Blue Enamel Snake
Vintage 1950s Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century English Late Victorian Cuff Bracelets
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1980s English Revival Fashion Rings
Enamel, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Clamper Bracelets
Citrine, Diamond, Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1910s British Artisan Drop Necklaces
Garnet, Cultured Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Link Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Modern Bracelets
Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Antique 1840s Swedish Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1860s Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
Antique 1850s British Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Tanzanite, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century European Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century Link Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Brass, Copper, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Drop Necklaces
Emerald, Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Gold, 10k Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Link Bracelets
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Artisan Bangles
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century French Mantel Clocks
Bronze, Enamel
Antique 1840s Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Enamel
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Mexican Clamper Bracelets
Late 20th Century Unknown Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian More Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1840s Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Fashion Rings
Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Italian Artisan Modern Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1960s American Bangles
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Silver
Antique 1840s Link Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 14k Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1960s Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1840s British Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Gold
Antique 1840s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Enamel
Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Unknown More Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Bangles
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1980s American Modern Decorative Art
Enamel
Antique 1870s Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 1850s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Bangles
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Bangles
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century English High Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Earrings
Ruby, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s American Modern Fashion Rings
Enamel
Antique 1880s Austrian Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Link Necklaces
Silver, Enamel
20th Century Unknown More Bracelets
Diamond, Gold, Enamel
Antique 1850s Unknown Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Enamel, Silver, Gilt Metal
Antique 1860s European Victorian Bangles
15k Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Chain Bracelets
Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century French Victorian Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1890s British Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 1850s English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
15k Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Choker Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold
Vintage 1960s Fashion Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Retro Bracelets
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Bangles
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Antique 1840s British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Clamper Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
People Also Browsed
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Diamond, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Link Bracelets
18k Gold
Early 2000s French Choker Necklaces
18k Gold
1990s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Bangles
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Shoulder Bags
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
Early 2000s Jackets
21st Century and Contemporary Shoulder Bags
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Antique 1840s Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces
Garnet, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
1990s Italian Pants
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
Blue Enamel Snake For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Blue Enamel Snake?
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.