Intaglio Lion
Antique 15th Century and Earlier British Medieval Signet Rings
Carnelian, Yellow Gold
2010s Classical Greek Signet Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Necklace Enhancers
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
2010s Classical Greek Signet Rings
Carnelian, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hellenistic Signet Rings
Garnet, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Hellenistic Signet Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Historical Memorabilia
Glass
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Historical Memorabilia
Glass
2010s Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Jasper, 18k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier European Classical Roman Signet Rings
Carnelian, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Signet Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Etruscan Revival Signet Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Modern Figurative Prints
Etching, Intaglio
1660s Old Masters Animal Prints
Gesso, Laid Paper, Etching, Intaglio
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s English Modern Signet Rings
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier English Classical Roman Signet Rings
Agate, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Signet Rings
Carnelian, 22k Gold
20th Century Signet Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Dangle Earrings
Sterling Silver, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Signet Rings
Agate, Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Signet Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Signet Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Signet Rings
Jade, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Signet Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Etruscan Revival Signet Rings
Garnet, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s British Victorian More Jewelry
Chalcedony, 15k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Loose Gemstones
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Glass
Crystal, Marble
Vintage 1960s Signet Rings
Chalcedony, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Lapis Lazuli
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Signet Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s Late Victorian Brooches
Rock Crystal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century More Rings
Antique Late 19th Century Collectible Jewelry
Gold
Vintage 1980s British Signet Rings
9k Gold
Vintage 1960s Modern Cocktail Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Clip-on Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary German Dome Rings
Aquamarine, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Signet Rings
Agate, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Cocktail Rings
Quartz, 18k Gold
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Signet Rings
Emerald, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Signet Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Etruscan Revival Signet Rings
Agate, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Austrian Georgian Signet Rings
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 18th Century British Georgian Signet Rings
Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 1820s British Georgian More Jewelry
14k Gold
20th Century American Brooches
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Georgian Signet Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century English Signet Rings
9k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s British Retro Signet Rings
18k Gold, Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Signet Rings
Agate, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Signet Rings
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Signet Rings
18k Gold
20th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Engagement Rings
Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Rose Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Afghan Signet Rings
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
Gold
1990s Thai Clip-on Earrings
18k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Signet Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
Rose Gold
Antique 1860s English Victorian Signet Rings
Onyx, 15k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Signet Rings
18k Gold
20th Century British Victorian Signet Rings
Gold
20th Century Victorian Engagement Rings
Gold
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Signet Rings
Onyx, 9k Gold
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21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Byzantine Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s Day Dresses
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Band Rings
Ruby, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
2010s Israeli Signet Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
1990s English Coats and Outerwear
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Wedding Dresses
1990s British Corsets
1990s British Corsets
1950s French Evening Gowns
Vintage 1910s European Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s American Pendant Necklaces
Diamond
Intaglio Lion For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Intaglio Lion?
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.
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