Pentagram Pendant
Antique 15th Century and Earlier American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Art Nouveau Brooches
Gold Plate
2010s Shoes
People Also Browsed
Early 2000s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Afghan Byzantine Dome Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
1990s American Mini Dress
Early 2000s Cocktail Dresses
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
Vintage 1980s French Modern Drop Earrings
Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary French Dress and Coat Ensembles
1990s French Swimwear
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
1930s Spanish Miscellaneous
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
20th Century French Chain Necklaces
20th Century Cluster Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Day Dresses
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold
Finding the Right pendant-necklaces for You
Whether you’re layering multiple jewelry pieces or opting for a single strand, vintage pendant necklaces are versatile accessories that can elevate your casual wear as easily as they can add a creative flourish to your formal attire.
The earliest jewelry was less about accessorizing than it was about wearers arming themselves with amulets. In Ancient Egypt, some amulets featured a loop so that they could be strung around one’s neck. While rubies have long been one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money, members of some ancient civilizations valued the stones from the get-go, donning ruby pendants as well as other stones with the belief that these adornments would bring protection, healing powers or strength. Today, we still wear our charm bracelets and charm pendants around our necks for good luck.
Later, pendant necklaces, like most fine jewelry, were worn strictly by royalty or the upper class and conferred wealth and prestige. This changed over time, thankfully, as wearing jewelry became more widespread, a democratized means of personal expression.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, pendant necklaces evolved from their status as spiritual amulets, but the jewels still carried deep personal significance. Victorian pendants, in particular, were part of the “mourning jewelry” tradition. Wearers would embed their pendants with locks of hair from a deceased loved one as a way of grieving in the wake of a loss. In the case of cameo jewelry, some pendants were even decorated with miniature hand-carved portraits in a detailed raised relief. Today, portraiture is still a characteristic of many of the hand-carved pendant necklaces offered by Italian jewelry house Scala Gioielli.
Luxury fine jewelry brands such as Cartier, BVLGARI and David Yurman offer their own unique interpretations of the cherished accessory, embellishing platinum or gold pendant necklaces with diamonds, sapphires and other stones.
On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage pendant necklaces and other necklaces today.
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