Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Platinum
1890s Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Czech Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold-filled, Silver
20th Century American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Rhodium, Silver
1970s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire...
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold
2010s German Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Carnelian, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Agate, 9k Gold, Silver
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, 9k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1910s Austrian Renaissance Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Garnet, Gold-filled, Silver, Enamel
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Black Pearl, O...
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire,...
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1950s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum
1980s French Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Japanese Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Unknown Artisan Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18th Century North American Artisan Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Silver, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Emerald,...
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Whit...
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White 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.