Pearl Jewelry
2010s European Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
2010s Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
Mid-19th Century Unknown Renaissance Antique Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 9k Gold
2010s Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
2010s Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
2010s Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
2010s Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Vermeil
2010s Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary American Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Natural Pearl, South Sea Pea...
1940s European Renaissance Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century Unknown Renaissance Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Enamel
19th Century European Renaissance Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
1620s Spanish Renaissance Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
1980s French Renaissance Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary American Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Tsavorite, Black Pearl, Natural Pearl, So...
17th Century Italian Renaissance Antique Pearl Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s American Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
16th Century German Renaissance Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, 22k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, White D...
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Onyx, South Sea Pearl, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Diamond, 14k...
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl...
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl...
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Pearl Jewelry
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
2010s Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Vermeil, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
2010s Egyptian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Zircon, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1950s Italian Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, 9k Gold, Rose ...
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Etruscan Revival Pearl Jewelry
Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Beryl, Green Beryl, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1980s French Renaissance Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Other, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold...
2010s American Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl
1980s French Renaissance Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Pearl
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Yellow ...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold...
Early 19th Century Unknown Renaissance Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sa...
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshw...
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.