Pearlescent level requirement
Solution 1:
In Borderlands 2, Pearlescents were introduced in Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 1, and they exclusively drop in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode difficulty.
So, unfortunately, no, you can't have them without DLC or before level 50.
Solution 2:
I was looking at some of my characters from awhile back and my gaige has a lol 35 perlescwnt pistol. It think the drop rate is infinitesimal but it can occur