Pearl Jewelry
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Topaz, Topaz, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Aquamarine, White Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Oriental Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gilt Metal
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1980s French Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gilt Metal
19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Late 19th Century English Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Sapphire, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold
1990s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Aventurine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Gold, Sterling Silver, Silver, Y...
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1870s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, White Diamond, 18k ...
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s American Romantic Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Tanzanite, Gold-filled
1990s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Australian Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Silver
19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Pearl Jewelry
Brown Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, White Gold, Sterling Si...
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White 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.