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Pearls
Online course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
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Dive into the beauty and history of pearls, exploring their origins and cultural significance with globally renowned jewellery historian Beatriz Chadour-Sampson. Learn the difference between varieties of natural and cultured pearls, and discover the art of pearl grading with exclusive contributions from Mikimoto. You will also discover how pearls have been incorporated into jewellery through the centuries, with exquisite examples from the V&A's collections and from museums around the world.
From the moment you enrol on a V&A on-demand course, you get 12 months' access to every stunning video lecture to rewatch as often as you like, plus plenty of additional learning materials, yours to keep. Find out more: https://www.vandacourses.com/faqs
Already purchased the course? Sign back in to access it.
From the moment you enrol on a V&A on-demand course, you get 12 months' access to every stunning video lecture to rewatch as often as you like, plus plenty of additional learning materials, yours to keep. Find out more: https://www.vandacourses.com/faqs
Already purchased the course? Sign back in to access it.
Course leader
Beatriz Chadour-Sampson
Beatriz Chadour-Sampson is an international jewellery historian, author and lecturer. She was consultant curator to the redesigning of the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery and guest curator of the ‘Pearls’ exhibition at the V&A. Today she is the curator of the Alice and Louis Koch Collection, now in the Swiss National Museum.
Very informative. Well presented. Covers a broad sweep of history and also looks at some contemporary jewellery using pearls. A V&A Academy learner
Course overview
This course covers:
- 2000 years of pearl diving and trade: from the Gulf to the New World, Russia to Australia
- 2000 years of pearl diving and trade: from the Gulf to the New World, Russia to Australia
- Napoleon, Empress Josephine, and the role of pearls in their rise to power
- Pearls as enduring status symbols through the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Rococo
- The invention of cultured pearls, changing jewellery design forever
- Contemporary design and innovation from leading jewellery designers of our time
- A closer look at examples from the V&A collections and their stories
V&A on-demand gives you instant access to beautiful courses
Our courses bring the rigour of the V&A's experts together with the flexibility to learn at a pace that suits you. The simple and intuitive platform lets you focus on the joy of learning something new, while your support powers the V&A's vital work.
Enrol now
Online course: Pearls
1 December 2025 - 12 November 2026
£45.00
Call to book +44 (0)20 7942 2000
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
