Pearl Jewelry
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 9k Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Si...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire , Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, P...
1820s European Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
19th Century European Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Early 1800s British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold
1990s Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Pearl, Diamond, Coral, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1990s American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Fire Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl
1970s Japanese Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920s French Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Brass
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1970s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, White Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold, Ye...
1960s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Moonstone, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Rhodolite, Gold Plate
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
2010s Indian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Silver
1980s Italian Neoclassical Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Iolite, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
1850s English High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver,...
Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Early 1900s English Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Oriental Pearl, Platinum
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire,...
Late 20th Century Indian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink...
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k 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.