Pearl Jewelry
1920s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1880s British Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1980s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1960s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
2010s Spanish Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s European Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1860s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1990s European Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Medieval Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s British Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold
18th Century Georgian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Platinum
2010s Australian Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, Imperial Topaz, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Spanish Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, White Gold
20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Amethyst, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s North American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Moonstone, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Platinum
19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1990s American Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
Late 20th Century European Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl
Mid-19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver, Enamel
2010s Central American Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1910s Unknown Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1910s Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Early 20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Green Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1910s Australian Edwardian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Indicolite, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1960s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k 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.