Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold Plate, Silver
19th Century Chinese Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 22k Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
1890s American Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1980s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Freshwater Pearl
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold
1760s Spanish Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Spanish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum, Rhodium, St...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold
1990s French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Austrian Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold, Enamel
20th Century French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Aquamarine, Citrine, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Tourmaline, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Peridot, Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
Early 1900s Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Citrine, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Topaz, Diamond, Pearl, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold Plate
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Topaz, 18k Gold
20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Swedish Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Turquoise, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Tiger's Eye, Pearl
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver, Gold
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
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.