Pearl Jewelry
1820s Unknown Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Enamel, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Amethyst, 14k Gold
1880s European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Silver
1880s French Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1970s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Green Beryl, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Platinum
1960s French Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1960s Japanese Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum, Enamel
1920s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Carnelian, Pearl, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Colombian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Modern Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Topaz, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, Gold, ...
2010s Italian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary North American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Arts and Crafts Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold
2010s American Arts and Crafts Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Amethyst, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Black Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Swiss Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow 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.