Pearl Jewelry
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s French Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Spanish Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century French Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Imperial Topaz, Topaz, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Late 17th Century Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel,...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Brown Diamond, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 15k Gold
20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
1950s Austrian Artist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Brown Diamond, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Tsavorite, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s German Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Brown Diamond, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
1880s British Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, Garnet, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, Gold-filled, ...
19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Silver
1970s European Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Hematite, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1860s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k 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.