Pearl Jewelry
19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1990s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Vermeil, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
20th Century American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Base Metal
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, White Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, Chalcedony, 18k Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, 18k Gold
1960s Finnish Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Whi...
Mid-20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, White Gold, 18...
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1910s Belle Époque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1870s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Enamel
1890s Swedish Empire Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Sapphire, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s European Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Aquamarine, White Gold
Early 2000s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, 15k Gold, Platinum
2010s American Byzantine Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indonesian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Israeli Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Aventurine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Asian Neoclassical Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Australian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Gold, Sterling Silver, Silver, Y...
20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
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.