Pearl Jewelry
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1970s Swiss Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Pearl, Gold
2010s American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
2010s Unknown Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Enamel, Silver
Mid-20th Century Southeast Asian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, 10k Gold, Silver Plate, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
2010s Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Go...
1960s Finnish Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1890s English Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Oriental Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, Yellow Gold
1960s Finnish Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl
2010s American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl
19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
19th Century American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Regency Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Tanzanite, Fire Opal, Rhodium, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s German Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
2010s German Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, White Gold
2010s German Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Vermeil, Mixed Metal
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.