Pearl Jewelry
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire
2010s Turkish Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
1990s Turkish Byzantine Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow ...
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Early 2000s American Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Turkish Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Gold, Sterling Silver, Silver, Y...
Early 2000s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Ruby, South Sea Pearl, Aquamarine, Amethyst, Silver, ...
19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Gold
19th Century American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Garnet, Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1990s Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Chalcedony, Pearl, Quartz, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1990s Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1890s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Rose Gold
1990s Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1940s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Vermeil, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Italian Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Coral, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary European Medieval Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, 15k Gold, White Gold, 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.