Antique Scottish Earrings
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Drop Earrings
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Antique 1810s English Georgian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Drop Necklaces
Copper, Enamel
Antique 1870s British Victorian Dangle Earrings
Agate, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Topaz, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Copper, Enamel
Vintage 1980s Unknown Cuff Bracelets
Vintage 1980s French Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Silver Plate, Base Metal, Gilt Metal
Vintage 1980s French Modernist Dangle Earrings
Gold Plate, Brass, Gilt Metal
Vintage 1960s Mexican Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s Norwegian Modernist Drop Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Vintage 1960s Drop Necklaces
Gold Plate
Recent Sales
Antique 1880s British Victorian Dangle Earrings
Agate, Silver
Antique Early 1800s British Victorian Drop Earrings
Carnelian, Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Dangle Earrings
Agate, Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Drop Earrings
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Chandelier Earrings
Agate, Citrine, 15k Gold
Scottish Dangle Earrings
Agate, Amethyst
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Chandelier Earrings
Agate, 10k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, Sterling Silver, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, 18k Gold
Scottish More Bracelets
Vintage 1950s American Drop Earrings
Crystal, 14k Gold
Antique 1880s Scottish Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, Citrine, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Dangle Earrings
Malachite, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Drop Earrings
Agate, Silver
Antique 1830s Scottish William IV More Jewelry
Citrine, 15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, 15k Gold
Early 18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Antique 1860s British Victorian Dangle Earrings
Carnelian, Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Drop Earrings
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Dangle Earrings
Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Dangle Earrings
Agate, Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Finding the Right earrings for You
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.