Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Modern Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1940s American Baroque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Stainless Steel, Sterling Silver
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
Late 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
1960s American Victorian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Freshwater Pearl, Gilt Metal
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s Spanish Aesthetic Movement Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topa...
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Turquoise, White Gold
Mid-19th Century British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Whi...
1960s American Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century German Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Pearl, Quartz, Silver
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Finnish Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Canadian Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k 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.