Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Diamond, Rhodium, Sterling Silver, Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Emerald, White Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Thai Classical Greek Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Si...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tanzanite, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Swiss Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Moonstone, Pearl, Rainbow Moonstone, Gold, 14k G...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Topaz, Topaz, 14k Gold
1870s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Late Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1870s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1980s French Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gilt Metal
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1860s English Holbeinesque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Fire Opal, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Opal, 18k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Silver
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s German Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 9k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1800s English George III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Thai Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-18th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Blue S...
Early 20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Aquamarine, White Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Early 2000s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century 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.