Pearl Jewelry
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s Austrian Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Enamel
20th Century Romantic Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1910s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
1890s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
20th Century French Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Turquoise, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Revival Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Onyx, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1880s French Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, White Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Garnet, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Indian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Tsavorite, Cultured Pearl, 18k G...
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pink Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphi...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1890s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
1960s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1870s Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Coral, Silver, Gold-filled
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.