Amethyst Intaglio
Vintage 1970s Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century English Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, Gold-filled
Antique 19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Fashion Rings
Amethyst, White Gold
Antique 19th Century European Signet Rings
Yellow Gold
Antique 1820s British George IV More Jewelry
Amethyst, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 22k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 22k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century European Empire Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Glass
Blown Glass
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Engagement Rings
Amethyst, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Late Victorian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, Garnet, Iolite, Peridot, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, Garnet, Iolite, Peridot, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Amethyst, Chalcedony, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Iolite, M...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Romantic Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
Antique 1810s British More Jewelry
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian More Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Signet Rings
Amethyst, 15k Gold
20th Century Neoclassical Glass
Glass
Antique Early 1900s Czech Art Nouveau Vases
Art Glass
American Charm Bracelets
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Georgian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Fashion Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American More Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s Victorian Brooches
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Collectible Jewelry
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Amethyst
Antique 1870s Victorian Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
Antique 1810s British Georgian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold
Antique 19th Century Czech Art Nouveau Centerpieces
Crystal
Antique Early 19th Century British Neoclassical Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
20th Century Lever-Back Earrings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Amethyst, 10k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Garnet, Amethyst, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Drop Necklaces
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Czech Art Nouveau Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Glass
Vintage 1910s Swedish Edwardian Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Vintage 1910s Art Deco Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Art Deco Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century English Tableware
Glass
2010s Cuff Bracelets
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century French Georgian Charm Bracelets
Agate, Amethyst, Chalcedony, Garnet, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1820s Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Georgian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Signet Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Signet Rings
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Antique 1820s Italian Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold
Antique Early 19th Century Irish Georgian Collectible Jewelry
Gold
Antique 19th Century Austrian Georgian Signet Rings
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Signet Rings
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Signet Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Charm Bracelets
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Dangle Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Gold Plate
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, 15k Gold
Vintage 1960s Modern Signet Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Brooches
Amethyst
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Early 19th Century American Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
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Citrine, Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
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Diamond, Enamel
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Diamond, 22k Gold
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9k Gold, Yellow Gold
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18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
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Amethyst Intaglio For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Amethyst Intaglio?
Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship
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.
The Legacy of Amethyst in Jewelry Design
There are few gemstones in the world that are both affordable and worthy of a duchess’s attention. But then not many stones are as beautiful as amethyst. Indeed, vintage and antique amethyst jewelry has innumerable fans, and February’s birthstone has many unique attributes. For the romantics, there are several tales in Greek mythology that tell the story of Bacchus and Amethyste, a maiden that he pursues yet is rescued by Diane by turning her into a white stone. Bacchus, mourning his love, pours a glass of wine over the sculpture, dyeing her purple.
Amethyst has adorned many royal jewels. One of the most enviable jewelry collections of all time belonged to Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. In 1947, the Duke gifted her with a Cartier amethyst and turquoise bib necklace. This special order piece was made with twisted 18-carat and 20-carat gold, platinum, brilliant- and baguette-cut diamonds, one heart-shaped faceted amethyst, 27 emerald-cut amethysts, one oval faceted amethyst, and turquoise cabochons. The Duchess was not the only Royal with a penchant for the purple gemstone. The tiara now owned by Queen Silvia of Sweden is set with amethysts that once belonged to the French Empress Josephine. A stunning 56-carat cushion-cut, square-shaped amethyst set in an 18-karat yellow gold necklace designed by Tiffany & Co. is now in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
The Smithsonian also has in its possession an even more rare example of fine amethyst: the 96-carat Morris Amethyst Brooch. The brooch features a deep, rich purple heart-shaped amethyst. The museum states that the piece was likely made during the Edwardian period (1901–15) “when platinum and diamonds were often used, and amethyst, a favorite stone of King Edward VII’s wife, Alexandra, was often included in jewelry of the era.”
Another amethyst necklace, with an even richer story, can be found in the Natural History Museum of London. Known as the Delhi Purple Sapphire (even though the stone is an amethyst), this stone was stolen from the Temple of Indra during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Anyone in possession of this stone is bound to have terrible luck, including its owner Edward Heron-Allen, who gifted the gemstone to the museum thinking that this would save him but ended up transferring the bad luck to the museum curators overseeing the stone.
Find a wide range of vintage and antique amethyst necklaces, bracelets and other fine jewelry on 1stDibs.