Triple Row Pearls Cultured
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Rope Necklaces
Pearl, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Cultured Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Rose Gold
People Also Browsed
2010s Link Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s English Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Gold
Antique 1890s European Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century Unknown Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century English Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond
2010s American Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, White Gold, 18k ...
1990s American Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1970s Italian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Recent Sales
Antique Early 1900s British Late Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pink Sapphire
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Pearl, Platinum
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Multi-Strand Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Retro Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Japanese Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
Pearl, Silver
20th Century Modern Beaded Bracelets
Jade, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
Cultured Pearl
Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Beaded Bracelets
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Multi-Strand Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Rope Necklaces
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 1...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Modern More Bracelets
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
The Legacy of Pearl in Jewelry Design
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.