Pearl Jewelry
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sterling Silver
1880s American Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold
1920s Austrian Renaissance Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Topaz, Pearl, Imperial Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold P...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphi...
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gr...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
1960s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, South Sea Pearl, Si...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
1950s Indian Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, 10k Gold, Enamel
1930s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Mixed Metal
1960s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Chinese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Pyrite, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Kyanite, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tanzanite, Sterling Silver
1970s Unknown Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Chinese Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Rhodium, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Tsavori...
1810s British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, Yellow Sapphire, Natural Pearl, Garnet, White ...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topa...
20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1880s French Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, 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.