Pearl Jewelry
1970s Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Amethyst, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s British Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1970s Unknown Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum
1970s Swiss Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s French Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s European Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Australian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s British Artist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s Contemporary Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
1970s Italian Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, ...
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Platinum
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 9k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s Finnish Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
1970s French Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Israeli Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold
1970s North American Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1970s Swiss Artist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1970s American Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1970s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Garnet, Diamond, Rose Gold, Silver, 9k Gold
1970s German Aesthetic Movement Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Swedish Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Silver
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1970s European Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White 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.