Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Jade, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1870s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s British Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
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, ...
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1860s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Garnet, Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tanzanite, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Zircon, 18k Gold, Gold-filled
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Dutch Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Finnish Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s European Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
1790s French Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Carnelian, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Pearl, Black Pearl, Tourmaline, Indicolite, Gold...
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold...
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Whi...
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Japanese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Brass
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 24k Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Morganite, Cultured Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
Late 20th Century Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Labradorite, Pearl, Gold-filled, 18k Gold, Enamel
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.