Elizabeth Locke Enhancers
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Iolite, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
People Also Browsed
2010s Indian Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Coral, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s French Artist Pendant Necklaces
Mixed Metal
2010s Link Necklaces
Gold
1990s French Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Late 20th Century French Modern Engagement Rings
Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Cuff Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Jasper, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Fashion Rings
Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Signet Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Evening Bags and Minaudières
Antique 1850s Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Agate, Carnelian, Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Egyptian Revival Bangles
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1950s English Edwardian Brooches
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
1990s Necklace Enhancers
Amethyst, 18k Gold
20th Century Necklace Enhancers
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Necklace Enhancers
Turquoise, Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Necklace Enhancers
Quartz, Gold
Early 2000s Necklace Enhancers
Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Necklace Enhancers
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Lever-Back Earrings
Peridot, Yellow Gold
1990s American Clip-on Earrings
Moonstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Brooches
Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Brooches
Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches
Quartz, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Citrine, Quartz, Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Artisan Pendant Necklaces
24k Gold
Late 20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Necklace Enhancers
Aquamarine, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Necklace Enhancers
18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
Pearl, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Necklace Enhancers
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Necklace Enhancers
Moonstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Pearl, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
Amethyst, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Necklace Enhancers
Amethyst, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Necklace Enhancers
American Necklace Enhancers
20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
Pearl, 18k Gold
American Necklace Enhancers
20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, Yellow Gold
20th Century American More Necklaces
Carnelian, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
Peridot, 18k Gold
20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
Moonstone, 18k Gold
20th Century American Necklace Enhancers
Labradorite, Yellow Gold
Elizabeth Locke for sale on 1stDibs
Venetian-glass intaglios, ancient Greek and Roman coins, antique porcelain buttons and other treasures that Elizabeth Locke collects from around the world all inspire and are incorporated into her earrings, necklaces and other handmade designs.
The Virginia-based jeweler began her journey as a collector after she’d already launched her namesake jewelry line, and her assemblage of micromosaics, which are essentially miniature plaques composed of enameled-glass tesserae, were the subject of the 2020–21 exhibition “A Return to the Grand Tour: Micromosaic Jewels from the Collection of Elizabeth Locke” at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
“They’re very hard to find, and you never know where you’ll see them,” Locke explains of micromosaics, the magnificent, miniature works for which she’s had to navigate lesser-known antique shops and auctions and build relationships with private dealers in Europe.
All of Locke’s imaginative jewelry pieces see an integration of rare and eclectic materials, the kind that might’ve been amassed during a 19th-century Grand Tour of Europe, when these coming-of-age journeys had long been popular (mostly for wealthy European men). Working in a neoclassical style, Locke references history with a modern approach for her moonstone earrings, gold-link bracelets, Venetian-glass pendants and other distinctive accessories. As she told W magazine, “Jewelry is designed for the era in which it is worn.”
In 1988, as an editor for Town & Country, Locke traveled to Bangkok to write about making jewelry. Unexpectedly, she found her niche. Upon her return home, Locke enrolled in the Gemological Institute of America and began sketching ideas. By 1990, her tourmaline ring — crafted with the goldsmiths she had met in Bangkok and who she would continue to collaborate with over the following decades — landed the cover of W.
Locke’s handmade, 19-karat-gold designs give one-of-a-kind antiquities new meaning in the 21st century. Not one to follow trends, Locke prefers designs that express a unique vision. “I know what I can do and I know what I feel comfortable doing, and I stick to it,” she has said.
Find a collection of Elizabeth Locke’s jewelry on 1stDibs.
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.