Pearl Earrings
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1990s American Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s British Pearl Earrings
Pearl
Early 2000s American Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Onyx, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s American Retro Vintage Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century North American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold
1970s American Modern Vintage Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Chalcedony, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s German Contemporary Vintage Pearl Earrings
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Pearl Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century Hong Kong Pearl Earrings
Onyx, Pearl, Gold
Early 20th Century Italian Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
1960s American Vintage Pearl Earrings
Coral, Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pearl Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1980s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
From Classic to Cutting-Edge: Shop Vintage Pearl Earrings on 1stDibs
All jewelry lovers at some point in their lives desire a pair of classic vintage pearl earrings.
Pearls and a good pair of pearl earrings 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.
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. Most pearls sold today are cultured. They differ from natural pearls mainly in the fact that they involve human intervention: A technician implants a bead that starts the process ending in the birth of the pearl. This may sound easy, but it is actually a delicate and lengthy process.
“The larger design houses, like Chanel and Dior, incorporate pearls into their jewelry and have done so since the ’90s,” explains Siobhan O’Neill, of London’s Sweet Pea Fine Jewellery, who began her career during that period, creating pieces for the era’s young upstarts, like John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. “It’s just taken a while to filter down to other brands.”
Chanel pearl earrings — as well as Chanel pearl necklaces — are undoubtedly fashion favorites. The iconic luxury house's founder loved the June birthstone and was frequently photographed wearing strands of pearls. Chanel established her business as a Paris hat shop in 1910 and started selling clothing in 1913. She introduced her costume jewels in the 1920s, when the economy was roaring and fine jewelry was the main mode of adornment among her clients. She was committed to creating fashion jewelry, but in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, Chanel dramatically switched gears and designed her first and only diamond jewelry collection, Bijoux de Diamants. Later, she focused on costume and the demi-fine pieces she made in collaboration with Fulco di Verdura, when he worked at Chanel during the 1930s.
Adding a subtle glow to your face and skin, pearl earrings are appropriate for every occasion, whether you’re interviewing for a job or sipping swanky cocktails. Plus, the natural oils and warmth of your skin will enhance their luster over time.
Find vintage pearl drop earrings, pearl studs, pearl chandelier earrings and other pearl earrings on 1stDibs.