Lika BeharTreasures & Talismans, Yin and Yang MEDALLION Collection with Diamond
By Lika Behar
Located in Los Gatos, CA
Lika BeharTreasures and Talismans, Yin and Yang MEDALLION Collection with Diamond in 24K Gold and Oxidized Silver This Pendant contains 5 Round Diamonds = 0.05 ct The diameter of th...
Diamond, 24k Gold, Sterling Silver
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Pendant with Black Rhodium
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer presents an exquisite 18K Yellow Gold Flower Diamond Pendant, meticulously handcrafted in Athens, Greece. This statement piece features a rich velvet-textured bac...
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Tanzanite Diamond Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant necklace is handcrafted from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold in an exquisite Byzantine style, featuring a striking emerald cut Tanzanite at its center, weighin...
Diamond, White Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$5,480Sale Price|20% Off
Botswana agate, 14kt gold, old mine cut diamonds and tsavorite green garnets
Located in New Orleans, LA
The focus of the beads is a beautiful 14kt gold clasp of Byzantine inspiration featuring brilliant green faceted tsavorite very fine green garnets and eight brilliant old mine cut di...
Agate, Diamond, Garnet, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Flower Blue and White Diamond Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S. Georgios designer presents an exquisite 18K Yellow Gold Flower Diamond Pendant, meticulously handcrafted in Athens, Greece. This elegant piece showcases a rich velvet gold finish ...
White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,480Sale Price / set|20% Off
BIZANTINE 1690 Orthodox Icon Medal In Copper 18Kt Vermeil Sterling & Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
An Orthodox icon medal from the 17th century. The main center piece of this pendant, is an antique late 17th century archeological Byzantine Orthodox Icon square medal. This antique...
Diamond, Sterling Silver, Copper, 18k Gold, Vermeil
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Citrine Diamond Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant necklace is handcrafted from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold in an exquisite Byzantine style, featuring a striking round Citrine at its center, weighing 2.10 c...
Diamond, White Diamond, Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Diamond and Coin Reversible Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant enhancer is all handmade in 18 Karat yellow and white gold custom made. It's microscopically decorated - with granulation work - beads and wires on both s...
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yell...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Baguette Diamond Pendant with Rhodium
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer presents an 18 Karat Yellow Gold Rhombus Pendant, featuring a tapered baguette -cut diamond at its center (0.14 carats) surrounded by brilliant cut diamonds aroun...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Oval Shaped Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold all custom made. This stunning jewel is microscopically decorated with granulation work with yellow gold beads an...
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Coin Pendant with Rhodium
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer presents an 18 Karat Yellow Gold Coin Pendant, featuring a brilliant-cut diamond at its center (0.27 carats) surrounded by four smaller diamonds around the coin a...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rhodium
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Small Diamond Drop Pendant and Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer drop pendant necklace with chain is all handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold and is microscopically decorated with granulation work all the way around. The ba...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Tanzanite Blue and White Diamond Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant enhancer is all handmade in 18 Karat yellow and white gold all custom made. It's microscopically decorated - with granulation work. The background of the ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, White G...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold White and Blue Diamond Oval Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This simple and elegant S.Georgios designer pendant is handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold and decorated with granulation and Blue and White diamonds. This stunning jewel is mic...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Tanzanite and Diamond Coin Reversible Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant enhancer is all handmade in 18 Karat yellow and white gold custom made. It's microscopically decorated - with granulation work - beads and wires on both s...
Diamond, White Diamond, Tanzanite, Blue Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Georgios Collection 18 Karat Yellow Gold Small Diamond Pendant with Granulation
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios Design Pendant is all handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold and is microscopically decorated with granulation work all the way around. The background of the pendant has...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Tourmaline and Blue Diamond Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant is handcrafted in solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold, showcasing a vibrant and colorful composition of fine gemstones. At its center lies an oval-cut green tourma...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Tourmaline, Chrome Tourmaline, Gol...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Small Drop Diamond Pendant and Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios Design Pendant is all handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold and is microscopically decorated with granulation work all the way around. The background of the stunning pe...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Aquamarine and Diamond Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer pendant enhancer is handmade from 18 Karat yellow gold and finished with White Rhodium. It is microscopically decorated with granulation work - twisted wires...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow...
Georgios Collection 18 Karat Yellow Gold Small Diamond Drop Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios Design drop Pendant is all handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold and is microscopically decorated with granulation work all the way around. The background of the pendan...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald Sapphire Reversible 3-D Cross
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold geometric reversible Cross pendant is beautifully handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style granulation work and finished wit...
Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond...
Georgios Collection 18 Karat Gold Diamond Pendant with Sapphires Rubies Emerald
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios design Byzantine Pendant all handmade solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold. The pendant is decorated with diamonds total weight of 0.28 Carats and Emeralds, Rubies, and Sapphires to...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Diamond Pendant with Sapphires Rubies Emerald
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios design Byzantine Pendant all handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold. The unique pendant is finished with Black Rhodium and is decorated with diamonds total weight of 0,3...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18...
Georgios Collections Reversible 18 Karat Gold Sapphire and Diamond Coin Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer handmade pendant enhancer in 18 Karat yellow gold all custom made. It's microscopically decorated - with granulation work - beads and wires on both sides. The bac...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Diamond Two Tone Pendant with Granulation
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant all handmade solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold. This pendant is microscopically decorated - and has granulation work all the way around with gold beads and wires...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Georgios Collection 18 Karat Yellow Gold Two-Tone Round Sapphire Diamond Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer pendant all handmade solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold. This stunning pendant is microscopically decorated - and has granulation work all the way around with gold beads ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Pear Shape Sapphire Diamond Pendant Enhancer
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer pendant enhancer is all handmade 18 Karat yellow gold. It's microscopically decorated - with granulation work - beads and wires and has a gorgeous unique vel...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, 24k Gol...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold and Silver Diamond Sapphire Tourmaline Cross
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer Silver and Gold 18 Karat two-tone Cross pendant is crafted from 18 Karat solid yellow gold pieces inlaid to create a unique look. This gorgeous cross enhancer fea...
Tourmaline, Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yello...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Cross Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer 18 Karat Gold cross pendant necklace and chain is handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style granulation work and is finished with a unique velv...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Blac...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Multi Sapphire Cross with Diamonds
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Multi-Sapphire Cross with Diamonds—a stunning fusion of color and brilliance. This exquisite cross features six emerald-cut sapphires i...
Purple Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sa...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Cross Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer 18 Karat Gold Rhombus shaped cross pendant necklace and chain is handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style granulation work and is finished wit...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Blac...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Long Cross Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer 18 Karat Gold marquise-shaped long cross necklace and chain is handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style granulation work and is finished with ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Blac...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Square Small Cross and Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios solid 18 Karat Gold cross pendant Necklace is handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style bead granulation work and finished with a unique velvet backgrou...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Black Diamond, Bro...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Diamond Cross Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer 18 Karat yellow Gold and black Rhodium cross pendant necklace and chain are handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style granulation work and a un...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Blac...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Diamond Cross Pendant with Chain
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer 18 Karat Yellow Gold cross pendant necklace and chain is handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style granulation work and is finished with a uniq...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Blac...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Solitaire Diamond Stud Round Pendant
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios Designer solitaire pendant is all handmade from solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold and is microscopically decorated with granulation work all the way around. This gorgeous el...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Black Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapp...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Sapphire Geometric Cross
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This gorgeous necklace features a brilliant-cut natural Sapphire total weight of 0.27 Carat, surrounded by four natural brilliant-cut White Diamonds total weight 0.06 Carat.
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Blue Diamond, Yellow D...
24k Gold Flower Medallion for Woman with Marquise Cut Rubies and Diaomonds
Located in İstanbul, TR
Rubies (1.03 Carat) and Diamonds (0.14 Carat) Please note that it is just the medallion, the chain is not included. Crafted with timeless elegance, this 24 karat gold jewelry piece...
Diamond, Ruby, 24k Gold
Pure 24 Karat Yellow Gold and Silver Replica Blue Glass Bee Pendant Charm
By Campanelli & Pear
Located in Troy, MI
Rare 24 karat yellow gold revered by discerning investors for its purity and warmth of color is used in combination with hammered silver to make up this square blue glass bee intagli...
Diamond, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald Ruby Reversible 3-D Cross
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios solid 18 Karat Yellow Gold geometric reversible 3-D Cross pendant is beautifully handmade with microscopically decorated Byzantine-style granulation work and finished...
Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat White Gold Diamond Cross with Rope Necklace
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
The gorgeous jewel features 5 big brilliant-cut White Diamonds total weight of 2.00 Carat accompanied by 4 brilliant-cut White Diamonds total weight of 0.10 Carat.
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rhodium, White Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Tanzanite Knot Rope Necklace
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
Luxurious and striking S.Georgios design rope necklace with Hercules Knot, Diamonds, and Tanzanite all custom made. The necklace is handknitted from in 18 Karat Yellow Gold in our wo...
Diamond, White Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Hand-Knitted Rope Necklace with Tanzanite
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This is S.Georgios designer 18 Karat yellow gold hand-knitted rope necklace with Hercules Knot, which symbolizes strength, protection, and partnership. The ends of the rope are decor...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat White Gold Diamond Pendant with Granulation work
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer Pendant is all handmade from solid 18 Karat White Gold. This elegant pendant is microscopically decorated - it has granulation work all the way around with white ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
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.
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 rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
Whether you’re layering multiple jewelry pieces or opting for a single strand, vintage pendant necklaces are versatile accessories that can elevate your casual wear as easily as they can add a creative flourish to your formal attire.
The earliest jewelry was less about accessorizing than it was about wearers arming themselves with amulets. In Ancient Egypt, some amulets featured a loop so that they could be strung around one’s neck. While rubies have long been one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money, members of some ancient civilizations valued the stones from the get-go, donning ruby pendants as well as other stones with the belief that these adornments would bring protection, healing powers or strength. Today, we still wear our charm bracelets and charm pendants around our necks for good luck.
Later, pendant necklaces, like most fine jewelry, were worn strictly by royalty or the upper class and conferred wealth and prestige. This changed over time, thankfully, as wearing jewelry became more widespread, a democratized means of personal expression.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, pendant necklaces evolved from their status as spiritual amulets, but the jewels still carried deep personal significance. Victorian pendants, in particular, were part of the “mourning jewelry” tradition. Wearers would embed their pendants with locks of hair from a deceased loved one as a way of grieving in the wake of a loss. In the case of cameo jewelry, some pendants were even decorated with miniature hand-carved portraits in a detailed raised relief. Today, portraiture is still a characteristic of many of the hand-carved pendant necklaces offered by Italian jewelry house Scala Gioielli.
Luxury fine jewelry brands such as Cartier, BVLGARI and David Yurman offer their own unique interpretations of the cherished accessory, embellishing platinum or gold pendant necklaces with diamonds, sapphires and other stones.
On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage pendant necklaces and other necklaces today.