Pearl Jewelry
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tanzanite, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold P...
Mid-20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plat...
2010s Thai Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Spinel, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
Early 2000s Asian Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Emerald, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver
1960s American Post-War Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, ...
2010s British Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, White Gold, Silver
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1890s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Blue Topaz, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, South Sea Pear...
1990s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Pearl Jewelry
Rock Crystal, Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, Crystal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Amethyst, Silver
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
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.