Pearl Jewelry
1970s Danish Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century European Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Morganite, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold
1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Silver
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Unknown Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1890s American Artisan Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sa...
1990s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Marcasite, Onyx, Freshwater Pearl, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pink Sapphire, Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, Onyx, Jade, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Vermeil
1890s English Belle Époque Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 22k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Rubelite, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1760s Spanish Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gr...
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire...
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Carnelian, Opal, Pearl, Gold-filled, Base Metal
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Vermeil
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.