Pearl Jewelry
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Platinum
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1870s French Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Spanish Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Enamel
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
1860s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Moonstone, Pearl, 10k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, 22k Gol...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 19th Century Unknown Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold,...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Dutch Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
16th Century Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Bronze
1910s Unknown Belle Époque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Black Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Bahraini Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl
19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
2010s German Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Carnelian, Moonstone, Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Vermeil, Sterling Sil...
1870s Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Coral, Silver, Gold-filled
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pink Sapphire, Pearl
Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold,...
19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Silver
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold,...
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Aesthetic Movement Pearl Jewelry
Tourmaline, Sapphire, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow 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.