Skip to main content

Cartier Owl

Cartier 1958 Sapphire 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Owl Brooch
Cartier 1958 Sapphire 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Owl Brooch

Cartier 1958 Sapphire 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Owl Brooch

By Cartier

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Designed as a stylized owl comprised of pierced gold with textured feathers Featuring oval cut sapphires bezel set as eyes Weighing approximately 0.90 carat total Transparent medium ...

Category

Vintage 1950s Modern Brooches

Materials

Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Cartier 18K Turquoise, Emerald, and Diamond Owl Brooch #17761
Vintage Cartier 18K Turquoise, Emerald, and Diamond Owl Brooch #17761

Vintage Cartier 18K Turquoise, Emerald, and Diamond Owl Brooch #17761

By Cartier

Located in Washington Depot, CT

Vintage Cartier 18K Turquoise, Emerald and Diamond Owl Brooch This exquisite brooch by Cartier features a cabochon turquoise body, cabochon emerald eyes and 6 round brilliant cut di...

Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Recent Sales

CARTIER. An Agate And Sapphire Owl Brooch.

CARTIER. An Agate And Sapphire Owl Brooch.

By Cartier

Located in London, GB

Designed as a stylised owl, composed of an agate body and tail, embellished with cabochon sapphire eyes and gold detail, circa 1960, signed Cartier London, indistinctly numbered K2063.

Category

British Brooches

Materials

Agate, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Cartier Orange Sapphire Diamond Gold Owl Brooch

Cartier Orange Sapphire Diamond Gold Owl Brooch

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

CS 64050, dated 30 October 2014, identifying an oval orange sapphire of Sri Lankan origin exhibiting no indications of enhancement. • Cartier leather jewelry case • Numbered “808 7...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Sapphire, 18k Gol...

Cartier 18k Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire and Agate Owl Brooch
Cartier 18k Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire and Agate Owl Brooch

Cartier 18k Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire and Agate Owl Brooch

By Cartier

Located in London, GB

Owl brooch by Cartier Paris, 18k yellow gold, the body in Agate, the eyes in blue sapphire Signed Cartier France, maker's mark, French hallmarks, marked 18kts and numbered 2853 Circa...

Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Agate, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Cartier, 18 Karat, Sapphire Line Bracelet
Cartier, 18 Karat, Sapphire Line Bracelet

Cartier, 18 Karat, Sapphire Line Bracelet

Unavailable

W 0.2 in L 6.5 in

Cartier, 18 Karat, Sapphire Line Bracelet

By Cartier

Located in Munich, DE

Fine 18 KT, sapphire line bracelet, channel-set with nice bright blue square cuts. A slightly worn Cartier signature and an "Owl" hallmark indicating french import. 45 Sapphires wit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary More Bracelets

Materials

Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Vintage French Cartier Paris Owl With 5ctw Columbian Emerald in 18 Karat Gold
Vintage French Cartier Paris Owl With 5ctw Columbian Emerald in 18 Karat Gold

Vintage French Cartier Paris Owl With 5ctw Columbian Emerald in 18 Karat Gold

By Cartier

Located in Fairfield, CT

This Cartier owl brooch is a one of a kind piece of art.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage Victorian Cartier Opal Ruby Stone Diamond Owl Brooch Silver Unisex Pin
Vintage Victorian Cartier Opal Ruby Stone Diamond Owl Brooch Silver Unisex Pin

Vintage Victorian Cartier Opal Ruby Stone Diamond Owl Brooch Silver Unisex Pin

Located in New York, NY

Vintage Victorian Cartier Opal Ruby Stone Diamond Owl Brooch Silver Unisex Pin in sterling silver which is a fusion of surrealism and owl, designed to make a bold statement.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver

Cartier Diamonds Yellow Gold Grain de Riz Tank Wristwatch, circa 1970
Cartier Diamonds Yellow Gold Grain de Riz Tank Wristwatch, circa 1970

Cartier Diamonds Yellow Gold Grain de Riz Tank Wristwatch, circa 1970

By Cartier

Located in London, GB

Weight: 71,54gr Metal: 18kt Yellow Gold Stones: 134 single cut diamond • Total carat weight: 2ct approximately Signature: Cartier • Reference: 960654649 Hallmarks: French, Ow...

Category

Vintage 1970s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Owl Brooch
Cartier Owl Brooch

Cartier Owl Brooch

Sold

W 1.13 in L 1.88 in

Cartier Owl Brooch

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

Cartier Owl Brooch An 18 karat yellow gold brooch with an owl motif set with 2 cabochon emeralds for eyes and 10 round cut diamonds for its beak Signed Cartier Italy and numbered ...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage Cartier 18 Karat Gold Agate Turquoise Owl Pin
Vintage Cartier 18 Karat Gold Agate Turquoise Owl Pin

Vintage Cartier 18 Karat Gold Agate Turquoise Owl Pin

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

Cartier is known for its depictions of animals, and this owl on a perch is typical Cartier.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Brooches

Materials

Agate, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Cartier Paris Diamond Ruby Turquoise Gold Platinum Vintage Owl Brooch
Cartier Paris Diamond Ruby Turquoise Gold Platinum Vintage Owl Brooch

Cartier Paris Diamond Ruby Turquoise Gold Platinum Vintage Owl Brooch

By Cartier

Located in Greenwich, CT

Be wise as an owl. Wear this Cartier Paris diamond, ruby, turquoise, gold, and platinum mid-century owl brooch, and you will always feel enlightened.

Category

Vintage 1950s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, Platinum

CARTIER Owl Clip
CARTIER Owl Clip

CARTIER Owl Clip

By Cartier

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This handsome fellow is covered with 4 carats of diamonds, with cabachon emerald eyes and on the ends of his perch. He is on a double clip for a coat or scarf, and the CARTIER signa...

Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

Diamond

1960s Cartier Owl Brooch

1960s Cartier Owl Brooch

Sold

W 1.78 in L 1.38 in

1960s Cartier Owl Brooch

By Cartier

Located in Milano, IT

Cartier, c1960. In original fitted Box.

Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold

Cartier Ruby and Diamond Owl Brooch
Cartier Ruby and Diamond Owl Brooch

Cartier Ruby and Diamond Owl Brooch

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

Cartier NY c. 1965. Owl in 18K yellow gold with with ruby and diamond eyes.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage Six-Charm 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Enamel Bracelet
Vintage Six-Charm 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Enamel Bracelet

Vintage Six-Charm 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Enamel Bracelet

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Rabbit and "4 Get Mi Not" charms are vintage Cartier. Rear of owl charm reads "La nuit porte conseil." which translates to "Sleep on it."

Category

20th Century French Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

People Also Browsed

Chanel Slot Machine Casino Minaudière Clutch 2023
Chanel Slot Machine Casino Minaudière Clutch 2023

Chanel Slot Machine Casino Minaudière Clutch 2023

$32,100

H 2.17 in D 0.69 in L 1.38 in

Chanel Slot Machine Casino Minaudière Clutch 2023

By Chanel

Located in London, GB

This Casino Minaudière Evening Clutch Bag by Chanel is a highly sought-after and exclusive piece from the 2023 Cruise collection. - Circa 2023 - From the Chanel 2023 Cruise collectio...

Category

2010s Evening Bags and Minaudières

Roberto Cavalli Runway Sequin Sun Evening Gown and Cape F/W 2004 Size 40IT
Roberto Cavalli Runway Sequin Sun Evening Gown and Cape F/W 2004 Size 40IT

Roberto Cavalli Runway Sequin Sun Evening Gown and Cape F/W 2004 Size 40IT

By Roberto Cavalli

Located in Saint Petersburg, FL

Roberto Cavalli - Sequin runway evening gown with Swarovski crystal embellished sun cape. Neckline presents a sharp daring plunge to the navel. The back of the dress is held by jewe...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Evening Gowns

Chanel Vanity Bag, 1996
Chanel Vanity Bag, 1996

Chanel Vanity Bag, 1996

$13,919

H 6.7 in D 6.3 in L 11.82 in

Chanel Vanity Bag, 1996

By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel

Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR

Chanel -(Made in France) Vanity bag in black matte leather, handle with thick chain intertwined with leather. Interior in burgundy leather, pockets and mirror integrated. Card of aut...

Category

1990s French Evening Bags and Minaudières

Christian Dior by John Galliano yellow graffiti-print silk dress, ss 2003
Christian Dior by John Galliano yellow graffiti-print silk dress, ss 2003

Christian Dior by John Galliano yellow graffiti-print silk dress, ss 2003

By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior

Located in London, GB

▪ Rare Christian Dior yellow graffiti-printed silk evening dress ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Smocked chiffon overlay ▪ Frayed edges ▪ Red cotton ribbon bondage straps ▪ Large s...

Category

Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns

Christian Dior by John Galliano Brown Sheared Mink Coat, FW 2006
Christian Dior by John Galliano Brown Sheared Mink Coat, FW 2006

Christian Dior by John Galliano Brown Sheared Mink Coat, FW 2006

By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior

Located in London, GB

Christian Dior under John Galliano brown sheared mink coat from the Fall-Winter 2006 collection. The coat is constructed in horizontal panels of pelts with uniform shearing, enhancin...

Category

Early 2000s French Coats and Outerwear

Cartier London 1930s Diamond Emerald Clip
Cartier London 1930s Diamond Emerald Clip

Cartier London 1930s Diamond Emerald Clip

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

Circa 1930's. Platinum and 18 karat yellow gold swirl brooch set with approximately 3.50 carats of round and baguette cut diamonds, and approximately 6.53 carats of square emerald c...

Category

Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Christian Dior by John Galliano Green Knit and Satin Evening Ensemble, SS 1999
Christian Dior by John Galliano Green Knit and Satin Evening Ensemble, SS 1999

Christian Dior by John Galliano Green Knit and Satin Evening Ensemble, SS 1999

By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior

Located in London, GB

A two-piece ensemble from Christian Dior by John Galliano, Spring-Summer 1999, consisting of a fitted cable-knit sweater and a coordinating column skirt in a muted seafoam green hue....

Category

1990s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles

Valentino "Boutique" Champagne Crepe de Chine Micro Embroidered Halter Top
Valentino "Boutique" Champagne Crepe de Chine Micro Embroidered Halter Top

Valentino "Boutique" Champagne Crepe de Chine Micro Embroidered Halter Top

By Valentino

Located in New York, NY

Valentino "Boutique" champagne silk crepe de chine evening halter tie back top is wonderfully detailed with micro hand-embroidered with sequins done from the renowned house of...

Category

1990s Italian Halter Tops

Christian Dior by John Galliano pink mink fur cropped bolero jacket, fw 1997
Christian Dior by John Galliano pink mink fur cropped bolero jacket, fw 1997

Christian Dior by John Galliano pink mink fur cropped bolero jacket, fw 1997

By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior

Located in London, GB

▪ Christian Dior pink mink fur cropped bolero jacket ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Shawl lapel ▪ Wide cropped sleeves appearing as a cape from the back ▪ Silk lining with embroide...

Category

1990s French Jackets

Cartier 1960 Enamel 18K Gold Platinum Vintage Whimsical Pelican Bird Fish Brooch
Cartier 1960 Enamel 18K Gold Platinum Vintage Whimsical Pelican Bird Fish Brooch

Cartier 1960 Enamel 18K Gold Platinum Vintage Whimsical Pelican Bird Fish Brooch

By Cartier

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Designed as a stylized cartoonish pelican in flight holding a smiling fish in its beak Pelican is grooved with feather texture accented by engraved fanning details Fish features bass...

Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture electric blue documented dress, 1987
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture electric blue documented dress, 1987

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture electric blue documented dress, 1987

By Yves Saint Laurent

Located in New York, NY

DOCUMENTED RUNWAY haute couture dress with model name on the lable. Electric blue color. Oversized buttons and hidden zippers. Collection A/H 1987. Size S. Measurements : Waist – ...

Category

1980s French Cocktail Dresses

Gianni Versace S/S 1991 Pop Art Baroque Print Swimsuit Bodysuit & Skirt Set
Gianni Versace S/S 1991 Pop Art Baroque Print Swimsuit Bodysuit & Skirt Set

Gianni Versace S/S 1991 Pop Art Baroque Print Swimsuit Bodysuit & Skirt Set

By Gianni Versace

Located in Chicago, IL

From Gianni Versace’s Spring/Summer 1991 “Pop Art” Collection, this rare set features the striking color palette and patterns the collection was famous for. Naomi Campbell graced the...

Category

1990s Italian Skirt Suits

Gold skirt - suit "Egyptomania" Chanel Métiers d'Art ( Lesage embroidery) 2018
Gold skirt - suit "Egyptomania" Chanel Métiers d'Art ( Lesage embroidery) 2018

Gold skirt - suit "Egyptomania" Chanel Métiers d'Art ( Lesage embroidery) 2018

By Chanel

Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR

Gold skirt - suit . Shoulder-pads and chain inside the jacket. Branded buttons. Wrap skirt. Fabric composition: 58% polyester, 35% rayon, 4% cotton, 2% polester metal, 1% polyamide...

Category

2010s French Skirt Suits

Chanel Minaudière Green Limited Edition Robot Silver-Tone Hardware
Chanel Minaudière Green Limited Edition Robot Silver-Tone Hardware

Chanel Minaudière Green Limited Edition Robot Silver-Tone Hardware

By Chanel

Located in Sydney, New South Wales

Meet Chanel’s new little robot, he doesn’t have a name but that’s up for you to decide. This futuristic character is adorned with glitter details, red rhinestones and Chanel’s double...

Category

2010s French Evening Bags and Minaudières

French Retro 18K Yellow Gold ‘Spring’ Ring
French Retro 18K Yellow Gold ‘Spring’ Ring

French Retro 18K Yellow Gold ‘Spring’ Ring

Located in London, GB

A heavy 18 karat (18K) yellow gold ring designed as a bold, three-dimensional, coiled spring in the Retro style. Stamped with the eagle mark for 18 karat gold and French manufacture....

Category

Vintage 1940s French Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Chaumet Vintage 18ct Yellow Gold Sapphire Clip Brooch, Circa 1960s
Chaumet Vintage 18ct Yellow Gold Sapphire Clip Brooch, Circa 1960s

Chaumet Vintage 18ct Yellow Gold Sapphire Clip Brooch, Circa 1960s

By Chaumet

Located in Buckingham , Buckinghamshire

Chaumet Vintage Sapphire Clip Brooch in a Chaumet original presentation box! A striking vintage brooch by Chaumet, crafted in 18ct yellow gold and modelled as an abstract spray bur...

Category

Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Cartier Owl", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Cartier Owl For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the cartier owl you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. A cartier owl of any era or style can lend versatility to your look, but a version featuring Diamond, from our inventory of 6, is particularly popular. Today, if you’re looking for a brilliant cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes cabochon alternatives. When shopping for a cartier owl, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Cartier Owl?

Prices for a cartier owl can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $7,840 and can go as high as $136,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $15,750.

Cartier for sale on 1stDibs

For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the most well known and internationally revered jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.

Perhaps 1847 was not the ideal time to open a new watchmaking and jewelry business, as the French Revolution was not kind to the aristocracy who could afford such luxuries. Nevertheless, it was the year Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) — who was born into poverty — founded his eponymous empire, assuming control of the workshop of watchmaker Adolphe Picard, under whom he had previously been employed as an assistant. Of course, in the beginning, it was a relatively modest affair, but by the late 1850s, Cartier had its first royal client, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the jeweler to design brooches, earrings and other accessories.

Under the leadership of Louis-François’s son, Alfred, who took over in 1874, business boomed. Royalty around the world wore Cartier pieces, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the Maharaja of Patiala and King Edward VII, who had 27 tiaras made by the jewelry house for his coronation in 1902 and issued Cartier a royal warrant in 1904. (Today, the British royal family still dons Cartier pieces; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, regularly sports a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.)

Cartier’s golden years, however, began when Alfred introduced his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, to the business. The brothers expanded Cartier globally: Louis reigned in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London, ensuring their brand’s consistency at their branches across the world. The trio also brought in such talents as Charles Jacqueau and Jeanne Toussaint.

One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, a large number of people were using only pocket watches.) Louis designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying.

Cartier’s other famous timepieces include the Tank watch, which was inspired by the linear form of military tanks during World War I, and the so-called mystery clocks. Invented by watchmaker and magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and later crafted exclusively for Cartier in the house’s workshop by watchmaker Maurice Couët, the mystery clocks were so named because the integration of glass dials on which the clocks’ hands would seemingly float as well as structures that are hidden away within the base give the illusion that they operate without machinery.

On the jewelry side of the business, Cartier’s internationally renowned offerings include the Tutti Frutti collection, which featured colorful carved gemstones inspired by Jacques’s trip to India and grew in popularity during the Art Deco years; the panthère motif, which has been incorporated into everything from brooches to rings; and the Love bracelet, a minimal, modernist locking bangle inspired by medieval chastity belts that transformed fine jewelry.

While the Cartier family sold the business following the death of Pierre in 1964, the brand continues to innovate today, renewing old hits and creating new masterpieces.

Find contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, engagement rings, necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.

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.

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.