Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sa...
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topa...
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Topaz, Silver, Gold Plate, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Tsavorite, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Ver...
1950s American Post-War Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Oriental Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Black Diamond, Pearl, Oriental Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Swedish Arts and Crafts Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Jade, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Si...
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Chalcedony, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum, Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s Dutch High Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Vermeil, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1810s British Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, 15k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1830s Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s British Victorian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
1870s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k 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.