Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Opal, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1990s Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, Silver
1860s Italian Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
1950s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Mexican Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl
1850s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold, Enamel
2010s Hong Kong Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Jade, Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold-filled
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
20th Century Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
1910s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Freshwater Pearl, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Chalcedony, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century American Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Quartz, 14k Gold, Aluminum, Sterling S...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, White Gold, Enamel
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Kunzite, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold Plate, Silver
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1870s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Opal, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, B...
1880s American Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Gold-filled
1950s French Byzantine Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gilt Metal, Silver, Vermeil
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl
1850s Italian Etruscan Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, Sapphire, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 19th Century European Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Retro Pearl Jewelry
Ruby, Green Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Silver, Gold ...
1830s British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Gold
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Hessonite, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White 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.