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.
