Australian Opal Pin
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Vintage 1960s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Opal, Black Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century Australian Contemporary Brooches
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Brooches
Opal, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1980s Australian Modernist Brooches
Opal, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Brooches
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Australian Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Drop Necklaces
Opal, Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Solitaire Rings
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Solitaire Rings
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Vintage 1970s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Belle Époque Brooches
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Platinum, Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Yellow Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Stud Earrings
Pink Diamond
2010s Turkish Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Drop Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Pink Diamond
1990s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Cocktail Rings
Black Opal, Opal, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Pink Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Vintage 1980s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Cluster Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Pink Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Australian Opal Pin For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is an Australian Opal Pin?
The Legacy of Opal in Jewelry Design
Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.
Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)
Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!
There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.
So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.
There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).
Finding the Right Brooches for You
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.
- What is an Australian opal?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021Today, Australia and Ethiopia are the two largest producers of opals. Historically, most of the world’s opals were mined in South Australia. The stone is so closely associated with Australia that in 1993 it became the national gemstone. There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color. Shop a collection of vintage and modern Australian opal jewelry from some of the world’s top jewelers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021An Australian boulder opal is an opal mined from a large ironstone boulder under the ground. This type of opal is the second most valuable opal behind the black opal. Spot an Australian boulder opal by checking for a solid layer of brown ironstone left on the back of the stone. Shop Australian boulder opals on 1stDibs.
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