Pearl Jewelry
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Tiger's Eye, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold, Silver
20th Century Hungarian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, 15k Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
Early 1900s Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1890s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby
1880s British High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise
1880s High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
1890s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s British Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
1890s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1860s British Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Austrian Belle Époque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
1910s French Belle Époque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Amethyst, Gold, Vermei...
1790s British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Enamel
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1880s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s British Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl
2010s Russian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gol...
1910s French Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s British Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
1860s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1860s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1880s British Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1860s British Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Garnet, Diamond, 9k Gold, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1860s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Rock Crystal, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1910s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Platinum
1840s British Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Enamel
1890s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
1880s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s British Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl
1880s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Vintage and Antique Pearl Jewelry
The pearl has been synonymous with ladylike elegance since the Tudor period — learn what to look for when shopping for vintage and antique pearl jewelry as well as how to tell the origin of a pearl with our handy primer.
Every woman at some point in her life desires a simple strand of pearls. They are elegant, timeless, versatile — just ask Coco Chanel or Jacqueline Kennedy — and valuable. In 1917, Pierre Cartier famously traded a double-strand of natural pearls for a Fifth Avenue mansion, the Cartier brand’s flagship store ever since. And if you were born in the beginning of summer, pearl is the June birthstone.
It is possible to tell where a pearl originated from its appearance. Akoyas are usually round and white — the classic pearl, if you will. South Sea pearls are normally larger and vary in color; orangey yellow ones are not uncommon. Tahitian pearls are mostly black but can also be gray or brown, and between the Akoya and the South Sea varieties in size. Freshwater pearls, or Orientals, run the gamut in terms of color and size, but in shape, they tend to resemble Rice Krispies. Another important distinction is a round pearl versus a baroque pearl. A round pearl is self-explanatory, but there are two types of baroque pearls: symmetrical and asymmetrical. In general, the symmetrical variation commands a higher valuation. Within a strand of pearls, uniformity is prized — the more the individual pearls resemble one another, the more valuable the strand.
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the earliest recorded mention of a pearl was in 2206 BC by a Chinese historian. Centuries later, Christopher Columbus made it a point to visit pearl fisheries during his 15th-century exploration of the Caribbean. Since the late-19th century, the Japanese have been at the forefront of cultivating pearls, when jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto successfully cultured the world’s first pearl in 1893.
On 1stDibs, find vintage and antique pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and other accessories.