Pearl Jewelry
20th Century Romantic Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1800s Italian Retro Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
19th Century American Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, Tourmaline, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Apatite, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Turquoise, Sterling ...
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s European Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Indonesian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
1870s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, 10k Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Citrine, Coral, ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 24k Gold, Gold Plate, Yell...
19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Indian Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Topaz, Apatite, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Israeli Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Zircon, 18k Gold, Gold-filled
2010s Egyptian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Freshwater Pearl, Zircon, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold,...
2010s Hong Kong Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, White Gold
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Neoclassical Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
1980s Italian Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow 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.