Gold Snake Opal
2010s Turkish Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Romantic Bangles
Opal, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Stud Earrings
Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s British Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Romantic Bangles
Opal, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Opal, Onyx, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Egyptian Revival Cocktail Rings
Opal, Gold, 10k Gold
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Bangles
Black Diamond, Opal, Gold Plate, Brass
Early 20th Century American Brooches
Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
Black Diamond, Opal, Brass, 14k Gold, Gold Plate
Antique 1870s Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Cuff Bracelets
Pearl, Opal, Ruby, Diamond, Enamel, Silver, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Stud Earrings
Opal, Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
Early 20th Century European Victorian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Fire Opal, 18k Gold
Vintage 1910s French Art Nouveau Bangles
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Bangles
Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Artist Engagement Rings
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s British Victorian Brooches
Opal, Turquoise, Silver, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s British Victorian Band Rings
Opal, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Opal, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Clamper Bracelets
Coral, Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Fashion Rings
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Drop Earrings
Opal, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1830s Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Fashion Rings
Opal, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
2010s Hong Kong Modernist Fashion Rings
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s American Late Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Romantic Cocktail Rings
Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Onyx, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Dome Rings
Opal, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Artist Engagement Rings
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Opal, Ruby, 10k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1870s English More Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s Victorian Band Rings
Opal, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Ruby, Brown Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Opal, Dia...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Onyx, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Si...
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Signet Rings
Opal, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Opal, Ruby, 15k Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Fashion Rings
Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Fashion Rings
Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Retro Bracelets
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 18k Gold
Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Brooches
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Victorian Cluster Rings
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold
Gold Snake Opal For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Gold Snake Opal?
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.