Pearl Jewelry
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Swiss Vintage Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary English Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver, Silver
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Natural Pearl
Late 20th Century Japanese Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold-filled
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Late Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Platinum
2010s Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century French Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sa...
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
2010s Turkish Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Malachite, Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, Coral, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Australian Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Aquamarine, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, Ruby, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, White Gold
1930s Victorian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Onyx, Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl
1950s Dutch Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century European Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Norwegian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
2010s British Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Malachite, Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Pearl, Amethyst, ...
15th Century and Earlier American Modern Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tanzanite, White Gold, 18k Gold
1860s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Garnet, Pearl, 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.