Pearl Jewelry
1880s American Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Hong Kong Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1960s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s European Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Gold-filled
Late 19th Century New Zealand Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling S...
1970s German Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Chinese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Pyrite, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century North American Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s Unknown Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Pearl, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Coral, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Go...
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topa...
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, Yellow Sapphire, Natural Pearl, Garnet, White ...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire,...
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphi...
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Topaz, Pearl, Imperial Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, South Sea Pearl, Si...
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
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.