David Webb Coral White Enamel Necklace
Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, White Diamond, Coral, Enamel, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1970s American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Drop Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1960s Unknown More Necklaces
Coral, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Drop Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1930s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Ruby
Late 20th Century American Link Bracelets
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Chain Necklaces
Coral, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Bracelets
Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Jade, Black Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings
Onyx, Diamond, Coral, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Bangles
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Platinum
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Unknown Multi-Strand Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Coral
Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s English Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches
Turquoise, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Antique 1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yell...
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century American Link Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1980s American Necklace Enhancers
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
American Drop Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
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.
Finding the Right Necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage necklaces designed by David Webb — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.