Estate Pearls
Vintage 1970s Artisan Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Pendant Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Italian Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1830s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Silver
20th Century French Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Cluster Rings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Modern Drop Earrings
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Vintage 1940s Unknown Wedding Rings
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage 1920s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Multi-Strand Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Stud Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Unknown Brooches
Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Vintage 1960s Unknown Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1870s Link Necklaces
Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1910s Unknown Link Bracelets
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Early 2000s German Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Beaded Necklaces
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Retro Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
Vintage 1980s Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Contemporary Link Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Pearl, Quartz, 18k Gold, Gold
Antique 1890s Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings
Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Bangles
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Chrysophrase, Pearl, White Gold
2010s Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique 19th Century Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Early 1900s Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique 1880s French Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Stud Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 1
- ...
Estate Pearls For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Estate Pearls?
The Legacy of Pearl in Jewelry Design
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.