Pearl Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
1930s American Retro Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum
Late 20th Century Retro Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Rubelite, 18k Gold
2010s American Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yel...
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Hong Kong Modern Vintage Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century German Modern Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
1990s German Modern Pearl Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, 24k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century French Modernist Pearl Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Y...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Pearl Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Pearl Jewelry
White Diamond, Black Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Black Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Artist Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 24k Gold, Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century Pearl Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Aquamarine, Pearl, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amber, Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Enamel, 14k Gold, Gold
1990s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pearl Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Thai Art Deco Pearl Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
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.