Pearl Jewelry
1940s American Baroque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1920s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Regency Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold Plate
2010s Australian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Australian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Russian Russian Revival Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 2000s French Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Regency Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Peridot, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 15k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, S...
1870s Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Coral, Silver, Gold-filled
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, South Sea...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Anglo-Indian Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold,...
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1870s Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Gold-filled, Silver
1940s American Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Brass
2010s European Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
Early 2000s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Vermeil
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s German Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Citrine, Gold, Silver
1970s American Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Brass
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k 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.