Pearl Jewelry
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
2010s German Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Japanese Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
1980s Italian Neoclassical Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Iolite, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold,...
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold-filled
Mid-20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, 18k Gold
1820s Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Mixed Metal
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold...
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire,...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Jasper, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
1810s Spanish Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Chalcedony, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Rose Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Japanese Vintage Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Silver
1860s Hungarian High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Silver, Enamel
1920s French Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Brass
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
16th Century Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Bronze
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Palladium
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Labradorite, Pearl, Black Pearl, Turquoise, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Garnet, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, 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.