Pearl Jewelry
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Moonstone, Pearl, Rainbow Moonstone, Gold, 14k G...
1960s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Jade, White Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1890s European Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Chrysoberyl, Pearl, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1930s German Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
1960s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s North American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Silver
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Sterling Silver
20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tanzanite, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Gold, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 14k...
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1870s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s British Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Coral, 18k Gold
20th Century Thai Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Carnelian, Gold, Yellow...
Early 20th Century Late Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Moonstone, Cultured Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Australian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Pearl, Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
1930s English Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black 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.