Pearl Jewelry
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1990s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s European Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Spinel, Pearl, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1890s American Artisan Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Jade, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Tanzanite, Gold-filled
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, En...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Chrysophrase, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, White Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
1890s Belgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Charoite, Natural Pearl, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century European Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Byzantine Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold
1890s American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1990s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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.