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Jean Mahie Gold Necklaces

Jean Mahie Charming Monsters Necklace
Jean Mahie Charming Monsters Necklace

Jean Mahie Charming Monsters Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Dallas, TX

Jean Mahie Charming Monsters Necklace in 22K Yellow Gold.

Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Link Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold

22k Gold Jean Mahie Figural Pendant Necklace
22k Gold Jean Mahie Figural Pendant Necklace

22k Gold Jean Mahie Figural Pendant Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Designer: Jean Mahie Materials: 22 karat Yellow Gold Weight: 208.2 grams (pendant - 120.5 grams) Measurement: Pendant - 2.5/8" x 3" Chain - 22" x 1/4" (each link - 9/16" x 5/16") Ha...

Category

Vintage 1980s Chain Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

1970s Jean Mahie Gold Pisces Pendant Necklace
1970s Jean Mahie Gold Pisces Pendant Necklace

1970s Jean Mahie Gold Pisces Pendant Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in New York, NY

A 22 karat yellow gold necklace, Jean Mahie. Retailed by Cartier. 

Category

Vintage 1970s Pendant Necklaces

Jean Mahie Vintage 22k Gold Heavy Chain Necklace
Jean Mahie Vintage 22k Gold Heavy Chain Necklace

Jean Mahie Vintage 22k Gold Heavy Chain Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

A Jean Mahie’s vintage 22k gold heavy chain necklace with oval textured links.

Category

Vintage 1970s Chain Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

Jean Mahie 22k Gold Sculptural Abstract Pendant, 22k Chain (unbranded) Necklace
Jean Mahie 22k Gold Sculptural Abstract Pendant, 22k Chain (unbranded) Necklace

Jean Mahie 22k Gold Sculptural Abstract Pendant, 22k Chain (unbranded) Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Designer: Jean Mahie Materials: 22k Yellow Gold Weight: Pendant - 13.9 Grams Chain - 8.2 Grams Measurement: Diameter - 1 1/8 Chain - 18" Hallmarks: Maker’s Mark, 22K This exquisi...

Category

Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

Jean Mahie 22k Gold Sculptural Abstract Pendant
Jean Mahie 22k Gold Sculptural Abstract Pendant

Jean Mahie 22k Gold Sculptural Abstract Pendant

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Designer: Jean Mahie Materials: 22k Yellow Gold Weight: 13.9 Grams Measurement: Diameter - 1 1/8" Hallmarks: Maker’s Mark, 22K This exquisite Jean Mahie pendant is crafted in rich...

Category

Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

J. Mahie Sculptural Cross
J. Mahie Sculptural Cross

J. Mahie Sculptural Cross

By Jean Mahie

Located in San Antonio, TX

Vintage 22k Yellow Sculptural Figure Cross signed by Jean Mahie, Circa 1970's

Category

Vintage 1970s American Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

JEAN MAHIE 22K Yellow Gold Etruscan Bead Two Bracelet / Choker Necklace Vintage
JEAN MAHIE 22K Yellow Gold Etruscan Bead Two Bracelet / Choker Necklace Vintage

JEAN MAHIE 22K Yellow Gold Etruscan Bead Two Bracelet / Choker Necklace Vintage

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Jean Mahie 22k Yellow Gold Etruscan Pair of Bracelet / Convertible Choker Necklace Vintage Rare Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer pair of...

Category

Vintage 1970s French Link Bracelets

Materials

Yellow Gold

Recent Sales

Jean Mahie 22K Yellow Gold Amethyst Peridot Beryl Pendant Necklace Bayadere
Jean Mahie 22K Yellow Gold Amethyst Peridot Beryl Pendant Necklace Bayadere

Jean Mahie 22K Yellow Gold Amethyst Peridot Beryl Pendant Necklace Bayadere

By Jean Mahie

Located in New York, NY

A vibrant and artistic handmade pendant necklace by Jean Mahie. The beaded chain from Bayadere collection is made of 22K yellow gold and amethyst, peridot, beryl beads.

Category

Late 20th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Amethyst, Beryl, Peridot, Yellow Gold

1970s Jean Mahie Gold Necklace
1970s Jean Mahie Gold Necklace

1970s Jean Mahie Gold Necklace

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W 0.15 in L 15 in

1970s Jean Mahie Gold Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Elegant stylish necklace created by Jean Mahie in the 1970's. Made of 22k yellow gold.

Category

Vintage 1970s French More Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold

A Jean Mahie Gold Pendant
A Jean Mahie Gold Pendant

A Jean Mahie Gold Pendant

By Jean Mahie

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A handsome pendant by Jean Mahie. The 22K 1 1/2" yellow gold bulbous round pendant with with a 5/8" bale. A wonderfully versatile piece. Looks great worn long on a chain or high on ...

Category

Vintage 1980s French Necklace Enhancers

Materials

22k Gold

Jean Mahie 1980s Yellow Gold Pendant on Chain Necklace
Jean Mahie 1980s Yellow Gold Pendant on Chain Necklace

Jean Mahie 1980s Yellow Gold Pendant on Chain Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Amazing 22k yellow gold versatile very three-dimensional pendant on a hammered heavy link chain necklace created by Jean Mahie in the 1980s.

Category

Vintage 1980s American Necklace Enhancers

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie Heavy Gold Large Link Necklace
Jean Mahie Heavy Gold Large Link Necklace

Jean Mahie Heavy Gold Large Link Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Southampton, PA

One of a kind, 22k Yellow Gold Necklace by Jean Mahie. Details: Length 16" Width 4" Weight: 227 grams Stamped Hallmarks: 22k Jean Mahie *Free Shipping within the United...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Choker Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

A Jean Mahie Gold Zodiac Pendant
A Jean Mahie Gold Zodiac Pendant

A Jean Mahie Gold Zodiac Pendant

By Jean Mahie

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A striking gold Pisces pendant. The 22k Yellow Gold 2" round ( 2 3/4"" with loop and bale) hammered finished pendant with two stylized fish fastened with rivets. A great example of...

Category

Vintage 1970s French Necklace Enhancers

Materials

22k Gold

Jean Mahie Jade and 22K Gold Bead Necklace
Jean Mahie Jade and 22K Gold Bead Necklace

Jean Mahie Jade and 22K Gold Bead Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Dallas, TX

Jean Mahie Jade and 22K Gold Bead Necklace. The necklace features natural jadeite jade beads separated by 22k gold rings and large gold spheres.

Category

Vintage 1980s Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Jade, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie Organo Chic High Karat Gold Necklace
Jean Mahie Organo Chic High Karat Gold Necklace

Jean Mahie Organo Chic High Karat Gold Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Litchfield, CT

Circa 1970s, 22k, Jean Mahie, France. This breathtaking necklace by the renowned firm Jean Mahie has a Modernist primitive vibe that is sophisticated and fun.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Choker Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie Vintage Gold Lion Head Pendant Necklace
Jean Mahie Vintage Gold Lion Head Pendant Necklace

Jean Mahie Vintage Gold Lion Head Pendant Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Greenwich, CT

A powerful handmade one-of-a-kind Jean Mahie vintage pendant is destined for the lion hearted! With a courageously crafted lion face, this vintage statement pendant is all strength....

Category

Vintage 1980s French Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold

Jean Mahie Gold Cross Pendant
Jean Mahie Gold Cross Pendant

Jean Mahie Gold Cross Pendant

By Jean Mahie

Located in Dallas, TX

Jean Mahie 22k gold cross pendant. Stamped 22k JM

Category

Vintage 1980s French Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie Long Rock Crystal Bead Necklace
Jean Mahie Long Rock Crystal Bead Necklace

Jean Mahie Long Rock Crystal Bead Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Jean Mahie Vintage Helenian ancient rock crystal beads Necklace with ancient Carved Birds Head Pendant with 22k Gold wire. 32 inches long strong on wire with 22 karat gene mahi clasp...

Category

1990s French Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Crystal, Rock Crystal, 22k Gold

Jean Mahie 22k Gold Link Chain
Jean Mahie 22k Gold Link Chain

Jean Mahie 22k Gold Link Chain

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Jean Mahie Necklace. 18 inch Length 70 g Gold 22k Yellow Gold Vintage Mahie Rondo Link Necklace.

Category

1990s French Link Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

Jean Mahie Ancient Carved Mesopotamia Cornelian Bead Gold Choker Necklace
Jean Mahie Ancient Carved Mesopotamia Cornelian Bead Gold Choker Necklace

Jean Mahie Ancient Carved Mesopotamia Cornelian Bead Gold Choker Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Greenwich, CT

Designed by Jean Mahie using ancient carved earth tone Cornelian beads, circa 200 BC-500 AD, and 22 karat gold accents, this vintage choker necklace has both a timeless and modern vi...

Category

1990s American Retro Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold

Jean Mahie Diamond Yellow Sapphire Reversible Link Necklace
Jean Mahie Diamond Yellow Sapphire Reversible Link Necklace

Jean Mahie Diamond Yellow Sapphire Reversible Link Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Southampton, PA

22k Yellow Gold Diamond And Yellow Sapphire Link Necklace by Jean Mahie.

Category

20th Century American Link Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 22k Gold

Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant
Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant

Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant

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H 1.63 in W 3.25 in L 25.5 in

Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Lovely stylized fish pendant created by Jean Mahie in the 1980s. The chain is made of 14 karat yellow gold and is not made by Jean Mahie.

Category

Vintage 1980s American Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Jean Mahie Gold Mother and Child Pendant
Jean Mahie Gold Mother and Child Pendant

Jean Mahie Gold Mother and Child Pendant

By Jean Mahie

Located in Dallas, TX

Jean Mahie Mother and Child Pendant in 22k gold. Stamped 22k JM. Chain in picture not included.

Category

Vintage 1980s Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold

Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Ring

Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Ring

By Jean Mahie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Bold and architectural ring created by Jean Mahie in the 1980s. Wearable and stylish, the ring is a great addition to your jewelry collection. The top measures 1 x 7/8 inches (2.5 x...

Category

Vintage 1980s American Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Sculptural Collar Necklace In Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold
Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Sculptural Collar Necklace In Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Sculptural Collar Necklace In Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold

By Jean Mahie

Located in Miami, FL

A collar necklace designed by Jean Mahie. A very impressive piece, created in Paris France by the artist and goldsmith Jean Mahie, back in the 1970.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Choker Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie Square Pendant Cadene Chain 22K Gold
Jean Mahie Square Pendant Cadene Chain 22K Gold

Jean Mahie Square Pendant Cadene Chain 22K Gold

By Jean Mahie

Located in Dallas, TX

Jean Mahie Square Pendant on Cadene Chain 22K Gold.

Category

Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Yellow Sapphire, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie "Charming Monsters" Pendant/Longchain
Jean Mahie "Charming Monsters" Pendant/Longchain

Jean Mahie "Charming Monsters" Pendant/Longchain

By Jean Mahie

Located in San Antonio, TX

Jean Mahie "Charming Monsters" Pendant/Longchain, 22k Yellow Gold.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Vintage Sautoir Necklace in Textured 22Kt Yellow Gold
Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Vintage Sautoir Necklace in Textured 22Kt Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Vintage Sautoir Necklace in Textured 22Kt Yellow Gold

By Jean Mahie

Located in Miami, FL

Figurative necklace sautoir designed by Jean Mahie. An exceptional piece of wearable art, created in Paris France by the artist and goldsmith Jean Mahie, back in the 1970's.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Link Necklaces

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie Yellow Gold Charming Monsters Pendant and Chain
Jean Mahie Yellow Gold Charming Monsters Pendant and Chain

Jean Mahie Yellow Gold Charming Monsters Pendant and Chain

By Jean Mahie

Located in Dallas, TX

Aptly named "Charming Monsters" Jean Mahie's large pendant and chain are solid. Made from 22K yellow gold, you can feel the density of the necklace.

Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Vintage Sculptural Maternity Pendant in 22kt Gold
Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Vintage Sculptural Maternity Pendant in 22kt Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Vintage Sculptural Maternity Pendant in 22kt Gold

By Jean Mahie

Located in Miami, FL

(With thanks from Hancocks). Literature: Jean Mahie, Bronze And Gold Jean Mahie, Sculpteurs forgerons D'Or, Edition Monelle Hayot, Paris 1980.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Sculptural Figurative Pendant Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold
Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Sculptural Figurative Pendant Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Sculptural Figurative Pendant Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold

By Jean Mahie

Located in Miami, FL

Figurative Jules pendant designed by Jean Mahie. A beautiful and rare piece of art, created in Paris France by the artist and goldsmith Jean Mahie, back in the late 1970. This vinta...

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Sculptural Cross Pendant in Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold
Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Sculptural Cross Pendant in Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 1970 Paris Rare Sculptural Cross Pendant in Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold

By Jean Mahie

Located in Miami, FL

Sculptural crucifix designed by Jean Mahie. A beautiful piece of wearable art, created in Paris France by the artist, sculptor and goldsmith Jean Mahie, back in the late 1970's. Thi...

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie Exceptional One-of-a-Kind Organo Chic Pendant
Jean Mahie Exceptional One-of-a-Kind Organo Chic Pendant

Jean Mahie Exceptional One-of-a-Kind Organo Chic Pendant

By Jean Mahie

Located in Litchfield, CT

Circa 1990s, 22k, by Jean Mahie. This breathtaking pendant by the renowned French goldsmiths Jean Mahie has a Modernist primitive vibe that is sophisticated and fun. All their piece...

Category

1990s French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

Cartier Jean Mahie French 22K Gold Vintage Erotic Brutalist Acrobat Necklace
Cartier Jean Mahie French 22K Gold Vintage Erotic Brutalist Acrobat Necklace

Cartier Jean Mahie French 22K Gold Vintage Erotic Brutalist Acrobat Necklace

By Cartier

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Comprised of a hammered paperclip link chain suspending a figural pendant from looped foot bale Depicting a cheeky male acrobat figure rendered in a Brutalist globular organic style ...

Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Link Necklace
Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Link Necklace

Jean Mahie 22 Karat Yellow Gold Link Necklace

By Jean Mahie

Located in Dallas, TX

Jean Mahie 22K Yellow Gold Link Necklace - . 22K faceted yellow gold link necklace.

Category

20th Century Link Necklaces

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Jean Mahie Gold Necklaces For Sale on 1stDibs

Find an expansive variety of jean mahie gold necklaces available on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 22k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Find a collection of 74 vintage versions or 3 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 20th Century while others were produced as recently as the 21st Century. Modern and Contemporary are consistently popular styles when it comes to jean mahie gold necklaces. Browse our collection of 3 Diamond versions today to add the perfect touch to your look. Most of our jean mahie gold necklaces for sale are for women, but there are 25 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much are Jean Mahie Gold Necklaces?

Prices for jean mahie gold necklaces start at $2,500 and top out at $81,500 with these necklaces, on average, selling for $12,750.

Jean Mahie for sale on 1stDibs

Bold, vibrant and full of life, the remarkably ebullient gold jewelry of French brand Jean Mahie has dazzled collectors from the moment it first appeared. Featuring motifs derived from classical mythology and ancient architecture, Jean Mahie earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories are characterized by sinuous lines and simple, primordial shapes.  

Painter and sculptor Jacline Mazard was at loose ends with her art career when her father-in-law, sculptor and goldsmith Jean-Marie Mazard, recognized her potential and invited her to join him in his workshop in the South of France. Self-taught, Jean-Marie Mazard shared his love of working with gold with his daughter-in-law, and the pair began collaborating in 1969 under the name Jean Mahie. 

A shrewd businessman, Jean-Marie Mazard focused on efforts to market the pair’s striking creations, and with the support of a public relations executive, early publicity promptly resulted in acclaim and wide recognition. Their work eventually fit snugly alongside the candy-colored gems and bohemian fashions of the late 1960s and 1970s, an era of free expression and fascination with cultures around the world that yielded vibrant jewelry with global influences.

Working with 22-karat yellow gold, Jean Mahie’s founders produced bold designs that drew on architecture and artifacts of Mediterranean history, inspired by Jacline’s childhood, which took shape not far from the ruins of ancient Carthage in Tunisia. Their textured, sculptural link necklaces, cuff bracelets, dangle earrings and other pieces garnered praise from the likes of Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, both of which engaged in partnerships with Jean Mahie. Neiman Marcus later became the sole retailer of the brand’s jewelry.

Jean-Marie Mazard passed away in 1994. Jacline Mazard now designs alongside her son and daughter in their studio in New York City.

Discover vintage Jean Mahie bracelets, necklaces and earrings on 1stDibs.

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.

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. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.

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 David Webb necklaces — 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 Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.