Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Coral, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s American Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Opal, Blue Sapphire
2010s Indian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s North American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Turquoise, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, W...
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White ...
1820s British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
20th Century Unknown Aesthetic Movement Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, Gold Plate
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s European Etruscan Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Star Sapphire, 10k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold-filled
Late 20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, White Gold
2010s American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tanzanite, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Amethys...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
19th Century Unknown Egyptian Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, Gold, Enamel
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
2010s American Romantic Pearl Jewelry
Labradorite, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold-filled
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Georgian Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Quartz, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Topaz, Yellow Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, White Diamond, ...
1920s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Black Opal, Sapphire, Opal, Multi-gemstone, Emeral...
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, South Sea Pearl
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold-filled
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
2010s American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k 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.