Pearl Jewelry
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White ...
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century French Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Pearl, Emerald, Silver, Gold Pla...
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Spanish Romantic Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
Early 2000s American Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Gold Plate
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver
2010s Japanese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Brass
1930s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s American Artisan Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, White Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Chrysophrase, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Rhodium, Sterling Silver, Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Natural Pearl
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Spanish Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
1980s British Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Turquoise, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Charoite, Natural Pearl, Sterling Silver
1970s North American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Rhodolite, Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
Late 19th Century English Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century American Artisan Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s British Belle Époque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, Bla...
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.