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Beetle Diamond Brooch

Diamond Turquoise Beetle Pendant-Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Beware of this beetle and its horn! This ferocious critter features 1.00 carat of round brilliant
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond Sapphire Platinum Beetle Pin Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
brilliant-cut diamonds set around the beetle’s body along with 2 cabochon sapphires used as its eyes which
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Vintage 18K Diamond Green Tourmaline Sapphire Beetle Fur Clip Brooch
Located in New York, NY
1990s 18K yellow gold diamond tourmaline Beetle fur clip brooch. Beetle boasts diamond encrusted
Category

1990s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rose Cut Diamond, Ruby Vermeil Silver Beetle Articulated Brooch-Pendant
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
Beetle form brooch pendant, set with rose cut diamonds totaling approximately 2 Carats and further
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Vermeil, Silver

Corletto Blue Enamel Diamond Yellow Gold Beetle Bug Brooch Pin
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Beautifully constructed brooch by Corletto This beetle bug is gorgeous, but looks like he has a
Category

20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Handcraft Beetle 14 Karat Yellow Gold Coral Ruby Tourmaline Diamonds Brooch
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
message to solve the problem. 14 karat yellow gold brooch. Beetle handmade by our craftsmen and assembled
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Ruby, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 2.75 Carat Diamond Ruby Sapphire Onyx Yellow Gold Scarab Beetle Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
onyx, 18 karat yellow gold and silver set brooch in the form of a scarab beetle; part of our gemstone
Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver

18K Gold & Sterling Silver Beetle Brooch with Rose Cut Diamonds Onyx & Ruby
Located in Venice, CA
Circa the Edwardian era, this large and impressive Rhinoceros beetle brooch is encrusted with Rose
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Guilloche Enamel Pearl Diamond and Ruby Beetle Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite vintage beetle brooch is crafted in 18k yellow gold and features vibrant guilloché
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Vintage Lucky Scarab Diamond 18 Karat Gold Beetle Brooch Pin Estate Fine Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Beautiful! Stylish and finely detailed Unique Antique Scarab beetle set with Diamonds and
Category

Early 20th Century Neoclassical Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Gold

19th Century Diamond and Carbuncle Garnet Beetle
Located in Riverdale, NY
Lovely 19th Century Diamond and Carbuncle Garnet Beetle. Realistically modeled with large cabochon
Category

Antique 1870s American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Sapphire Diamond Emerald 5.45 carat Pendant/Brooch 18 Kt White Gold Stag Beetle
Located in München, DE
of a Stag beetle, with its slightly curved back. It is adorned with oval-cut faceted blue sapphires
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, White Gold

Recent Sales

1950s Enamel Diamond Gold Beetle Brooch
Located in San Francisco, CA
Keep some fine critter company! This beetle brooch is coated with vivd green, black and white
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

18 Karat Diamond, Emerald and Enamel Beetle Brooch
Located in Pikesville, MD
Adorable 18 karat yellow and white gold beetle brooch featuring 53 round diamonds, perfectly pavé
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique Gold and Gem Set Beetle Brooch
Located in London, GB
Realistically modelled with a Tigers Eye abdomen with a central line of Rose Diamonds to a Silver
Category

Antique 1880s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique 19th-century Stag-beetle Brooch with Diamonds and Gem stones
Located in Stockholm, SE
Step into the enchanting world of vintage elegance with this exquisite Stag-beetle Brooch, a true
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver

Stephen Webster Jitterbug Toro Beetle 18 Carat Gold and Black Diamond Lapel Pin
By Stephen Webster
Located in London, GB
Inspired by our Jitterbug collection, the Jitterbug Toro Beetle Lapel Pin is a playful take on
Category

2010s British Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Black Diamond, Spinel, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Platinum and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Enamel Beetle Pendant Clock
Located in La Jolla, CA
Platinum and 18k yellow gold lady's keyless pendant clock in the shape of a beetle brooch
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Victorian Gold Diamond Ruby Beetle Brooch
Located in London, GB
An unusual early Victorian stag beetle brooch, with an assumed natural pearl body, a rich buttery
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Coral & Diamond Gold Beetle Lapel Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
This enchantingly beautiful Tiffany & Co. lapel brooch from the vintage era is designed as a
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Asch Grossbardt Gold Diamond and Gemstone Inlay Beetle Brooches
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2000 Asche Grossbardt 14K Yellow Gold Beetle Brooches, each measures 1 inch in length and 3/4
Category

Early 2000s American Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, 14k Gold

Handcraft Beetle 14 Karat Yellow Gold Enamel Diamonds Brooch
Located in Marcianise, IT
message to solve the problem. Beetle 14 karat yellow gold and 800 thousandths silver mounted with diamonds
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel, Silver, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond, Sapphire & Yellow Gold Beetle Brooch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Fabulous and funny beetle brooch created by Van Cleef & Arpels in the 1970's. It is certainly a
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Michael Kneebone Tahitian Pearl Mixed Gemstone Diamond Hercules Beetle Brooch
By Michael Kneebone
Located in Austin, TX
A very baroque Tahitian pearl was the inspiration for this dynamic Hercules Beetle brooch. Baroque
Category

2010s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Black Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold

Rose Cut Diamond, Ruby Vermeil Silver Beetle Articulated Brooch-Pendant
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
Beetle form brooch pendant, set with rose cut diamonds totaling approximately 2 Carats and further
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Vermeil, Silver

Victorian Diamond Guilloche Enamel 18 Karat Yellow Gold Scarab Beetle Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch is designed as a highly rendered gold scarab beetle with grooved limbs. Featuring a
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian Mabe Pearl and 0.36Ct Diamond, 15k Yellow Gold Beetle Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
set beetle/insect brooch; part of our antique jewellery and estate jewelry collections. This stunning
Category

Antique 1880s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Silver

An 18k yellow gold, enamel and Diamond beetle brooch by Marco Rigoni.
Located in KERKRADE, NL
An 18k yellow gold, vari-colored enamel and Diamond beetle brooch by Marco Rigoni. Total Diamond
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Tourmaline Emerald and Diamond Gold Beetle Scarab Brooch Pin Fine Estate Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Elegant & Finely detailed Vintage Scarab Beetle Brooch set with Pink Tourmaline, weighing approx
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Tourmaline, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian French 18K Gold Diamond Ruby Garnet Pearl Scarab Beetle Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
and silver during the Victorian era. The brooch features a large beetle design that shows incredible
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Beetle on Leaf 14 Karat Natural Emerald and Diamond Brooch Pin 3D
Located in New York, NY
Raised 3D Classic Bug & Leaf .20ct. natural emeralds & .15ct natural diamond. Rounds, Full cut
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Stunning Enamel and Diamond Beetle Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold
Located in Lucerne, CH
This beautiful example of a beetle brooch ressembles a stag beetle with its impressive antlers
Category

20th Century Swiss Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel

Fabulous Emerald Ruby Diamond Gold Beetle Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
Fabulous 18K white gold beetle pin, set with 20 cabochon rubys, 28 cabochon emeralds, and 47 round
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Hermes Beetle Bug Pin
By Hermès
Located in New York, NY
A stunning Hermes Beetle Bug Pin finely crafted in 18k yellow gold with a Baroque South Sea pearl
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold

Demantoid Garnet Diamond Platinum Gold Insect Beetle Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
A vintage mid-century insect brooch / pin is finely modeled in platinum and 18K yellow gold and set
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet

Egyptian Revival Pearl Ruby Sapphire Diamond Silver Gold Beetle Pin
Located in Stamford, CT
old mine cut diamonds and a GIA certified natural saltwater pearl. 14k hinge and 10k pin stem. 1
Category

Vintage 1920s Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold

Victorian Emerald Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Gold Weevil Beetle Insect Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a weevil insect with a largely domed abdomen decorated with lines of rose cut diamonds
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Tiffany & Co. Two Gold, Platinum, Carved Gem-Set and Diamond Beetle Pins
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
18 kt., fluted amethyst & pink tourmaline, 83 round diamonds ap. 1.40 cts., both signed Tiffany
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Platinum

Diamond Gold King Beetle Pendant-Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A mighty beetle with a diamond studded horn! This unique piece features 4.44 carats of round cut
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold

Large Vermeil and Silver Articulated Diamond Sapphire Beetle Bug Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Large and impressive Beetle Form Brooch Pendant, measuring 2 1/4 inches in length X 1 1/4 inches
Category

2010s Argentine Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Vermeil, Silver

Large Vermeil and Silver Articulated Diamond Sapphire Beetle Bug Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Large and impressive Beetle Form Brooch Pendant, measuring 2 1/4 inches in length X 1 1/4 inches
Category

2010s Argentine Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Vermeil, Silver

Vintage Retro Diamond Emerald Ruby Gold Insect May Beetle Brooch
Located in Munich, Bavaria
diamonds. The body of the beetle is set with fifty-three round facetted emeralds (ca. 2 carats). The finely
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, 14k Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire Diamond Ruby Scarab Beetle Brooch Pin
Located in Troy, MI
articulated gorgeous beetle is adorned with approximately 6.00 cttw blue sapphires & 0.17 Cttw diamonds for a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Moonstone, Ruby, Diamond and Garnet Beetle Brooch 15 Karat Gold
Located in NEWARK, GB
A gorgeous antique, late Victorian 15 karat gold beetle brooch. The insect is crafted from 15
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Moonstone, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling ...

Asch Grossbardt Diamond Lapis Malachite Beetle Brooch Yellow Gold 14k Insect Pin
By Asch Grossbardt
Located in Greensboro, NC
Diamonds Carat(s): .09ctw Cut: Round Brilliant Color: G - H Clarity: SI1 - SI2 Natural Mother of Pearl
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yel...

Edwardian 3 Carat Diamond 2 Carat Sapphire 3.5 Carat Spinel Beetle Pin
Located in New York, NY
: Diamonds: The Beetle Pin is adorned with dazzling diamonds totaling 5.32 carats, meticulously selected for
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Spinel, 18k Gold

Diamond Gold Beetle Brooch
Located in Tampa, FL
An 18K yellow gold beetle estate brooch featuring .50ct. apx. T.W. of round brilliant diamonds. The
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Big Beautful Beetle Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This platinum and gold beetle has so much beautiful detail! He is covered all over with rose cut
Category

Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Shaun Leane Tsavorite Diamond Gold Beetle Brooch
By Shaun Leane
Located in London, GB
A completely unique 18ct gold, diamond and tsavorite Beetle brooch by British jewellery designer
Category

2010s British Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Black Diamond, Tsavorite, White Diamond, 18k Gold

A Gold, Rose Diamond & Labradorite Stag Beetle Brooch
Located in London, GB
A very well made model, the Stag Beetle holding a Pearl "egg". The Brooch is in 18kt Gold with a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Labradorite, 18k Gold

Victorian Gold and Diamond Enamel Beetle Brooch, Circa 1900s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian beetle brooch with incredible enamel detail! The brooch is 14 karat yellow gold (but with
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

A 3.84 Carat Pink Sapphire & Diamond Bug, Beetle Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An excellent -- and undoubtedly adorable -- personality piece, this brooch features nearly 100 pink
Category

1990s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Pearl Ruby Diamond Enamel 18 Carat Yellow Gold Beetle Brooch
Located in Paris, FR
A beautiful yellow gold beetle brooch with enamel shell, set with a pearl, diamonds and two rubies
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Circa 1880 Victorian Tiger's Eye Beetle Diamond Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian brooch in the form of a beetle, the body made from carved tiger’s eye, with enamel
Category

Antique 1880s British High Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Tiger's Eye, Silver

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Belle Époque Diamond Tiara
Located in London, GB
A Belle Époque diamond tiara, to the centre three diamond-set clusters with diamond-set foliate decorations and one large diamond-set cluster on each side, all within a waved frame o...
Category

Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Ring 25ct natural Blue Sapphire solid 18K Gold Ø 4.75 US /9.6gr
Located in SE
Luxurious Antique Ring in Renaissance style, band and crown tested solid 18K Gold,not hallmarked, European, ca. XVIII - early XIX centuries. Huge cabochon of natural Light - Blue Sa...
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Antique Early 19th Century European Baroque Revival Solitaire Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Vintage Clown Brooch 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Sapphire
Located in MIAMI, FL
Beautiful vintage creation, the brooch is crafted in 18k yellow gold and depicts a clown. This unique piece shows functionality as even the hands and leg portion of the brooch dangle...
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

GIA Certified 5.75 Carats Natural Black Opal & Yellow Diamond Fashion Ring
Located in New York, NY
A one-of-a-kind fashion ring, showcasing a GIA certified 5.75 carats black natural opal with a freeform shape and no indications of heat treatment, set on an extremely rare prong set...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Black Opal, Opal, Yellow Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold

Butterfly Diamond Sapphire Gold 18k Brooch
Located in Geneva, CH
Butterfly Brooch 18K gold blacken set with diamonds and yellow and blue sapphires (treated). Height: 3.00 centimeters. Width: 5.70 centimeters. Total weight: 11.76 grams.
Category

Late 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

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Beetle Diamond Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact beetle diamond brooch you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. You can easily find a 24 antique edition and 10 modern creations to choose from as well. Finding the perfect beetle diamond brooch may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular piece, .5 Carat and 1 Carat are consistently popular carat weights. Finding an appealing beetle diamond brooch — no matter the origin — is easy, but Tiffany & Co., SCALA GIOIELLI and Stephen Webster each produced a popular version that is worth a look. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also rose cut cut and cushion cut cut versions available here, too. When shopping for a beetle diamond brooch, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Beetle Diamond Brooch?

On average, a beetle diamond brooch at 1stDibs sells for $3,861, while they’re typically $1,295 on the low end and $22,790 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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 Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

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 GucciVersaceDior 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.