Pearl Jewelry
Early 1900s French Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Opal, Black Pearl, Fire Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Vermeil
1970s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Canadian Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Agate, Yellow Gold, Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Swiss Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Swiss Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s British Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Onyx, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s North American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Tanzanite, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, White Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Oriental Pearl, Platinum
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Swiss Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Steel
Mid-19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Pearl Jewelry
Carnelian, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Cultured Pearl,...
2010s Australian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Retro Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Baroque Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Gold, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire,...
1960s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Indian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 22k Gold, Yellow ...
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Spinel, Black Spinel, Sterling Silver
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 18th Century Unknown Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 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.