David Webb Carved Emerald
Vintage 1980s American Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
20th Century American Retro Bangles
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Link Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Bangles
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Jade, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Dome Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Bangles
Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Chain Necklaces
Coral, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s Unknown More Necklaces
Coral, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Coral, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1980s American Artist Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Gold
Vintage 1980s Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s American Modern Bangles
20th Century American Modern Bangles
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Jade
20th Century American Modern Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Mid-20th Century Italian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1970s Italian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s European Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
20th Century American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1960s Italian More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Link Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Bridal Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Vanity Items
Diamond, Turquoise, White Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
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21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century American More Bracelets
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s American Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Gold, Platinum
American Brooches
18k Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s American Bangles
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s American Link Bracelets
Emerald, 18k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1960s Contemporary Fashion Rings
Emerald, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Coral, Emerald
20th Century Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Coral, Emerald, 18k Gold, Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1960s Cuff Bracelets
Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Rock Crystal, Platinum
Vintage 1970s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1970s American Choker Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Emerald, Coral, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Anglo-Indian Dome Rings
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American More Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Dome Rings
Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century American More Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Coral, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Ruby, Emerald, Turquoise
20th Century American More Bracelets
Crystal, Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Diamond
Jade, 18k Gold
American Brooches
Platinum, 18k Gold
American Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
David Webb Carved Emerald For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a David Webb Carved Emerald?
David Webb for sale on 1stDibs
“Women are tired of jewelry-looking jewelry,” celebrated American designer David Webb once noted. In response, he created a menagerie of whimsical animals rendered as rings, brooches, earrings and, especially, bangle bracelets. This playfulness permeates all Webb’s work, which is characterized by brightly hued enamel and color-saturated semiprecious stones like coral, azurmalachite and turquoise, the notable exception being the clear, elegant rock crystal for which he had an affinity.
The North Carolina native apprenticed with his uncle, a silversmith, before moving to New York, where he established David Webb Inc. in 1948. He had no formal training in jewelry design. Instead, he culled inspiration from the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Americas, as well as the traditions of India and China — influences discernible in such pieces as his collar necklaces and talisman-like sautoirs.
Webb’s first animal bracelet was produced in 1957. His most famous, the zebra, took shape in 1963; its stripes now form the company’s logo. Although Webb died in 1975, his company continues to produce designs drawn from his extensive archives, and every piece is still made in the workshop above its Madison Avenue store.
Find an alluring collection of David Webb jewelry on 1stDibs, including earrings, brooches and other accessories.
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 Emerald in Jewelry Design
No one liked emeralds and emerald jewelry more than Elizabeth Taylor (or her alter ego, Cleopatra). Emeralds were first discovered in Egypt around 330 BC. The stone’s name originated from the ancient Greek word for green, “smaragdus.” According to the Gemological Institute of America, “Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when 16th-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spaniards, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.”
There are numerous myths attributed to the emerald’s spiritual powers, like placing an emerald under your tongue will allow you to see the future. But be careful not to swallow the birthstone for May, or that future won’t be so bright!
There are many important (read: large) emeralds in museum collections around the world. The Patricia Emerald, named after the miner’s daughter, is a 632-carat dihexagonal (or 12-sided) crystal that was discovered in Colombia in 1920 and now resides at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington has in its possession the Hooker Emerald, a 75.47-carat Colombian stone. That emerald had been acquired in the 16th or 17th century by Spanish conquistadores and shipped to Europe. It later belonged to Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1876–1909), who wore it on his belt buckle. Purchased at auction by Tiffany & Co. in 1911, the Hooker Emerald was set into a tiara and featured in the New York World’s Fair “House of Jewels” exhibit in 1940. Today, it is part of a brooch, also designed by the jewelry house.
On 1stDibs, find a range of antique and vintage emerald jewelry and watches that includes emerald rings, emerald necklaces and other accessories.
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