Skip to main content

Gold Charms

to
270
4,834
2,924
2,053
1,945
911
1,897
317
312
186
254
16
133
2,159
2,784
54
158
144
37
55
88
85
45
108
62
5
2,630
2,437
25
1,288
274
263
128
112
to
6
5
166
90
85
78
65
1,050
779
311
230
124
78
72
39
20
9
7
7
7
5
4,683
409
3,005
1,317
Statue of Liberty New York USA 14K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
Statue of Liberty New York USA 14K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Statue of Liberty New York USA 14K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A 14 karat (14K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Category

Vintage 1940s American Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Dice Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Dice Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Dice Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm for a charm bracelet. In 14 karat yellow gold.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Charm Pendant with Diamond and Amethyst
14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Charm Pendant with Diamond and Amethyst

14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Charm Pendant with Diamond and Amethyst

Located in Stamford, CT

14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Charm Pendant with Diamond and Amethyst. 8 piece round diamond and 16 piece square cushion amethyst. 3 grams total weight 30.78 height

Category

2010s Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

1810s French Yellow Gold Bracelet Charms Napoleonic Hussar
1810s French Yellow Gold Bracelet Charms Napoleonic Hussar

1810s French Yellow Gold Bracelet Charms Napoleonic Hussar

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

An exceptional set of French antique gold charms in 18k and 21k yellow gold, relating to Napoleonic Hussars; part of our diverse antique jewelry collections.

Category

Antique 1810s French Charm Bracelets

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Italian 18K Gold Figural Wine Barrel Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage Italian 18K Gold Figural Wine Barrel Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage Italian 18K Gold Figural Wine Barrel Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 18 karat yellow gold. In the form of a wine barrel.

Category

20th Century Italian Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

18k Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Kinetic Figural Skier Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Kinetic Figural Skier Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Kinetic Figural Skier Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm for a charm bracelet. In 14 karat yellow gold.

Category

Mid-20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Mid Century Italian 18kt Gold Turquoise Etruscan Revival Locket Charm Bracelet
Mid Century Italian 18kt Gold Turquoise Etruscan Revival Locket Charm Bracelet

Mid Century Italian 18kt Gold Turquoise Etruscan Revival Locket Charm Bracelet

Located in Monroe Township, NJ

Exquisite work on this stunning vintage Italian 18kt solid gold charm bracelet featuring 5 charms attached to a solid gold textured link bracelet with hidden tongue and box clasp wit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Charm Bracelets

Materials

Turquoise, Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Ice Skate Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Ice Skate Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Ice Skate Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm for a charm bracelet. In 14 karat yellow gold.

Category

Mid-20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage 9K Gold Oxford Shoe Charm Pendant
Vintage 9K Gold Oxford Shoe Charm Pendant

Vintage 9K Gold Oxford Shoe Charm Pendant

Located in Rotterdam, NL

A vintage 9 karat yellow gold Oxford shoe charm pendant. This charm is beautifully detailed with laces and the cap toe resembles perforated holes.

Category

Late 20th Century British Charm Bracelets

Materials

9k Gold

18KT YG Butterfly Charm Bracelet with Diamonds, Sapphire, Ruby, Emeral
18KT YG Butterfly Charm Bracelet with Diamonds, Sapphire, Ruby, Emeral

18KT YG Butterfly Charm Bracelet with Diamonds, Sapphire, Ruby, Emeral

By Sabbadini

Located in New York, NY

Created by the famed jewelers Sabbadini of Italy, this 18KT yellow gold charm bracelet is quite the unique piece.The blue sapphire bracelet is adorned with five butterfly charms, eac...

Category

1990s Italian Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

9ct Gold Vintage Charm Bracelet British Hallmarked
9ct Gold Vintage Charm Bracelet British Hallmarked

9ct Gold Vintage Charm Bracelet British Hallmarked

By Georg Jensen

Located in London, GB

9ct 375 Gold Charm Bracelet with 9ct Gold safety Chain Florally Engraved Heart Lock - works well - Full British Hallmark present With seven Charms By Goldsmith Georg Jensen.

Category

Mid-20th Century Charm Bracelets

Materials

Gold, 9k Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural T-Rex Dinosaur Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural T-Rex Dinosaur Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural T-Rex Dinosaur Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Frog or Toad Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Frog or Toad Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Frog or Toad Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a frog or toad.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage French White Origami Bird Enamel 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
Vintage French White Origami Bird Enamel 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Vintage French White Origami Bird Enamel 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A vintage French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as a lucky white enamel origami bird in a diamond shaped frame.

Category

Vintage 1910s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

French Perroud Large Cancer Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French Perroud Large Cancer Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French Perroud Large Cancer Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

An 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as the Zodiac sign of Cancer, depicting a crab with the dates 22 VI (June) and 22 VII (July).

Category

Vintage 1920s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Tall Ship Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Tall Ship Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Tall Ship Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm for a bracelet. In 14 karat yellow gold.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Milkshake Mixer Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Milkshake Mixer Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Milkshake Mixer Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a old diner's milkshake mixing stand.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage 14k Gold Pitcher or Wine Ewer with a Pearl Lid Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14k Gold Pitcher or Wine Ewer with a Pearl Lid Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14k Gold Pitcher or Wine Ewer with a Pearl Lid Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A vintage 14 karat gold charm for a charm bracelet. In the form of an intricate filigree pitcher or wine ewer with a pearl stopper.

Category

20th Century Modern Charm Bracelets

Materials

Pearl, 14k Gold

French Dropsy Madonna and Child 18k Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French Dropsy Madonna and Child 18k Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French Dropsy Madonna and Child 18k Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as an oval medal depicting the Madonna and Child, signed and initialled by E.

Category

Vintage 1910s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

French St Therese Mother of Pearl 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French St Therese Mother of Pearl 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French St Therese Mother of Pearl 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

An 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant set with mother of pearl depicting St Therese holding a crucifix within a sheaf of roses.

Category

20th Century French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 18K Gold Flower and Insect / Spider Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 18K Gold Flower and Insect / Spider Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 18K Gold Flower and Insect / Spider Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage figural gold charm for a bracelet. In 18 karat gold. Comprising a fantasy 6-legged spider (or insect) standing on the outline of a 6-petaled flower.

Category

20th Century Unknown Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

18k Gold

French Perroud Large Cancer Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French Perroud Large Cancer Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French Perroud Large Cancer Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as the Zodiac sign of Cancer, depicting a crab with the dates 22 VI (June) and 22 VII (July).

Category

Vintage 1910s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 10K Gold Buggy's Bunny or Harvey the Rabbit with Bowtie Charm
Vintage 10K Gold Buggy's Bunny or Harvey the Rabbit with Bowtie Charm

Vintage 10K Gold Buggy's Bunny or Harvey the Rabbit with Bowtie Charm

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage figural rabbit gold charm. In 10 karat yellow gold. In the form of a rabbit with a large bowtie.

Category

20th Century Unknown Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

10k Gold

Retro 14k Gold & Multi-Gemstone Piano Charm or Pendant
Retro 14k Gold & Multi-Gemstone Piano Charm or Pendant

Retro 14k Gold & Multi-Gemstone Piano Charm or Pendant

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage figural piano gold charm for a charm bracelet. In 14k gold. Set with pearls as piano keys, and decorated throughout with applied gold wirework.

Category

20th Century Modern Charm Bracelets

Materials

Coral, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold

French Perroud Large Scorpio Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French Perroud Large Scorpio Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French Perroud Large Scorpio Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

An 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as the Zodiac sign of Scorpio, depicting a scorpion with the dates 24 X (October) and 22 XI (November).

Category

20th Century French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage French Grun Saint Christopher 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant Medal
Vintage French Grun Saint Christopher 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant Medal

Vintage French Grun Saint Christopher 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant Medal

Located in London, GB

A vintage French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant or medal designed by Grun depicting St Christopher carrying the infant Christ across the river.

Category

Vintage 1920s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Boston Terrier Dog Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Boston Terrier Dog Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Boston Terrier Dog Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a male dog (likely a pitbull or a terrier breed).

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Grand Piano Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Grand Piano Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Grand Piano Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage figural gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a grand piano with a fully functional hinged lid and lid prop.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

French Perroud Large Libra Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French Perroud Large Libra Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French Perroud Large Libra Zodiac Starsign 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

An 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as the Zodiac sign of Libra, depicting a pair of scales with the dates 24 IX (September) and 23 X (October).

Category

Vintage 1910s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Flying Fish Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Flying Fish Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Flying Fish Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a 'flying fish' or 'flying carp' (Latin: Exocoetidae) with its fins outstretched.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

French Augis Saint John the Baptist 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French Augis Saint John the Baptist 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French Augis Saint John the Baptist 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

By A. Augis

Located in London, GB

A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as a medal representing Saint John the Baptist as a child with a cross and a sheep.

Category

20th Century French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 9K Gold Opera Binoculars Charm Pendant
Vintage 9K Gold Opera Binoculars Charm Pendant

Vintage 9K Gold Opera Binoculars Charm Pendant

Located in Rotterdam, NL

A vintage 9 karat yellow gold opera binoculars charm pendant. This miniature Galilean binoculars charm is usually used at performance events, whose name is derived from traditional u...

Category

Late 20th Century British Charm Bracelets

Materials

9k Gold

Vintage 14K Gold RAF WW2 Era Pilot Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold RAF WW2 Era Pilot Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold RAF WW2 Era Pilot Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a pilot dressed in the British Royal Air Force's flying uniform from the World War 2 era.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage Puffy Shamrock Lucky Four-Leaved Clover 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
Vintage Puffy Shamrock Lucky Four-Leaved Clover 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Vintage Puffy Shamrock Lucky Four-Leaved Clover 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A vintage 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant depicting a puffy shamrock or four-leaved clover with engraved leaves.

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

French Capricorn Ares Starsign Zodiac 18K Yellow Gold Charm Medal Pendant
French Capricorn Ares Starsign Zodiac 18K Yellow Gold Charm Medal Pendant

French Capricorn Ares Starsign Zodiac 18K Yellow Gold Charm Medal Pendant

Located in London, GB

A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as a rectangular medal depicting the head of a ram or goat with a recessed and engraved background, representing the zodiac...

Category

Vintage 1940s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Egyptian Lotus Flower Symbol of Rebirth 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
Vintage Egyptian Lotus Flower Symbol of Rebirth 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Vintage Egyptian Lotus Flower Symbol of Rebirth 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A vintage 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as a suspended lotus flower, the symbol of rebirth and the goddess Nefertum.

Category

Vintage 1960s Egyptian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 9K Gold St. Pauls Cathedral Charm Pendant
Vintage 9K Gold St. Pauls Cathedral Charm Pendant

Vintage 9K Gold St. Pauls Cathedral Charm Pendant

Located in Rotterdam, NL

This is a vintage 9 karat yellow gold St. Paul's Cathedral charm pendant. This charm is very detailed and beautifully made.

Category

Late 20th Century British Charm Bracelets

Materials

9k Gold

Vintage 9K Gold Holy Bible Biblical Charm Pendant
Vintage 9K Gold Holy Bible Biblical Charm Pendant

Vintage 9K Gold Holy Bible Biblical Charm Pendant

Located in Rotterdam, NL

This is a vintage 9 karat yellow gold Bible charm pendant. The front of the bible has some nice engraved details and 'Holy Bible' written on it.

Category

Late 20th Century British Charm Bracelets

Materials

9k Gold

Vintage Mandoline Guitar Turquoise and 18K Gold Charm Pendant
Vintage Mandoline Guitar Turquoise and 18K Gold Charm Pendant

Vintage Mandoline Guitar Turquoise and 18K Gold Charm Pendant

Located in Rotterdam, NL

A vintage 18 karat yellow gold mandoline guitar charm pendant. The guitar is nicely crafted and set with five turquoise stones around the body.

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Turquoise, 18k Gold

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Beach Bucket & Shovel Charm for a Bracelet
Vintage 14K Gold Figural Beach Bucket & Shovel Charm for a Bracelet

Vintage 14K Gold Figural Beach Bucket & Shovel Charm for a Bracelet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A fine vintage gold charm. In 14 karat yellow gold. In the form of a beach bucket with handle.

Category

20th Century Retro Charm Bracelets

Materials

14k Gold

Wizard of Oz Tin Man Cartoon Character 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
Wizard of Oz Tin Man Cartoon Character 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Wizard of Oz Tin Man Cartoon Character 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

An articulated 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as the Wizard of Oz Tin Man cartoon character with red paste buttons.

Category

Vintage 1920s Italian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

French Saint John the Baptist Jean 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
French Saint John the Baptist Jean 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

French Saint John the Baptist Jean 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as a medal representing the head of Saint John the Baptist, with the name 'Jean' in raised letters to one side.

Category

Vintage 1950s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage French Cancer Starsign Zodiac 18K Yellow Gold Charm Medal Pendant
Vintage French Cancer Starsign Zodiac 18K Yellow Gold Charm Medal Pendant

Vintage French Cancer Starsign Zodiac 18K Yellow Gold Charm Medal Pendant

Located in London, GB

A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as a concave round medal engraved with horozontal lines with a matt embossed crab attached to the centre, representing the ...

Category

Vintage 1940s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Augis Quentric French Saint Christopher 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant Medal
Augis Quentric French Saint Christopher 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant Medal

Augis Quentric French Saint Christopher 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant Medal

By A. Augis

Located in London, GB

A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant or medal designed by Quentric for Augis depicting St Christopher carrying the infant Christ across the river.

Category

Vintage 1950s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 9K Yellow Gold Puffy Heart Charm, Pendant, Circa 1970s
Vintage 9K Yellow Gold Puffy Heart Charm, Pendant, Circa 1970s

Vintage 9K Yellow Gold Puffy Heart Charm, Pendant, Circa 1970s

Located in Upland, CA

Crafted around the 1970s, this 9K gold charm features a vibrant gold color that adds a touch of femininity to any look.

Category

Late 20th Century Charm Bracelets

Materials

Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage French Comedy Tragedy Theatre Drama Mask 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant
Vintage French Comedy Tragedy Theatre Drama Mask 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Vintage French Comedy Tragedy Theatre Drama Mask 18K Yellow Gold Charm Pendant

Located in London, GB

A vintage French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold charm pendant designed as a theatre or drama mask representing tragedy or comedy.

Category

Vintage 1920s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 1
  • ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Gold Charms", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Gold Charms For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a broad range of gold charms for sale on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from Gold, Yellow Gold and 18k Gold — can elevate any look. Our collection of these items for sale includes 5058 vintage editions and 1648 modern creations to choose from as well. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 18th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 21st Century. The designs in our inventory of gold charms bearing Contemporary or Modern hallmarks are very popular. There have been many well-made iterations of these items over the years, but those made by Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Elisa Pozza by PETRONILLA are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Many pieces in our collection are stylish for most occasions, but Diamond versions, from our inventory of 1382, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. Today, if you’re looking for round cut gold charms and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes brilliant cut and cabochon alternatives. If you’re browsing the variety of gold charms for sale, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men.

How Much are Gold Charms?

On average, gold charms at 1stDibs sell for $1,200, while they’re typically $66 on the low end and $99,000 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.