Amulet Necklace
Mid-20th Century Indian Platters and Serveware
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British More Necklaces
Stainless Steel, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary British More Necklaces
Steel, Stainless Steel
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Southeast Asian Antiquities
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British More Necklaces
Steel, Stainless Steel, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Indian Platters and Serveware
Silver
Vintage 1980s Egyptian Revival Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Indian Metalwork
Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Iolite, Sterling Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Iolite, Sterling Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Tourmaline, Sterling Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Tourmaline, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Indian Platters and Serveware
Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Rubelite, Sterling Silver
1990s American Artisan Drop Necklaces
Quartz, Spinel, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1910s Turkish Folk Art Collectible Jewelry
Glass
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Metalwork
Coral, Silver
1990s American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Jade, Moonstone, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver, Copper, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1970s European Retro Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amazonite, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Quartz, Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Jade
Antique 18th Century Asian Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Garnet, Rock Crystal, Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Asian Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Carnelian
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Onyx, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Black Diamond, Onyx, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Pendant Necklaces
Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Artist Link Necklaces
Bronze
2010s French Pendant Necklaces
Silver
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Aquamarine, Sterling Silver
2010s American Classical Roman Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Artisan More Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Chain Necklaces
2010s German Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Antique and Vintage Amulet Necklaces for Sale on 1stDibs
Amulet jewelry has been spellbinding us for millennia. Today, new, antique and vintage amulet necklaces, pendants, gold amulet jewelry and other amulet accessories are favorites of jewelry lovers all over the world.
The oldest form of jewelry is said to be the amulet, and necklaces, which have a long and dazzling history, were so treasured that they were buried with their owners. Our earliest ancestors ascribed meaning — and magic — to “amulets” made of feathers, bones, stones and even tree bark. They wore amulet necklaces or carried these amulets for protection or to enhance their strength, courage or sexual attraction. Over time, these were replaced with symbolic objects: small replicas of animals, plants and, later, gods.
For the Egyptians, there was no more potent protection than the image of the scarab, otherwise known as the dung beetle. They believed it was a male-only species that reproduced itself by depositing its seed in dung, which its babies then fed upon. By turning waste to life, the scarab symbolized the god Khepri of the rising sun — “he who has come into being from nothing” — and hence both transformation and resurrection. So wondrous were the powers of the scarab that it became a popular amulet throughout the ancient Mediterranean (for example, the scarab could be seen in signet rings from Greece crafted circa 500 B.C.).
And the dung beetle continues to fascinate designers as a symbol even into our present day, with none other than John Galliano creating an Egyptian Revival necklace for Christian Dior’s Spring/Summer 2004 collection (the audacious British designer worked with Dior from 1997 until 2011). In the center of his piece is an orange Lucite scarab.
Like primeval man, the jeweler Temple St. Clair believes that any adornment can be a power object, so long that it has special meaning to us. She should know. St. Clair began her storied design career — she’s the first contemporary woman jeweler to have her work included in the jewelry collection of the Louvre — by conceiving modern-day Renaissance-inspired amulets. (And just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing.)
Find antique and vintage amulet necklaces on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage necklaces designed by David Webb — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
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