Gems of Hope

With the nearest ocean situated over 1,300 miles from Jackson Hole, you’d be forgiven for being surprised that it’s home to one of the world’s leading pearl experts and designers. But there’s nowhere else that Shari Turpin, the brilliance behind Pearls by Shari, would rather call home.

Her deep connection to the Wyoming landscape is a wellspring of inspiration, both personally and in her unique jewelry designs. “Nature has always been very much a part of my life. I find it inspiring, uplifting,” the Canadian-born designer said. “Jackson Hole is home — where I live, design, dream and draw inspiration from every day. There’s something very, very special about this valley.”

Shari relishes the ruggedness of the West, and the authenticity of the Western lifestyle. She believes it’s a lifestyle that is perfectly suited to the elegance and sophistication that pearls inherently enhance. “It’s about creating a Western outdoor lifestyle with the rarest pearls in the world,” Shari explained. “I want to have pieces on a woman that will turn heads when she walks in a room, but I want her to be able to live her life in it as well. That’s what sets us apart; we’re designing with use in mind.”

A Reflection of Ourselves 

Nearly twenty-five ago, Shari’s curiosity was first piqued by pearls. They are, she points out, the only precious gem created by a living creature. “All other precious gems are hand cut by a gem cutter. A pearl is the only gem offered by creation,” she said. “We don’t do anything to our pearls when they come out of the oyster, and that made me realize that there are no two alike. That made making it into jewelry harder, but I like challenges.”

Shari became enamored with not only the breathtaking beauty of the pearls, but what they represented. “An oyster — through pain, suffering and perseverance — creates a pearl. I felt like it paralleled the story of humanity,” she said. “God gave the oyster the ability to deal with discomfort and turn it into something beautiful.” 

“So, too, with our lives. Our brand tells the story of turning pain into beauty — the pearl is the gem of hope.”

Shari loves meeting and getting to know her clients and their stories. She relishes the opportunity to curate pieces for them with some of the world’s rarest pearls, crafting a unique piece in which their own journeys are reflected. 

Distinctive Pearls for Unique Women

The pearls that clients discover at Pearls by Shari are among the most extraordinary on the planet. Each year, Shari traverses the globe, sourcing the most breathtaking pearls that the planet’s oceans have to offer. 

She’s proud to offer all pearl types, but the crown jewel of her collection is the Golden South Sea Pearl from the Philippines. “It’s the rarest pearl on earth,” she said, adding that she carries the largest selection of these unique pearls in all of North America. 

Shari is well-known for living what her brand represents as she wears pearls every day, whether she’s running errands or in her store: “They’re unforgettable. I love to have my own style and that includes jeans and an extraordinary strand of pearls.”

“I think that’s what women are looking for, something different,” Shari continued. “Pearls are a presence. That’s what I love about them; their quiet power, natural elegance, undeniable beauty and a message of hope.” 

No two strands of pearls are alike, and neither are any two women. Shari treasures the opportunity to work alongside a client and curate an exquisite, effortlessly wearable representation of who they are. “I want women to have a piece that makes them feel beautiful, timeless and completely themselves.