Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s French Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Amethyst, Silver
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, 18k Gold
1890s German Antique Pearl Jewelry
Chrysoberyl, Pearl, Silver
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century English Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Black Diamond, Pearl, Oriental Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1940s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s European Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold Plate, Sterlin...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Silver, White Gold, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Post-War Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Multi-gemstone, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Platinum, Enamel
20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Austrian Renaissance Revival Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Turquoise, Enamel
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
1830s British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
1890s Swedish Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Austrian Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Top...
1860s British High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Turquoise, Silver, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, 10k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s American Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Labradorite, Pearl, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1830s Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
1960s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s German Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 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.