker crystal for contrast), and liquid silver for a necklace or hammered silver links for a bracelet for the third strand.  Silk ribbon would also be great texture.  Please show us what you end up with!  Alice

Peachtree,

Great ideas...thanks!  Will use them in a future project (with my extra pearls).  This is a project for a class I'm taking ... the pearls, 2 colors of sz 11 seed beads, 1 of sz 6 beads, and a 12m Swarz. crystal or other bead.  I'm wondering about sz 11 hematite or clear silver-lined..maybe I'll try your ss suggestion, but with tiny rounds instead of liquid silver.

Can't wait to free-style with your suggestions, tho'.

I think some labradorite nuggets and maybe a peacock-color pearl (in a different style) than your light gray pearls would be fun. You could use a blue topaz stone in the design too, that would complement the "flash" of the labradorite.

Would love to see pics of your final design.