Pearl Jewelry
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Zircon, 14k Gold
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1960s Italian Belle Époque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Thai Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Spinel, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver, Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Gold Plate, Brass
20th Century Unknown Renaissance Revival Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Israeli Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1860s Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1990s Asian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
1960s European Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Retro Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Emerald, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Canadian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel,...
Mid-20th Century Swiss Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s Australian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1960s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Garnet, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Swiss Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 17th Century Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Mix...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Rose Gold, Titanium, 18k Gold
Early 1900s French Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gol...
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.