Pearl Earrings
Early 2000s Brazilian Modern Pearl Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Peridot, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Earrings
Emerald, Pearl, Vermeil
1990s French Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Canadian Modern Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold-filled, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Pearl Earrings
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1960s Italian Vintage Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Emerald...
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Art Nouveau Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Swiss Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Chalcedony, Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Black Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Japanese Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Aquamarine, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, R...
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Amethyst, 14k Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Pearl Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Peridot...
2010s Pearl Earrings
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modernist Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Japanese Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Geode, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Revival Pearl Earrings
Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Silver
1990s American Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Onyx, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Earrings
Emerald, Pearl, Vermeil
1940s North American Retro Vintage Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pearl Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Pearl Earrings
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Art Nouveau Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Geode, Silver, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Canadian Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Black Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
1930s American Art Nouveau Vintage Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Brass, Gilt Metal, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Pearl Earrings
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century European Art Nouveau Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s American Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s North American Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver, Silver
1970s Swiss Modern Vintage Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Romantic Pearl Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pearl Earrings
Natural Pearl, 18k 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.
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