$2,440Sale Price|20% Off
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Hand Holding Pearl Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Elevate your elegance with our stunning 18k yellow gold holding hand earrings, beautifully adorned with lustrous pearls and sparkling 0.1ctw diamonds. Weighing a delicate 5.7g, these...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Russian Amethyst Natural Pearl Drop Earrings, Circa 1900
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Antique Amethyst Natural Pearls Earrings, 1900 An exquisite pair of antique Russian drop earrings with stunning bezel set, flat cut Amethyst. The excellent & unique cut of the stones...
Amethyst, Natural Pearl
18k Gold Earrings South Sea Pearls & 1.70ct Diamonds
Located in New Delhi, Delhi
An exquisite pair of earrings in magnificent contemporary design, so refined and particular, a very glamour style. Crafted with meticulous attentions to details , hand by hand . Elev...
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
14K White Gold Pearl and Diamond Dangle Earrings #25406
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14K White Gold Pearl and Diamond Dangle Earrings- These lovely dangle earrings each feature one luminous white pearl (5 mm each) and one round brilliant cut diamond set in beautiful...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Chanel Gold-Plated Strass & Faux Pearl CC Crown Drop Earrings, 2021
By Chanel
Located in Salt Lake Cty, UT
Authentic Chanel CC Pearl and Strass CC Crown Drop pierced earrings. Lots of beautiful bling in these earrings. Let these beautiful earrings make your statement! Elevate your outfit...
Pearl, Gold
Black and White Pearl Detachable Drop Earrings with Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in Platinum and 18k white gold with black and white pearls. The earrings also feature Round Brilliant cut Diamonds weighing a total of 5.48 carats, G-H color, VS1-SI1 ...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Modernist Mabe Pearl and Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Earrings
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Mabe Pearl and Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Earrings, designed as 14K yellow gold square forms, decorated with two round mabe pearls approx. 13.5 mm., further adorned with eight ...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sophia D Pearl and Diamond Cluster Earrings in 18K Yellow Gold
By Sophia D
Located in New York, NY
Pearl cluster earrings featuring layers of delicate seed pearls accented by 1.21 carats of natural diamonds, set in 18K yellow gold.
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
18K White Gold Pearl Drop Earrings with Diamonds
By Althoff Jewelry
Located in Hong Kong, HK
18K White Gold Pearl Earrings with Diamonds 2 White Pearls 15mm 2 White Pearls 13mm 144 Diamonds - 2.580 CT 18K White Gold - 11.540 GM Indulge in sophistication with Althoff Jewelr...
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
14 Karat Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Earrings #15519
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Earrings- These elegant dangle earrings each feature one white pearl (7 mm) and one round brilliant cut diamond set in classic 14K yel...
Diamond, Pearl
18K White Gold Pearl Drop Earrings with Diamonds
By Althoff Jewelry
Located in Hong Kong, HK
18K White Gold Pearl Earrings with Diamonds 2 White Pearls 14-15 mm 84 Diamonds - 1.89 CT 18K White Gold 5.61 GM Althoff Jewelry exquisite 18K white gold earrings are adorned with ...
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
$8,640 / item
18K White Gold Pearl Drop Earrings with Diamonds
By Althoff Jewelry
Located in Hong Kong, HK
18K White Gold Pearl Earrings with Diamonds 2 White Pearls 12mm 116 Diamonds - 1.48 CT 18K White Gold - 8.69 GM Adorn yourself with timeless elegance in these 18K white gold pearl ...
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Mother Of Pearl Shell Stud Earrings, Daffodil flower painting.
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mother of pearl beach earrings. Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs.
Opal, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
14K White Gold Diamond Flower Pearl Drop Earrings #25939
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14K White Gold Diamond Flower Pearl Drop Earrings- These lovely earrings luminous pearls suspended beneath a floral inspired sparkling diamond cluster, creating elegant movement and...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
South Sea Pearl and Diamond Dangle Earrings
By Prince Diamond
Located in New York, NY
18k White Gold Earring Pearl Size: 12mm Pearl Quality: AAA Pearl Luster: AAA Total Cts. Weight: 3.45 cts.
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
$5,188Sale Price / item|20% Off
South Sea Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
18K white gold 46 diamonds 0.47 cts. 3.7 g. 9-15 mm pearls
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Round Stud Earrings 18k Rose/Yellow Gold Blue Enamel 54 Diamonds 0.42 ct Pearls
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer round stud earrings 18k rose gold and yellow gold, Candy collection, translucent red vitreous enamel, guilloche, 54 diamonds, total 0,42 ct, G VS, brilliant cut, akoya p...
Diamond, Pearl, Enamel, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
$351Sale Price|50% Off
Peridot, cactus blooms painting, Mother of pearl earrings studs.
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs. Round peridot earrings.
Pearl, Peridot, Gold Plate, Silver
14 Karat White Gold Blue Akoya Pearl Earrings
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: 14K white gold Dimensions: earrings measure approximately 13.88m x 4.79mm Weight: 0.50 grams
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Greek Goddess Mother of Pearl Earrings with quartz briolettes
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Greek Goddess Mother of Pearl Earrings Painted Mythological Jewelry Mother of Pearl Art Earrings Colorless quartz drop briolette earrings Channel the divine elegance and power o...
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
Mauboussin Diamond & Mother of Pearl Naora Huggie earrings
By Mauboussin
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Crafted by the chic Parisian house of Mauboussin and part of the elegant Naora collection, these versatile earrings are a masterclass in refined design and ingenuity.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Aldo Cipullo South Sea Pearl Carnelian Gold Earrings
By Aldo Cipullo
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large circa 1970s earrings by Aldo Cipullo, set in 18k gold, with center 16.5mm South Sea pearls and carnelian. Earrings are 29mm in diameter. Marked: A. Cipullo. Weight - 58...
Carnelian, South Sea Pearl, Gold
White Round Pearls Long Drop Tassel Chandelier Elegant Gold Pierced Earrings
Located in Wokingham, England
Very high quality. High cost. Lightweight. Excellent gift for lady. Suit most of occasions. Material: Faux pearl, gold plated metal. Size: 9.5 cm. _ _ _ Great for everyday wear....
Gold Plate
Freshwater Cultured Pearl Dangle Earrings, 9-11mm, 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Freshwater Cultured Pearl Dangle Earrings, 9-11mm, 14K Yellow Gold Weight: 0.79 grams Set In: 14K Yellow Gold Jewelry Info Material: Gold Weight: 0.79 grams ...
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Pink flamingo earrings with quartz and Mother of pearl
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mother of pearl beach earrings. Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs.
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Balerina earrings with pink quartz and Mother of pearl
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mother of pearl beach earrings. Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs.
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
Seaman Schepps 14K Gold Pearl Earrings
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Flushing, NY
Seaman Schepps 14K Gold Pearl Earrings Marked: Seaman Schepps Approximate Dimensions: 2.7 cm (Length) 2.5 cm (Width) 19.4 grams in weight.
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Lotus flower earrings with chalcedony and Mother of pearl
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mother of pearl beach earrings. Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs.
Chalcedony, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Daisy flower earrings with chalcedony and Mother of pearl
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mother of pearl beach earrings. Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs.
Chalcedony, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Gold fish earrings with carnelian and Mother of pearl
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mother of pearl beach earrings. Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs.
Carnelian, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
Vintage Pearl 14K Yellow Gold Enamel Stud Earrings
Located in Marcianise, IT
These sumptuous 14-carat yellow gold earrings offer a seductive blend of classic elegance and artistic design. Inspired by the majestic shape of the seashell, each earring is meticul...
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,400Sale Price|31% Off
Earring White Gold with Black Diamonds and Pearl
Located in Miami, FL
These 14kt white gold dangle earrings are a stunning combination of elegance and contrast. They feature natural black diamonds encircling lustrous yellow South Sea pearls at their ce...
Black Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Vinatge 18K White Gold South Sea Pearl Marquise Round Diamond Huggie Earrings
Located in Winter Springs, FL
Specifications: * Metal: 18K White Gold * Gemstones: Natural Diamonds & South Sea Pearls * Diamond Weight: Approximately 5.00 Carats Total Weight * Diamond Cuts: Round Brill...
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Diamond Bar earrings with Pearls, 0.14ctw Diamonds 18K Gold
By Michelle Massoura Fine Jewellery
Located in Nicosia, CY
Our Diamond Bar Earrings are made in 18Karat White Gold and are set with 0.14cts of natural round diamonds, and strung by a lustrous pair of pearls.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Diamond Pearl Platinum Contemporary Day-To-Night Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as twisted ribbon shaped surmounts suspending removable pearl drops in scalloped cups Surmounts and scalloped cups are bead and prong set with round brilliant cut diamonds W...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Diamond Bar earrings with Pearls, 0.15ctw Diamonds 18K Gold
By Michelle Massoura Fine Jewellery
Located in Nicosia, CY
Our Diamond Bar Earrings are made in 18Karat White Gold and are set with 0.15cts of natural round diamonds, and strung by a lustrous pair of pearls.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Midcentury Gold Pearl Diamond Cocktail Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Midcentury 1950s 14k gold cocktail earrings, set with pearls and approx. 0.80ctw SI/H diamonds. Earrings measure 24mm x 18mm. Marked 14k, Pat.2423905. Weight 17.3 grams.
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
18K Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings #24994
Located in Washington Depot, CT
18K Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings- These elegant 18K yellow gold dangle earrings each feature one luminous cultured pearl (7.5 mm) accented with two round brilliant cu...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Timeless 14mm Long White Pearl Earrings In Sterling Silver
Located in London, GB
This stylish pair of sterling silver drop earrings feature beautiful 14mm white freshwater pearls. Each pearl is set onto a hammered disc with long, elegant ear wires. Made in our Lo...
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Pink Overtone Pearl Earrings 14K White Gold 7.2mm 7.4mm New
Located in West Hempstead, NY
These elegant pink overtone pearl earrings in 14kt white gold feature round pearls measuring approximately 7.2–7.4mm, showcasing a soft, luminous pink hue with beautiful natural lust...
Pearl, White Gold, 14k Gold
18K White Gold Diamond and Tahitian Pearl Crown Drop Earrings
Located in Hallandale Beach, FL
Material: 18K White Gold - elegant and durable Center Gemstones: 2 Round Tahitian Pearls - 12 mm diameter each Accent Stones: Brilliant Round Diamonds - total 0.7 carats, G color, ...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Floral Bouquet Earring with pink sapphires and Baroque Pearls
Located in New York, NY
Round brilliant diamonds set in a fish hook back 10 round diamonds (pair) Total carat weight: 0.20ct GHSI-1 quality (natural) 5 mm round pink sapphire set in a pearl flower setti...
Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Zebra earrings with black onyx and Mother of pearl
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Mother of pearl beach earrings. Shell paint earrings. Wearable art earrings studs.
Onyx, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
Vintage Pearl and Diamond White Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
These gorgeous pearl drop earrings also hold diamonds to add a little sparkle! The pearls are bright and smooth and the diamonds total approx 1carat per earring. Drop from ear: 25m...
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
South Seas Pearls 1ct Diamonds Sunburst Earrings 14kt Gold*
Located in New York, NY
Sunburst South Seas cocktail Pearl earrings. Pearl: 7.5MM Excellent AAA luster and Sheen. 1.00 carat natural round diamonds .
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
18K White Gold Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Look at these stunning 18K White Gold Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings. 18K White Gold Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings Condition: In good condition with some minor surface wear cons...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Modern Pearl Diamond White Gold Drop Earrings For Her
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Earrings Same Model Black Pearl Available White Gold 18K Weight 7,29 grams Diam. 94-0,59 ct PEARL d10,5-11,0 2-17,84 ct With a heritage of ancient fine Swiss jewelry traditions...
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Marina B Pearl Diamond Gold Earrings
By Marina B
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 18k white gold earrings by Marina B, set with mother of pearl, 12.5mm mabe pearls in the center, surrounded with approx. 0.40ctw G/VS diamonds. Earrings measure 1" x 1". Mark...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Greek Goddess Mother of Pearl Earrings with quartz briolettes
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Greek Goddess Mother of Pearl Earrings Painted Mythological Jewelry Mother of Pearl Art Earrings Channel the divine elegance and power of Mount Olympus with these exquisite stud...
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Greek Goddess Mother of Pearl Earrings with quartz briolettes
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Greek Goddess Mother of Pearl Earrings Painted Mythological Jewelry Mother of Pearl Art Earrings Channel the divine elegance and power of Mount Olympus with these exquisite stud ...
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
18 Karat Yellow Gold and Pearl Button Earrings #17107
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Pearl Earrings- These elegant earrings each feature one round pearl (6 mm) set in classic 18K yellow gold.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
South Sea Pearl Ruby Earrings 14k Gold 0.27ctw Certified
By Enrico Kassini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Nothing says, “I Love you” more than Diamonds and Pearls This pair of South Sea pearl earrings have been Certified, Inspected, and Appraised by Gemological Appraisal Laboratory Gem...
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
14 Karat Yellow Gold Freshwater Pearl Hoop Earrings
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: 14K yellow gold Weight: 1.70 grams
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
18K Yellow Gold Pearl and Cubic Zirconia Halo Earrings #25982
Located in Washington Depot, CT
18K Yellow Gold Pearl and Cubic Zirconia Halo Earrings- Classic pearls get a touch of extra sparkle with these elegant 18K yellow gold earrings.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$351Sale Price / item|50% Off
Medusa Gorgon Mother of Pearl Earrings with quartz briolettes
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Gorgon Medusa Earrings Painted Mythological Jewelry Mother of Pearl Art Earrings Embrace the power and mystery of ancient mythology with these captivating stud earrings.
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
14 Karat Yellow Gold Twisted Pearl Stud Earrings
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom designed Material: 14K yellow gold Fastenings: post with gold friction backs Dimensions: earrings measure 12.55mm in length Weight: 4.32 grams
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat White Gold Diamond Australian Pearl Drop Earrings
By Vitale 1913
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
This 18K white gold elegant drop earrings are from our Sirène collection. These elegant earrings are a perfect combination of Australian pearls in total of 66.50 Carat, colorless dia...
Diamond, White Diamond, Hematite, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Pearl...
Modern Pearl Diamond White Gold Earrings For Her
By Natkina
Located in Genève, GE
Earrigs White Gold 18K Weight 3,39 grams Diam. 124-0,76 ct Diam. 2-0,14 ct PEARL d 15,0-15,5 2-32,2 ct With a heritage of ancient fine Swiss jewelry traditions, NATKINA is a Gen...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Lucea New York Rustic Diamond & Seed Pearl Earrings
By Lucea New York
Located in New York, NY
Collection This pair of earrings is a match made in heaven with its elegant design and its icy diamond and seed pearl combination. The earrings are made with a 14K yellow gold plated...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
0.50ct Diamond, Conch Pearl, and Jade Earrings MF25-051826
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
These elegant earrings will add color, texture, and movement to any ensemble. Jade gemstones and Conch Pearls offer a stylish pop of color, while Diamond accents totaling 0.50 carats...
Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
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.
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.
Someone wanted to “modernize” the Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. masterworks, but Mahnaz Collection came to their rescue. Here, the dealer explains precisely why they’re such an extraordinary find.
From cameos to cigar bands, here are the looks on our radar this season.
The mismatched, multiple-earring look may have started with fashion jewelry, but A-list fans have taken it to the next level.
From buttons to chandeliers, here are the top styles to get or give in 2020.
Organic shapes, surprising textures, shimmering colors and inventive embellishments take the new generation of pearl jewelry from classic to cutting-edge.
Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.
The classic circle has appeared in countless variations over the centuries.