Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Moonstone, Pearl, Hessonite, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Turquoise, Sterling ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Moonstone, Pearl, Tanzanite, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amazonite, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Topaz, Turquoise, Vermeil, Sterling Si...
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Topaz, Pinchbeck, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Cultured Pearl, Vermeil, Sterling Silver, Brass
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Carnelian, Moonstone, Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Vermeil, Sterling Sil...
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Topaz, Vermeil, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Labradorite, Cultured Pearl, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Freshwater Pearl, Gilt Metal, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Vermeil, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Garnet, Vermeil
Early 19th Century American Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Quartz, 14k Gold, Aluminum, Sterling S...
19th Century American Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, Tourmaline, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Romantic Pearl Jewelry
Brown Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
2010s North American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Turquoise, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Sapphire, Pearl, Diamond, Amethyst, 14k...
1880s Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
18k Gold, 9k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Pearl Jewelry
2010s American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Silver, Sterling Silver
1870s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Moonstone, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1830s Austrian Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Garnet, Pearl, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Amethyst, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Quartz, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Quartz, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Vermeil, Rhodium, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Moonstone, Pearl, Topaz, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
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.