What are pampilles in jewellery?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Pampilles are a style of pendant jewellery featuring a cascade of graduated hanging stones or drops, arranged to suggest the look of falling rain or a glistening waterfall. The term comes from the French and was particularly fashionable in the Georgian era, when long, trembling drops of paste, crystal or gemstones were set in earrings, brooches and necklaces designed to catch the candlelight and move with the wearer. The style often appears in chandelier earrings and girandole designs.
Frequently asked questions
- What does pampilles look like?
- Pampilles pieces typically show multiple slender drops hanging from a shared support, tapering downward like icicles or raindrops. In earrings, this often means several long faceted stones suspended from an upper cluster, designed to swing and catch the light.
- In which jewellery period were pampilles most popular?
- They were most fashionable during the Georgian era, roughly 1714 to 1837, when candlelit settings made trembling, reflective drops especially dramatic. Elements of the style also appeared in Regency and early Victorian pieces.
- What stones were used in pampilles?
- In Georgian pieces, paste, rock crystal and foil-backed glass were common because they were affordable and sparkled well by candlelight. Finer examples used diamond, topaz and aquamarine, cut in table, rose or early brilliant styles.
Designing a ring
Talk through pampilles with us
Tell us what you have in mind, even if it is only a budget and a piece of jewellery type, and we will help you weigh up the options. We reply to every enquiry, usually within one business day.
Contact the studio