Pearl Jewelry
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Colombian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s French Art Deco Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
1960s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1980s North American Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s French Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1990s Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century French Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Imperial Topaz, Topaz, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, Silver, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Italian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Amethyst, 9k Gold, Silve...
Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century American Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
1990s European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1970s French Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s German Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Jade, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Tourmaline, Gold, 15k Gold
1990s European Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Dutch Early Victorian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1950s Austrian Artist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1910s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s French Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold
Early 20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Platinum
1970s European Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Swiss Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1910s Swedish Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Canadian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Ye...
1950s Swiss Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
1990s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose 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.