Pearl Jewelry
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
1950s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Plat...
1950s Unknown Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Australian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
1950s American Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
1950s American Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Italian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, Silver, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Austrian Artist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Jade, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1950s Swiss Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
1950s Dutch Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Dutch Early Victorian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1950s Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Dutch Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver
1950s American Post-War Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
1950s European Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1950s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
1950s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1950s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1950s British Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
1950s Revival Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Dutch Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl
1950s European Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1950s American Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s American Artisan Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1950s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1950s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1950s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose ...
1950s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
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.