Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sa...
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Rhodium, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Jade, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Si...
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s European Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Go...
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
20th Century Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Topaz, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Silve...
1950s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
1890s American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Artisan Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s French Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Onyx, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sa...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Ruby, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1860s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 19th Century British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Hessonite, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1970s Italian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century American Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold
20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s British Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tanzanite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1860s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Turquoise, 18k 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.