1970s Emerald Torque Pendant Necklace
Located in San Antonio, TX
18k gold Torque Necklace suspending a round disc pendant set with cabochon emeralds.Emerald weight
Vintage 1970s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold
1970s Emerald Torque Pendant Necklace
Located in San Antonio, TX
18k gold Torque Necklace suspending a round disc pendant set with cabochon emeralds.Emerald weight
Emerald, 18k Gold
$30,000 / item
18k Yellow Gold Torque with Jade and Gold pendant
By LÖF
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A polished 18k gold torque necklace finished with our sculptural Dahlia pendant. The pendant
Estate Black, Starr & Frost 18K Yellow Gold Torque Necklace
By Black, Starr & Frost
Located in New York, NY
Estate Black, Starr & Frost 18K yellow gold torque necklace. 20th Century Classic spiral twist
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$12,396Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 16 in
2.72Ct Natural Diamond Choker Torque Necklace 18k White Gold Engagement Necklace
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
18k Yellow Gold, 15ct Green Tourmaline, 4ct Marquise Topaz Torque Necklace
By LÖF
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An open-neck torque necklace in 18k yellow gold, constructed from layered, sweeping gold lines that
Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$16,042Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 14 in
18K Gold Diamond Oval Torque Choker Necklace, 6.18ct SI1-SI2 Natural Diamonds
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
torque necklace collector · 18K white gold diamond torque necklace · contemporary diamond torque
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
$9,480Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 13.5 in
18K White Gold Diamond Torque Choker Necklace, 1.43 Ct, By Spectrum Jewels
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
drop choker · 1.43 carat pear diamond necklace · 18K yellow gold pear diamond torque · minimalist
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
$17,208Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 16 in
Statement Natural 2.15ct SI/HI Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Choker Torque Necklace
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$16,596
W 4.93 in L 4.34 in
LALAoUNIS Vintage Snake Torque Necklace 18K Rose Gold Ruby Emerald Diamond 1980s
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Lisbon, PT
LALAoUNIS Vintage Snake Torque Necklace in 18K Rose Gold with Rubies, Emeralds, and Diamonds
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
$17,500Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 16 in
4.41Ct Natural Diamond Torque Choker Necklace 18k White Gold All Tariffs Paid
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$36,460Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 16 in
Pear Cut Diamond 12.21ct V Shape Torque Necklace for Wedding 18K White Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$27,346Sale Price|20% Off
Real 9.58 Carat SI/HI Diamond Torque Choker Necklace 18k Solid White Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$11,668Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 16 in
Certified SI/H Diamond Torque V Choker Necklace 18k White Gold Engagement Gift
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$27,198Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 16 in
8.87CT Natural Diamond SI/H Open V-Drop Collar Torque Necklace 18K White Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
Deco diamond décolletage necklace · 18K white gold open diamond torque · statement diamond collar
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Tiffany & Co Gehry Torque Diamond Eternity Square Necklace 18k White Gold 18"
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in McLeansville, NC
Gem: Natural Diamonds - 0.20 Total Carats, Round Brilliant Cut, F - G Color, VS Clarity Metal: 18k
Diamond, White Gold
Felix Gold Diamond Rubies Sapphires Amethyst and Garnet Torque Necklace
Located in Lawrenceville, GA
Gold(18K) : 2.40g Gold(14K) : 1.55g Gemstone : Tsavorite, Blue Sapphire. Ruby, Yellow Sapphire
Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Silver, 18k Gol...
Hermes Simple Stylish 18ct White Gold Woven Torque Necklace, Circa 1990
By Hermès
Located in London, GB
An 18ct white gold torque style necklace by Hermes c.1990s, the round, solid torque necklace formed
18k Gold, White Gold
Modern Second Hand 18 Karat Yellow Gold Heart Pendant Torque Necklace
Located in Poitiers, FR
Necklace in 18 karat yellow gold, eagle head hallmark. This second-hand yellow gold necklace is
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$10,938Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 13.5 in
3.95Ct Certified Diamond Floral Torque Choker Necklace 18 Karat White Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Lalaounis Torque Collar
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in San Antonio, TX
A very unique Lalaounis Torque Collar.
18k Gold
Tiffany & Co. Frank Gehry Torque Diamond Pendant 18k White Gold 13.2g 1"
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Northbrook, IL
innovative design. Measurements: just over 1" across (29mm point to point) 5mm thick Metal: 18k white gold
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
$28,582Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 16 in
10.51 Carat natural SI/H Diamond Choker Torque Necklace 18 Karat White Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$26,980Sale Price / item|20% Off
L 13.5 in
8.59 Carat SI/H Pear Cut Diamond Torque Collar Necklace 18 Karat White Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Diera, Dubai
necklace is more than jewelry — it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Handcrafted in solid 18-karat gold
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Snake Pear Shaped Emerald Diamonds Torque Necklace Minimalist 18K Yellow Gold
Located in Orlando, Florida
Unique Snake Pear Shaped Emerald Diamonds Torque Necklace, Modern 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Necklace
18k Gold
A Fabulous Gold Torque Necklace by Ilias Lalaounis
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in London, GB
Inspired by a 500 BC original which would have graced the neck of a Grecian Princess. The Gold
18k Gold
Sabine Getty Yellow Topaz Ziggy Torque Necklace
By Sabine Getty
Located in London, GB
*MADE TO ORDER - 5 WEEK LEAD TIME* Sabine Getty ziggy torque with pendant in 18k yellow gold set
Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Sabine Getty Blue Topaz Wiggly Torque Necklace
By Sabine Getty
Located in London, GB
*MADE TO ORDER - 5 WEEK LEAD TIME* Sabine Getty wiggly torque with wiggly pendant in 18k yellow
Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Don Tallarico Diamond Black Onyx Gold Earrings Two Bangles Necklace Set
Located in New York , NY
18K yellow gold torque necklace pave-set all over with round brilliant-cut diamonds accented at
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
Vintage 18K Gold Sapphire Diamond Torque Necklace
Located in Flushing, NY
18K Gold Sapphire Diamond Torque Necklace Approximate Dimensions: 43 cm ( Length) 2.5 cm - 0.5
Gold, 18k Gold
Lalaounis 18K Yellow Gold Textured Collar Torque Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
jewellery designs, from snake bracelets to this Greco-Roman torque necklace in gold, finished with balls of
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Givenchy 1980s Satin Gold Torque Necklace
By Givenchy
Located in New York, NY
This vintage Givenchy torque necklace is a stunning piece from the 1980s, featuring an elegant
18k Gold, Gold Plate
18k Yellow Gold Polished Graduated Open Torque Collar Necklace w/ Swivel Bail
Located in Montclair, NJ
Material: 18k Solid Yellow Gold Weight: 34.17 Grams Chain Type: Polished Graduated Torque Collar
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Lalaounis 18 Karat Yellow Gold Torque/Choker Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Zurich, CH
Fabulous 18 karat yellow gold torque/choker necklace by Ilias Lalaounis. Hellenistic style rigid
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Retro Gold Torque Necklace with Citrine-Set Geometric Pendants
Located in New York, NY
A Retro gold necklace comprised of a torque suspending four semicircular panels set with citrines
Citrine, 18k Gold
Tiffany & Co. Diamond Frank Gehry Torque Gold Pendant Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
: Tiffany & Co. Box & Pouch Material: 18k White Gold, total weight - 19.35 grams Gemset: Set with 60 round
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier Torque Link Necklace Set in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Cartier
Located in London, England
A simple yet elegant Cartier torque link necklace set in 18k yellow gold, circa 1999. The
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Tiffany & Co. Vannerie Torque Basket Weave 18 Karat Gold Choker Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Tiffany & Co. Vannerie Torque choker necklace. This timelessly elegant choker necklace
18k Gold
18 Carat Gold Torque-Style Necklace of Swan Head Design by Lalaounis circa 1970s
Located in London, GB
An elegant and stylish gold swan necklace by Lalaounis c.1970s, the necklace is part of the
18k Gold
Leto Lama Certified 2 Ct Colombian Emerald Eye Wire Collar Torque Necklace
Located in London, GB
An everyday talisman with serious presence. The Emerald Eye Necklace features a softly sculpted
Emerald, 18k Gold
Estate 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ancient Greek Style Classic Torque Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Elegant classical 18K gold torque necklace in the style favored by ancient civilizations of Greece
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Cartier 18k Yellow Gold Torque Choker Necklace
By Cartier
Located in Bernardsville, NJ
Material: 18k Yellow Gold Weight: 11.8 grams Length: 15.5 inches Designer: Cartier Vintage Cartier
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
TIFFANY & CO. 18k Gold Frank Gehry Torque Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in San Fernando, CA
Tiffany & CO Frank Gehry 18K yellow gold chain-link necklace with Torque pendant spring ring clasp
18k Gold
Lalaounis 18K Yellow Gold Textured Collar Torque Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
, from snake bracelets to this Greco-Roman torque necklace in gold, finished with balls of lapis lazuli
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
French 1960s 18 Karat Yellow Gold Torque Necklace
Located in Poitiers, FR
Necklace in 18 karat yellow gold, eagle head hallmark. Called torque, this retro gold necklace is
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vivianna Torun for Georg Jensen Gold Torque
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat gold torque, by Vivianna Torun for Georg Jensen. Signed Torun and Georg Jensen
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold Torque Collar Necklace
By Michael Good
Located in Vail, CO
Torque collar necklace in polished 18k yellow gold, marked 'MG' for Michael Good.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18k Yellow Gold Ilias Lalaouinis For Zolotas Chimera Heads Torque Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Surfside, FL
necklace in 18K yellow gold. Chimera heads have approx 1.00 carat round brilliant cut diamonds collar and
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Rams Head Torque Choker with Diamonds
Located in Lambertville, NJ
18kt twisted rope design rams head torque curved and rounded to fit the neck comfortably.The heads
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ilias Lalaounis 18 Karat Gold Textured Gold Choker Torque Collar
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Lakewood, NJ
A 18k gold textured torque collar necklace by the famed Grecian artist Ilias Lalaounis. Collar
18k Gold
"Cobra" Roberto Coin 18 Karat 1.90 Carat Diamond and Enamel Torque Necklace
By Roberto Coin
Located in Bradford, Ontario
. Cheers, David Charles Grainger ITEM DETAILS Designer: Roberto Coin Metal Type: 18K Gold Necklace
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Museum Chanel Vintage F/W 1996 Gold Brocade Mughal Jeweled Gripoix 96A Jacket
By Chanel
Located in Jersey City, NJ
This exceptional Chanel Fall/Winter 1996 gold jacket is a rare masterpiece inspired by Coco Chanel’s fascination with Orientalism in the 1930s. Featuring a structured Mandarin collar...
$4,300Sale Price|50% Off
18K Gold 1.06ct Heart Pigeon's Blood Ruby & 0.58ct Diamond Fine Ring
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
Top color ruby with romantic heart shape to make you want to call the dibs! The glorious ruby is surrounded by tapered baguette and brilliant diamonds split on either side making 2 s...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Christian Dior John Galliano Silk Evening Gown Fall/Winter 2003 Sz 38FR
By John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
Christian Dior John Galliano - Vintage Silk Chartreuse Evening Gown Fall/Winter 2003 Size 38FR
Art Nouveau / Belle Epoque 1900 Diamond Ring in 18Karat Gold
Located in OVIEDO, AS
Art Nouveau / Belle Epoque Diamond ring in 18 Karat Gold. Ca. 1900 Belle Epoque (Spanish or French) Bypass Diamond ring mounted in 18 karat yellow Gold. The two main diamonds are ha...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
$1,540Sale Price|30% Off
Malcolm Starr Heavily Beaded Green Silk Organza Gown, Circa 1970s
By Malcolm Starr
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Malcolm Starr Heavily Beaded Green Silk Organza Gown - 8- Circa 70's This Elinor Simmons for Malcolm Starr creation is fabulous. This gorgeous green silk organza fabric is all hand b...
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
Size: XS
1970s Arnold Scaasi Vintage Metallic Gold Lamé Silk Dress/ Gown (Skirt + Top)
Located in Sparks, NV
Stunning vintage 1970s 2-piece evening dress ensemble by Arnold Scaasi in metallic gold printed silk lamé. This ensemble fits like a modern size XS. The top is fully lined with rear ...
Vintage 1950's Green Tulle Strapless Evening Gown Lace Evening Dress UK 6 US 2
Located in Nashville, TN
A phenomenal piece to behold, this original 1950's evening gown, rendered in forest green tulle, sea green lace and lined in fern green rayon, accented by delicate silver claw set rh...
BOB MACKIE Vintage Red Heavily Embellished Evening Gown
By Bob Mackie
Located in Leonardo, NJ
Bob Mackie Vintage 1980's - 1990's Jet black with vibrant fire engine red shiny embellishments expertly placed throughout, as Bob Mackie does best Hard boning corset inside Structure...
Cartier Panthère 18k Gold Diamond Onyx Ring with Emerald Eyes
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A striking embodiment of Cartier’s iconic feline, this Panthère de Cartier ring captures the spirit of elegance and power. Crafted in 18k yellow gold, the sculptural design brings th...
Onyx, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
$13,875Sale Price|25% Off
BVLGARI Modernist Cocktail Ring In 18Kt White Gold With 4.16 Ctw VS Diamonds
By Bulgari
Located in Miami, FL
A diamonds cocktail ring designed by Bvlgari. This is a beautiful cocktail ring-band created in Italy by the iconic jewelry house of Bvlgari, back in the 2000. The gorgeous ring has...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Chanel Vintage S/S1997 Green Sequin Embellished Velvet Dress Gown Jacket 97P Set
By Chanel
Located in Jersey City, NJ
This luxurious ensemble is crafted from lush lime-green velvet and adorned with shimmering clear sequins that catch the light like fragments of broken glass. The maxi dress features ...
$2,500
Size: IT40 but fits like an IT38 XS
MOSCHINO COUTURE 2024 Runway 40th Anniversary Edition Mini Dress
By Moschino Couture
Located in Leonardo, NJ
Moschino Couture SS24 Runway 40th Anniversary Edition Jet Black Silk dramatic train White adjustable suspenders Bows going up the back Silk white flower motif with black feathers Yel...
Christian Dior By John Galliano 2000s Watermelon Pink Ruched Silk Dress
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in Jersey City, NJ
This Christian Dior evening gown by John Galliano, from the mid-2000s, is crafted in silk chiffon in a vivid watermelon pink. Galliano’s hand is evident in the sensual draping and ro...
$960,000Sale Price|20% Off
PLATINUM AWARD EYE CLEAN GRS Certified 6 Carat BURMA NO HEAT RUBY Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
🔥 EXCEPTIONAL GRS-CERTIFIED 6 CARAT BURMA NO HEAT RUBY RING 🔥 Presenting a rare and investment-grade 6.00-carat Burma Ruby, GRS-certified, NO HEAT, and awarded the PLATINUM AWARD f...
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. Red Enamel Gold Earrings
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 18k yellow gold classic earrings, designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co, adorned with red enamel top. The earrings measure 0.75" in diameter. Marked: Tiffany & Co, S...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$149,975
W 0.25 in D 0.125 in L 16.4 in
Mid-Century Modernist Platinum and 388 Baguette Cut Graduated Diamond Necklace
Located in New York, NY
This truly stunning Mid-Century Modernist Platinum and 388 Baguette Cut Graduated Diamond Necklace with 12.6 Ctw originates from the United States during the 20th Century. This piece...
Diamond, Platinum
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
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. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.
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 David Webb necklaces — 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 Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
If jewelry could talk, we know this piece would have good stories.
Emblems of heartfelt emotion, elegant vessels for photos and keepsakes and perfect for layering, these special ornaments are an essential component of any thoughtfully curated jewelry collection.
With more than 100 carats of diamonds, this vintage stunner converts into different styles, making it as versatile as it is breathtaking.
Givers of fine gems enjoy surprise more than receivers, and women more than men. Find out what else our survey of 3,000 Americans revealed.
Organic shapes, surprising textures, shimmering colors and inventive embellishments take the new generation of pearl jewelry from classic to cutting-edge.
Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.
Learn more about the stylish links that have passed the test of time.
After more than a decade creating the iconic Lanvin gems of the Alber Elbaz years, designer Elie Top dove into the world of fine jewelry, mixing silver and gold to create his own striking, timeless look.