Bloodstone Seal
20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s English Retro Figurines and Sculptures
Jasper, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Soapstone
Antique 1810s Italian Empire Desk Accessories
Agate, Gold
Antique 1880s French Vanity Items
18k Gold
Recent Sales
English Boxes and Cases
Antique 1870s English Victorian More Dining and Entertaining
Silver
Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Sterling Silver
Gold
Early 20th Century British George V More Jewelry
Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s British Necklace Enhancers
Agate, 18k Gold
Antique 1860s British Baroque Necklace Enhancers
Agate, 18k Gold
18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s European Victorian Charm Bracelets
Agate, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Swiss Signet Rings
Other, 14k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold
Antique 16th Century Turkish Signet Rings
Agate, Jasper, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s British Victorian More Jewelry
Agate, Gold
Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Signet Rings
Agate, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1870s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, 14k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Signet Rings
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Fire Agate, Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Historical Memorabilia
Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Necklaces
Agate, 15k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Loose Gemstones
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Signet Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Signet Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 1890s British Chain Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Link Bracelets
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s English George V Signet Rings
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
Antique 1840s British Victorian Necklace Enhancers
18k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s British High Victorian More Jewelry
15k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold
Antique Early 1900s European Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold
Antique 1820s British George IV More Jewelry
10k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Signet Rings
18k Gold
Antique 1890s English Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Solitaire Rings
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Chalcedony, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian More Jewelry
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century European Artist Chain Bracelets
Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Charm Bracelets
Agate, Carnelian, Onyx, 15k Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Pendant Necklaces
Agate, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century English Models and Miniatures
Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century English More Furniture and Collectibles
Antique 1870s Unknown More Dining and Entertaining
Gold
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, 15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian More Jewelry
Carnelian, 15k Gold
20th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
Agate, Gold
20th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
Agate, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Charm Bracelets
9k Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Drop Necklaces
Agate, 9k Gold
20th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
Agate, 9k Gold
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Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1880s Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Carnelian, 14k Gold
Antique 1890s Signet Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Stone
Antique 1820s Swedish Medieval Signet Rings
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Antique 1840s Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold-filled
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Renaissance Revival Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Turquoise, Silver, Enamel, Gilt Metal
Antique 1860s European Victorian Signet Rings
Crystal, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Vanity Items
Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 10k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Enamel Frames and Objects
Gold-filled
Early 20th Century German Boxes and Cases
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1810s French George III Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Malachite, Rock Crystal, Topaz, Opal, 18k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects
Zitan
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Silver
Bloodstone Seal For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Bloodstone Seal?
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.