Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s British Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Pearl, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold, ...
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Black Pearl
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, White Go...
2010s Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1980s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Early 2000s French Modern Pearl Jewelry
Amber, Pearl, Jasper, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1860s English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
Early 1900s Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
1850s British Early Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Garnet, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Retro Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Topaz, 22k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Cultured Pearl, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, South Sea Pearl, Si...
1970s Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
1890s Late Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
1890s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1860s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose 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.