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Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional yellow gold butterfly brooch from the 1970s is adorned with round brilliant cut
Category

20th Century Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Moonstone Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A spectacular butterfly brooch polka dotted with 8.90 carats of moonstone which show flashes of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold, Rhodium

Butterfly Diamond and Ruby Brooch
Located in beverly hills, CA
Elegant. Glittering. Majesty. A stunning vintage butterfly brooch with exceptional quality and
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby

"Eclat" Diamond Titanium Butterfly Brooch
Located in Dallas, TX
purplish titanium wings are accented by a diamond trim and diamond central body. The Neiman Marcus receipt
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Titanium

Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in Greenwich, CT
unique jewel inspired by luxury and the pursuit of beauty. This sapphire and diamond butterfly brooch is
Category

20th Century Unknown Artist Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Whit...

18K White gold Diamond Butterfly Brooch
By La Fleur Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Diamond butterfly brooch .A cute butterfly that the wing can move use diamond 5.44 ct H Vs quality
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Gold “Tremble” Butterfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A sweet and honest butterfly studded in diamonds! There are 0.90 carats of round brilliant cut
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Fancy Color Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This flying proud butterfly brooch features 1.26 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds, fancy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Nina Zhou Butterfly Turquoise Diamond Brooch
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
Embrace the beauty of transformation with the Nina Zhou Butterfly Turquoise Diamond Brooch in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold

Large Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
sapphires, the butterfly is crafted with 150 diamonds, approximately 2.25 carats in total diamond weight
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18...

Antique Diamond Ruby Emerald Butterfly Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Germany, c.1900 The finely modeled butterfly brooch is handcrafted in silver and 14K gold. The
Category

Early 20th Century German Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver

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
Category

Late 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

Amazonite Butterfly Brooch
Located in MADRID, ES
This butterfly brooch, dated around 1940, is crafted in 18 k yellow gold and silver—a common
Category

Vintage 1940s Brazilian Brooches

Materials

Amazonite, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Amazonite Butterfly Brooch
Amazonite Butterfly Brooch
H 1.65 in W 3.37 in
1.50 Carat Butterfly Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Stamford, CT
Open work 1930's Butterfly diamond brooch. 55 old mine cut diamonds in a a 14k yellow gold
Category

Early 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Splendid Amethyst Citrine Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
antiqued to resemble its century-old counterparts. This assertively-sized butterfly glitters with 200 rose
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver

Tiffany & Co. 18K Gold Diamond Butterfly Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Flushing, NY
Tiffany & Co. 18K Gold Diamond Butterfly Brooch Marked: TIFFANY & Co 18K Approximate Dimensions
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Diamond Ruby Sapphire Butterfly Brooch/Pin
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Diamond Ruby Sapphire Butterfly Brooch/Pin. Six round diamonds are bead-set on the body, two round
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Butterfly Brooch
Located in Litchfield, CT
charming antique butterfly brooch is very charming. The use of fine detail and texture, demonstrate a
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Butterfly Brooch
Antique Butterfly Brooch
H 1.13 in W 1.38 in
Vintage Tiffany & Co. Platinum Diamond Butterfly Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
collection with this Vintage Tiffany & Co. Butterfly Brooch, impeccably rendered in platinum and set with
Category

20th Century American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

18K Ruby and Black Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 18K Ruby and Black Diamond Butterfly Brooch. This brooch is made up of 4.21 carats of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches

Materials

Black Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

29.3 Carat Jade Butterfly Diamond Brooch
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast in 18K gold & sterling silver, this stunning brooch is hand set in 29.3 carats Jade, .06
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold, Sterling Silver

Diamond Blue Sapphire Emerald Butterfly Brooch
Located in Dallas, TX
supporting European hallmarks. The stated weights are as follows: Diamonds: 6.94 cts Blue Sapphires: 1.55
Category

Early 20th Century British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold

Yellow Gold Diamond Spring Movement Butterfly Brooch
Located in Palm Desert, CA
18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Spring Movement Butterfly Brooch. This is an absolutely stunning
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Sapphire Ruby Diamond and Tanzanite Butterfly Brooch
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Adorn yourself with the exquisite elegance of the Sapphire, Ruby Diamond and Tanzanite Butterfly
Category

2010s Hong Kong Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Tanzanite, 18k Gold

Modern Diamond, Citrine and Platinum Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
A large butterfly en-tremblant brooch, with brilliant-cut and marquise-cut diamond set wings
Category

1990s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Ruby Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A petite butterfly brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels dating from the 1980s. This abstract pin features a
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mauboussin Tourmaline, Rubellite, and Diamond Butterfly Brooch
By Mauboussin
Located in New York, NY
An elegant butterfly brooch set with carved pink tourmaline, marquise-shaped and cabochon rubellite
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Rubelite, Tourmaline, Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels, 18K Gold Diamond Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This Van Cleef & Arpels butterfly brooch showcases the brand’s exquisite craftsmanship with its
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco Diamond & Gemset Butterfly Brooch circa 1925
Located in London, GB
Art Deco Diamond & Gemset Butterfly Brooch An Art Deco diamond and gemset butterfly brooch, circa
Category

Mid-20th Century British Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Platinum

Antique Gold Diamond Ruby Emerald Pearl Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An 18k yellow gold larger butterfly brooch pin, set with rose cut diamonds, pearls, emeralds and
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold

Victorian Diamond Ruby Gold Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Amazing Victorian butterfly brooch created on the turn of 20th century in France. Made of 18k
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Gold Butterfly Jade Diamond Brooch
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
Cast in 14K gold, this stunning brooch is hand set in 13.81 carats Jade and 2.47 carats of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Gold, 14k Gold

WIN, Padparadscha Butterfly Brooch
Located in Malmö, SE
Gold brooch 18K, designed as a lotus bud, embraced by water lily leaves and a butterfly. The lotus
Category

2010s Swedish Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, Padparadscha Sap...

Diamond Gold and Platinum Butterfly Pin Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A beautiful and free butterfly featuring 0.93 carat of round brilliant cut diamonds. They are set
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Vintage Butterfly Brooch with pearls and diamonds insect
Located in Milano, MI
Vintage brooch depicting a butterfly set in 18ct two tone gold, finely decorated with huit-huit cut
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Vintage Butterfly Yellow Gold Brooch with Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
Vintage -18k yellow gold -Weight: 13.2gr -Diamond: 0.9ct, VS clarity, G color -Sapphire: 0.4ct
Category

Early 2000s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Butterfly Diamond Enamel Gold 18K Pendant convertible Brooch
Located in Geneva, CH
Butterfly Diamond Enamel Gold 18K Pendant convertible Brooch. Wings are movable. Total length
Category

Late 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

1.11 CTTW Diamond Butterfly Milgrain Pin Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
This pin weighs 9.6 DWT (approx. 14.93 grams). It contains 97 round G color and VS clarity diamonds
Category

Late 20th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Butterfly Rubies Diamonds 14 Karat Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Marcianise, IT
Here is a magnificent butterfly brooch, a masterpiece of jewelry that harmoniously combines 14
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

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

Butterfly Diamonds Rubies 14 Karat Yellow Gold Brooch
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
Butterfly 14 karat yellow gold and 800 thousandths silver brooch. Butterfly Handmade by our
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

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

14k Gold & Diamonds and Carved Jade Butterfly Brooch
Located in Montreal, QC
14k acid tested butterfly shaped brooch set with two diamonds on the eyes and two carved jadeite's
Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Jade, 14k Gold

Estate Diamond & Sapphire Butterfly Brooch/Necklace -0.10ctw Diamonds, Pre-loved
Located in West Hempstead, NY
This exquisite Estate Diamond and Sapphire Butterfly Brooch/Necklace features approximately 0.10ctw
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

White Stones Sapphire Diamond Pearl Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Graceful butterfly shaped brooch in14K white gold composed of white stone wings with details of
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapph...

18k Yellow Gold & Platinum Diamond & Enamel Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Whimsical diamond and enamel butterfly brooch in 18k yellow gold and platinum. Brooch contains 3
Category

Late 20th Century Romantic Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Vintage Multi Gemstone Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have a vibrant butterfly brooch crafted from 18ct yellow gold. An expertly handcrafted
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Coral 18k Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Delicate 18k yellow gold butterfly brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels, set with coral and approx. 0.30ctw
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Diamond, Pearl and Gem-set Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Created in the 1880s, this diamond, pearl, and gem-set butterfly brooch is set in silver-topped 18K
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

18K White Gold Diamond and Yellow Sapphire Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
18K White Gold Diamond and Yellow Sapphire Butterfly Brooch. This brooch is made up of 20.31 carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

4.00 Carat Butterfly Diamond Brooch in 18 Karat Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
A brand new diamond brooch in 18 karat gold. The diamond weight is 4.00 carat and total brooch
Category

2010s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Paper Clip Brooch Pin
Located in Kowloon, HK
18K Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Paper Clip Brooch Pin 18K Yellow Gold - 4.29 GM 8 Diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Vintage 0.25ct Emerald and Diamond Butterfly Brooch, c.1980s
Located in London, GB
Taking on the likeness of a butterfly, this wonderful vintage brooch was created in the 1980s. The
Category

Vintage 1980s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Diamond Sapphire Ruby Platinum Butterfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A stunning Art Deco pin brooch from the 1930’s that is impressively made with extreme quality, as
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

18K Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Paper Clip Brooch Pin
Located in Kowloon, HK
18K Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Paper Clip Brooch Pin 18K Yellow Gold - 4.29 GM 8 Diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Butterfly Diamond Sapphire Emerald Ruby Yellow Gold 18k Brooch
Located in Geneva, CH
Butterfly diamond, sapphire, emerald and ruby yellow gold 18K brooch. Height: approximate 4.00
Category

Late 20th Century European Brooches

Materials

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

18K Gold Natural Ruby & Diamond Butterfly & Leaf Pendant Brooch
Located in Kowloon, HK
18K Gold Natural Ruby & Diamond Butterfly & Leaf Pendant Brooch 1 Ruby - 0.25 CT 2 Rubies - 0.03
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

1.00 Carat Pave Round Diamond White Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Stamford, CT
1960's diamond butterfly brooch. Set with 123 round pave set diamonds with a total carat weight of
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

M. Buccellati Vintage Diamond Gold Ruby Butterfly Brooch Pin
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
Mario Buccellati Diamond Ruby Butterfly Brooch Pin Presenting a collectible Butterfly brooch by
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Vintage Butterfly Yellow Gold Brooch with Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
-Vintage -18k yellow gold -Weight: 13.2gr -Diamond: 0.9ct, VS clarity, G color -Sapphire: 0.4ct
Category

Mid-20th Century French Romantic Brooches

Materials

Yellow Gold

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Butterfly Brooch Diamonds For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a broad range of butterfly brooch diamonds for sale on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Find a collection of 354 vintage versions or 140 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our inventory is broad and distinctive, with accessories on offer that were made as long ago as the 19th Century to those produced as recently as the 21st Century. There are many different pieces in our collection of butterfly brooch diamonds to choose from, but Victorian and Contemporary butterfly brooch diamonds are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made iterations of these items over the years, but those made by Van Cleef & Arpels, Moira and Tiffany & Co. are often thought to be among the most beautiful. There are many round cut, brilliant cut and mixed cut butterfly brooch diamonds for sale. If you’re browsing the variety of butterfly brooch diamonds for sale, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men.

How Much are Butterfly Brooch Diamonds?

Prices for butterfly brooch diamonds start at $499 and top out at $150,000 with these brooches, on average, selling for $6,000.

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.