Pearl Jewelry
Mid-20th Century American Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Quartz, 14k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Italian Romantic Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Early 20th Century European Jugendstil Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Gold, Platinum, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, 22k Gol...
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Thai Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Enamel
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
1760s European Antique Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Silver
Late 17th Century Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, Onyx, White Di...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Spanish Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Morganite, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Austrian Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pearl
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1980s Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Multi-gemstone, Pearl, 18k ...
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
Mid-20th Century Chinese Anglo-Indian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Gold, Platinum, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Mixed Metal
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century European Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Diamond, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Renaissance Revival Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary European Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Indian Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
1850s English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1990s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Romantic Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling 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.