Hi Sarah, and welcome to Pearl-Guide. You have some very interesting work on your website! Here's a wildly "long shot" idea I'll toss out, and I'm NOT a goldsmith, so not sure if this is technically possible ... but, I favor the "not drilled" route for this pearl too. Could you modify your existing design (photo below) to an oval instead of round, and bezel set the pearl so it sits securely in the center, trimmed at top and bottom by gemstones? Just a thought ... of your previous drawing, I like the simple one closest to the pearl as well.
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