Pearl Jewelry
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
2010s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
2010s Chinese Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Danish Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow ...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
1910s French Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire,...
1890s Swedish Empire Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1850s English George V Antique Pearl Jewelry
Moonstone, Pearl, 15k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 9k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s American Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Enamel
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
1970s British Baroque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Multi-gemstone, Topaz, Peridot, Pearl, Citrine, Amethys...
1920s European Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Fire Opal, Ruby, Quartz, Pearl, Opal, Diamond, Carnelian, Sterling Silve...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1970s Swiss Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Steel
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.