Pearl Jewelry
19th Century European Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 2000s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Zircon, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire...
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Austrian Renaissance Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Garnet, Gold-filled, Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Black Pearl, O...
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold
Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Japanese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Brass, Stainless Steel
1910s British Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Pearl, Gold
1950s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s British Pearl Jewelry
Topaz, Natural Pearl, Peridot, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapph...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rhodium
1980s Italian Etruscan Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, 9k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Spinel, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire,...
1910s Unknown Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold
1980s French Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century German Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Natural Pearl, Quartz, Blue Sapphire,...
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Byzantine Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gilt Metal, Silver, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl
2010s Unknown Artisan Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Indian Artist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
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.