Pearl Jewelry
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold
1980s Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Japanese Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, Yellow Sapphire, Natural Pearl, Garnet, White ...
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
1970s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1940s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Per...
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s German Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Pearl, Emerald, Silver, Gold Pla...
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Sapphire,...
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum, Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1820s French George IV Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Enamel
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
1890s European Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Oriental Pearl, ...
1930s German Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s English Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, Diamond, Enamel, Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s French Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1970s Italian Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Blue Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire,...
Late 20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
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.