Pearl Jewelry
1940s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, White Gold
1940s American Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
1940s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Baroque Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Gold, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
1940s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Baroque Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gilt Metal
1940s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Rose Gold
1940s Unknown Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s North American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
1940s Italian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
1940s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Victorian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Victorian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Irish Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1940s German Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold
1940s European Baroque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
1940s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum
1940s Unknown Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1940s American Baroque Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gilt Metal
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1940s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1940s British Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold, Silver
1940s French Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1940s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Vermeil, Yellow Gold
1940s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1940s American Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Gold, Enamel, Gilt Metal
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1940s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
1940s European Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Silver, Base Metal, Gilt Metal, Mixed Metal, Rhodium
1940s British Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Tourmaline, Natural Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Gold-filled
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl
1940s European Renaissance Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Enamel
1940s European Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s European Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1940s German Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Crystal, Pearl, Sapphire, Mixed Metal
1940s North American Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1940s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Enamel
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Yellow Diamond, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold
1940s American High Victorian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1940s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White 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.