Pearl Jewelry
20th Century Unknown Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
1940s American Baroque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
1940s Indian Artist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Danish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Brazilian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum
1870s English Etruscan Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Brown Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Oriental Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s American Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, Onyx, White Diamond, 18k...
1960s French Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Hematite, Diamond, Chrysophrase, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1960s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
1990s Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 24k Gold, Gold Plate, Yell...
19th Century French Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Mixed Metal
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, White Gold
1930s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold Plate, Mixed Metal
2010s Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Spanish Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
1860s Hungarian High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s French Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Malachite, Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
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.