Pearl Jewelry
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Japanese Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s Asian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1960s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Japanese Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Japanese Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
20th Century Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Chalcedony, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 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.