Renaissance Revival Antique French Locket Pendant
Located in Chicago, IL
France, circa 1880s This ornate 18K gold locket pendant is designed in the Renaissance Revival style.
Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
French 19th Century Diamonds 18 Karat Rose Gold Locket Pendant
Located in Poitiers, FR
Pendant in 18 karat rose gold, eagle head hallmark. Important antique medallion, of rhombic form it is decorated in application of a stylized vegetable pattern decorated with rose- c...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Tiffany & Co., Diamond And Multigem Heart Key Locket Pendant/Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
This stunning necklace is designed as a heart-shaped lock and key, the pendant set with round pink tourmaline, iolite, orange fire opal, yellow fire opal, amethyst, tsavorite garnet,...
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Iolite, Tourmaline, Tsavorite, Fire Opal, 18...
Victorian Multi Gemstone Dragonfly Locket Pendant
Located in London, GB
Here we have a wonderful antique locket dating back to the Victorian era. This oval shaped piece has been crafted from 18ct yellow gold and showcases a highly detailed gem set dragon...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Y...
Antique Victorian Rose Cut Diamond Heart Gold Locket Pendant
Located in Cairo, EG
Antique 10k gold heart locket pendant with rose cut diamonds estimate weight of 2 carats in back foiled old technique pendant lenght 4.5cm dates back to the victorian era 1850/1880.c
Antique French Enamel Scene Rose Cut Diamond Pendant Brooch Locket
Located in New York, NY
French Victorian Brooch/Pendant/Locket Enameled Porcelain Scene of a Women and Toddler with a Dog in a Garden, The Women is Holding a Basket of Flowers "Femmes et garcon avec un chi...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique Diamond Enamel and 18k Yellow Gold Pendant / Locket, circa 1865
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This impressive antique locket is supplied with an IDGL diamond grading report card.
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Edwardian Diamond Platinum Enamel 14K Yellow Gold Double Locket Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Antique Edwardian diamond, platinum, enamel, 14K yellow gold rare double locket pendant Early 20th Century This exquisite Edwardian double locket pendant features complex diamond and...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Antique 0.45 Carat Diamond Enamel and 16K Yellow Gold Locket Pendant
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique Victorian 0.45 carat diamond, enamel and 16 karat yellow gold locket pendant; part of our diverse Victorian jewelry collections.
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Victorian Black Onyx Natural Pearl Diamond 18 Kt Locket Pendant
Located in Napoli, IT
Memories Keeper Superb Victorian period 1880 ca, large carved Onyx locket pendant with scroll open work at the top side further embellished with centre – not nucleated Natural Sea Pe...
Diamond, Onyx, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
$180,000Sale Price|20% Off
Important Old Mine Cut Heart Locket Pendant and Diamond Necklace, Certified
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The center biggest diamond on the necklace is 2.8 cts. The original locket pendant (circa 1850) is made up of 39 antique old mine cut diamonds totaling 4.25 Cts.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Vitolo 18K Two-Tone Gold White & Yellow Diamond Filigree Locket Pendant
By Stefano Vitolo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite pendant showcases refined artistry in 18K white and yellow gold, featuring an intricate filigree pattern inspired by vintage elegance. At its center, a sunburst motif ...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Old Mine Diamond Gold Locket Pendant Necklace Aesthetic Period Scene
Located in New York, NY
INDULGE IN A GORGEOUS VICTORIAN - BELLE EPOQUE DIAMOND PICTURE LOCKET PENDANT IN WARM 10 KARAT GOLD WITH A GORGEOUS OLD MINE CUT DIAMOND IN THE CENTER.
Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Gold Locket Pendant Necklace Sun Motif
Located in New York, NY
INDULGE IN A GORGEOUS VICTORIAN - BELLE EPOQUE DIAMOND PICTURE LOCKET PENDANT IN WARM 10 - 14 KARAT GOLD WITH A GORGEOUS OLD MINE CUT DIAMOND IN THE CENTER AND A FABULOUS ENGRAVED SU...
Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Edwardian S.J. Phillips Diamond Heart Shaped Locket Pendant Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Phillips heart shaped piercework 2.8 TCW diamond, demantoid garnet 18K and 14K yellow gold, silver-topped gold locket/vinaigrette pendant necklace Early 20th Century Heart shaped bom...
Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Enamel, Diamond and Gold Locket Pendant Depicting Minerva, Circa 1877
Located in London, GB
An antique enamel, diamond and gold locket pendant, with a domed enamel centre plaque, depicting the goddess Minerva, in monochrome white and grey highlighted with gold, on a brown b...
Diamond, Gold, Enamel
1880s Victorian 14K Rose Gold Horseshoe Locket Pendant Diamonds & Cultured Pearl
Located in Miami, FL
A finely crafted Victorian locket pendant, circa 1880s, modeled as a lucky horseshoe in warm 14K rose gold.
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Rose Gold
15ct Gold, Victorian Turquoise Blue Enamel, Pearl & Diamond Star Pendant Locket
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Locket Pendant 15ct Gold Circa 1870 * THE GOLD CHAIN IS SOLD SEPARATELY Introducing a stunning Victorian locket pendant crafted from 15ct yellow gold, beautifully adorn...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Designer 1.00 Carat Puffy Pave Diamond and Cultured Pearl Locket Pendant
Located in Miami, FL
Designer 1.00 Carat Puffy Pave Diamond and Cultured Pearl Locket. Designed to incorporate the best of traditional estate jewelry heart lockets, designer Lisa Salzer mixed mediums to ...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 10k Gold
Heart Shaped Locket Pendant Necklace, 18k Rose Gold, 8 Diamonds 0.16ct
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer Heart Shaped Locket Pendant Necklace - Hallmark Collection - 18k Rose Gold - 8 Diamonds 0.16ct, total 0.16 ct, H VS About the creator Victor Mayer Victor Mayer is inter...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Garnet Locket Pendant, with Floral Diamond Setting
Located in Brighton, GB
The back of the pendant reveals a hinged glass locket, perfect for keeping a cherished photo or memento close to your heart.
Diamond, Garnet, Gold, 15k Gold, Silver
Heart Shaped Locket Pendant Necklace, 18k Yellow Gold, 8 Diamonds 0.16ct
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Heart shaped locket pendant necklace by VICTOR MAYER - 18k yellow gold - Hallmark Collection, 8 diamonds total 0.16 ct, G VS, for two pictures About the creator Victor Mayer Victor ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Heart Shaped Locket Pendant Necklace, 18k Rose Gold, 8 Diamonds 0.16ct
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer Heart Shaped Locket Pendant Necklace - Hallmark Collection - 18k Rose Gold - 8 Diamonds 0.16ct, total 0.16 ct, H VS About the creator Victor Mayer Victor Mayer is inter...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl Seed Pearl and Diamond and Yellow Gold Pendant Locket
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique Victorian 6.10 carat cats eye chrysoberyl, seed pearl, 0.35 carat diamond, 18 karat and 14 karat yellow gold pendant locket; part of our antiq...
Chrysoberyl, Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
$3,209Sale Price|27% Off
Antique Victorian 14k Gold Diamond & Pearl Locket Pendant & Fancy Link Chain
Located in Montclair, NJ
This large and unique antique pendant necklace was crafted in solid 14k yellow gold during the Victorian era and features an oval locket adorned with cultures pearls and numerous old...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Oval Locket Pendant Necklace White Gold Blue Guilloche Enamel 65 Diamonds
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Oval locket pendant necklace by VICTOR MAYER, Opera Collection, in 18kt white gold with electric blue vitreous enamel over guilloche engraving and 65 brillian cut diamonds About the...
Diamond, White Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian 10k Gold Old Mine Diamond Monogramed Circle Locket Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Old Mine Cut - Pave Set - 0.015ct (approx.) Material: Solid 10k Yellow Gold Weight: 4.17 Grams Chain Type: Not Included Pendant Height (...
Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 18K Gold Locket Pendant with Old European Cut Diamond, Floral Engraving
Located in Miami, FL
A charming antique 18K gold locket pendant, featuring a hand-engraved floral motif and a sparkling Old European Cut diamond set in a starburst design.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 18 Karat Gold Lady Cameo Diamond Pearl Amethyst Locket Pendant Collier
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a stunning locket pendant collier necklace crafted in 18K gold.
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Gold
Art Nouveau Ruby Diamond Enamel 14K Yellow Gold Antique Princess Locket Pendant
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a shield-shaped locket pendant centering a raised cameo of a princess with curling hair and crown Face is painted with opaque matte enamel - peach, pink, black, and green...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
Antique Ruby and Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Locket Pendant Circa 1880
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique 0.30 carat ruby and 0.13 carat diamond, 18 karat yellow gold snake locket pendant; part of our diverse snake jewelry collections.
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Flower Locket Pendant / Necklace 17" in 18K White
By Antinori Fine Jewels
Located in Chicago, IL
Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Flower Locket Pendant / Necklace 17" in 18K White Gold.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
Georgian Garnet Rose Cut Diamond Fly Locket Pendant Necklace Antique Gold 1800
Located in New York, NY
This is a very rare museum quality antique Georgian to Victorian Garnet and Rose Cut Diamond Fly Insect Pendant Locket with a small Locket opening in which to place a treasured memen...
Garnet, Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold
Big Heart Sapphire Cabochon and Diamond Locket Style Pendant Necklace
By Ri Noor
Located in Houston, TX
Big Heart Sapphire Cabochon and diamond locket style pendant necklace includes a Sapphire Cabochon of 2.35 ctw and pave set diamonds of 0.28 ctw, set in 18k white gold.
Blue Sapphire
Victorian 14 Karat Gold Rose Cut Diamond Floral Motif Round Locket Pendant
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a Victorian floral motif round locket pendant crafted in 14K gold. The piece features 13 rose cut diamonds (TW 0.05ct, RW-W, SI).
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Victorian North Star Pendant Locket Blue Enamel 14k Rose Gold Diamond
Located in Torrance, CA
With an outline of turquoise baby blue enamel, the diamond set North Star is the centerpiece of the beautiful antique Victorian locket.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian Onyx Rose Cut Diamonds and 14 Karat Gold Locket Pendant
Located in Arnhem, NL
An antique Victorian oval onyx locket pendant with a silver flower applique set with rose diamonds on foil.
Diamond, Onyx, Gold, Silver
Victorian Flower Locket Old Mine Cut Diamond Black Onyx Pearl Pendant Necklace
Located in New York, NY
This is a magnificent Antique Victorian to Art Deco Old Mine Cut Diamond and Pearl Locket Pendant in Black Onyx and Gold with an exquisite diamond and pearl Flower on the Black Onyx...
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rose Cut Diamond Ruby Locket Pendant Necklace Victorian 14 Karat Gold Antique
Located in New York, NY
This pendant locket has all the elements of a great gem.
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Fabergé 18k Gold Diamond Enamel Fleur De Lis Heart Enhancer Locket Pendant
By Fabergé
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (48) Natural Genuine Diamonds - Round Brilliant Cut - Pave Set - Nice Brilliant White Diamonds - 0.48ctw (approx.) Material: Solid 18K Yellow Gold - Red Enamel & 2 Pla...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian 14k Gold Diamond Pearl Enamel Navette Mourning Locket Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
Here we have an absolutely beautiful antique mourning locket pendant which was crafted from solid 14k yellow gold during the Victorian era.
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1908 Belle Époque Locket Pendant Necklace 14K Gold Diamond Ruby Enamel
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This extraordinary locket pendant was created in 1908 out of 14K gold.
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Large Art Nouveau Antique Guilloche Enamel Locket Pendant
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1910 This very large ornate 14K gold locket pendant is designed in Art Nouveau taste of the period.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Antique 14k Gold Diamond Guilloche Purple Enamel Work Floral Locket Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Old European Cut - Pave Set - G Color - VS2 Clarity - 0.03ct (approx.) Material: Solid 14k Yellow Gold All - Silver Bail - Platinum Insid...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel
Art Deco Locket Rose Cut Diamond Platinum Pansy Flower Black Onyx Pendant
Located in New York, NY
This is a magnificent Victorian to Art Deco Antique Rose Cut Diamond Platinum Locket Pendant with an exquisite diamond set Pansy Flower on the carved Black Onyx and Platinum locket.
Diamond, Onyx, Platinum
Antique 19th Century Gold Enamel Guilloché Locket Pendant with Rose-Cut Diamonds
Located in Rotterdam, NL
A rare and beautifully preserved 19th-century locket pendant, crafted in 14 karat yellow gold (569/000 standard).
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Enamel
Fine Art Deco Diamond Platinum 18K Yellow Gold Oval Reticulated Locket Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Art Deco period diamond, platinum and 18K yellow gold reticulated locket pendant Early 20th Century A superb early Art Deco period locket of very fine, complex workmanship.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Oval Polished Locket Pendant - 18k Yellow Gold - 9 Diamonds 0.11ct G VS
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer customizable oval polished locket pendant 18k yellow gold, Victoria Collection, 9 diamonds, total 0.11 ct, G VS, brilliant cut, measurements app. 32 mm x 23 mm About th...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Flower Motif Locket Pendant Old Mine Diamond Pearlescent Enamel 18 Karat Gold
Located in New York, NY
This is a museum quality antique locket pendant necklace in a magnificent raised flower motif design with Old Mine Cut Diamonds, Pearls and adorned with Pearlescent Enamel.
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
$10,388Sale Price|20% Off
Victorian 1870 Geometric Enameled Oval Pendant Locket in 18kt Gold with Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
This important pendant locket has been made up with an extremely unusual geometric pattern of a lattice.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Yellow Gold Diamond Hearts Locket Pendant 14k Single .25ctw Love One Frame
Located in Greensboro, NC
Metal Content: 14k Yellow Gold & 14k White Gold Stone Information Natural Diamonds Carat(s): .25ctw Cut: Single Color: G - H Clarity: SI1 - SI2 Total Carats: .25ctw Style: Locket...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Customizable Oval Locket Pendant Necklace - 18k Rose Gold - 151 Diamonds 4.18 ct
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer customizable oval locket pendant necklace 18k rose gold, Calima Collection, 151 diamonds, total 4.18 ct, G VS, brilliant cut, measurements app. 24.0 mm x 40.0 mm About ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Oval Locket Pendant 18k Yellow Gold Blue Enamel 25 Diamonds 0.19 ct
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer oval locket pendant 18k yellow gold, electric blue vitreous enamel, 25 diamonds, total 0.19 ct, measurements app. 25.0 mm x 36.0 mm About the creator Victor Mayer Victo...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Oval Ornamented Pendant Locket Necklace 18k Rose Gold 2 Diamonds Pink Tourmaline
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer oval Art Nouveau pendant locket necklace 18k rose gold, 2 diamonds, total 0.04 ct, G VS, pink pear shaped Tourmaline About the creator Victor Mayer Victor Mayer is inte...
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Round Pendant Locket Necklace 18k White Gold Blue Vitreous Enamel 1 Diamond
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer round locket pendant necklace in 18k white gold with royal blue vitreous enamel and 1 brilliant cut diamond total 0.03 ct, H VS About the creator Victor Mayer Victor M...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
Round Locket Pendant Flower 18k Yellow Gold Green Vitreous Enamel Diamond 0.03ct
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer round locket pendant with flower 18k yellow gold, Hallmark Collection, translucent light green and dark green vitreous enamel, 1 diamond, total 0.03 ct, H VS, diameter a...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Oval Locket Pendant Necklace 18k Yellow Gold Blue Enamel 37 Diamonds 0.29ct
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer oval pendant locket necklace 18k yellow gold, Victoria collection, peacock blue vitreous enamel, gold paillons, 37 diamonds, total 0.29 ct, G VS, brilliant cut, measurem...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
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.
If jewelry could talk, we know this piece would have good stories.
Emblems of heartfelt emotion, elegant vessels for photos and keepsakes and perfect for layering, these special ornaments are an essential component of any thoughtfully curated jewelry collection.
With more than 100 carats of diamonds, this vintage stunner converts into different styles, making it as versatile as it is breathtaking.
Givers of fine gems enjoy surprise more than receivers, and women more than men. Find out what else our survey of 3,000 Americans revealed.
Organic shapes, surprising textures, shimmering colors and inventive embellishments take the new generation of pearl jewelry from classic to cutting-edge.
Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.
Learn more about the stylish links that have passed the test of time.
After more than a decade creating the iconic Lanvin gems of the Alber Elbaz years, designer Elie Top dove into the world of fine jewelry, mixing silver and gold to create his own striking, timeless look.