Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Byzantine Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Freshwater Pearl, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Pla...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1960s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1840s Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire,...
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
18th Century North American Artisan Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Silver, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1880s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire,...
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Cultured Pearl, Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1950s European Renaissance Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Turquoise, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 9k Gold
Early 2000s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire,...
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
1910s French Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
1980s Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Rhodium
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
1890s English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
1970s Swiss Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century British Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Bahraini Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, ...
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 9k Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Kunzite, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Polynesian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, 14k 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.