Kutchinsky 18ct Gold Diamond and Enamel Cat Brooch
By Kutchinsky
Located in Braintree, GB
A 1970s brooch by Kutchinsky modelled as a reclining cat, crafted in 18ct yellow gold with black
Vintage 1970s British Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Kutchinsky 18ct Gold Diamond and Enamel Cat Brooch
By Kutchinsky
Located in Braintree, GB
A 1970s brooch by Kutchinsky modelled as a reclining cat, crafted in 18ct yellow gold with black
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Kutchinsky Lapis Diamond Gold Pendant Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Austin, TX
A lapis lazuli, diamonds and 18k gold brooch / pendant by Kutchinsky, London. circa 1971. With
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky 18ct Gold Diamond Bow Brooch, 1960s – Brilliant & Princess Cut
By Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
Kutchinsky 18ct Gold and Diamond Bow Brooch, circa 1960s A spectacular vintage diamond bow brooch
18k Gold
Kutchinsky Mermaid Brooch – 18ct Yellow Gold & Enamel
Located in London, GB
A striking Kutchinsky mermaid brooch, beautifully crafted in solid 18ct yellow gold and enhanced
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky Yellow Gold Lapis Lazuli Diamond Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in New York , NY
The brooch designed as a flowerhead composed of lapis lazuli, accented with textured gold segments
Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, 18k Gold
18K Gold Kutchinsky Squirrel Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in New York, NY
18K Yellow Gold with Emerald Eye and Acorn Nut, and Diamond Studded Tail. With signature.
Kutchinsky Flower Head Brooch 34 Carat
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
KUTCHINSKY, IMPORTANT 18 ct. BI-COLOR GOLD DIAMOND FLOWER HEAD BROOCH, 1970'S, designed as a flower
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
KUTCHINSKY Diamond Ruby and Gold Squirrel Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Southampton, NY
This charming 18K gold squirrel designed in 1967 by the English firm Kutchinsky sits up in
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Unavailable
H 2.17 in W 1.97 in
Kutchinsky Diamond Spray Brooch in 18 Carat Textured Gold, London 1968
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
18 carat yellow gold spray brooch by Kutchinsky in the shape of a flower. The gold is of a textured
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable
W 2.14 in D 0.7 in L 2.07 in
Kutchinsky Of London 18k Gold Diamond Ruby Floral Cluster Brooch 10.60 Carat
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Lauderdale by the Sea, FL
Impressive Kutchinsky Of London floral spray brooch that is made out of thick 18 Karat gold and has
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky, 18k Turquoise and Sapphire Brooch and Earring 1962
By Kutchinsky
Located in Kowloon City District, HK
signed Kutchinsky, earrings with maker's mark , brooch 5.7cm, earring 2.4cm
18 Karat Yellow Gold "Fruit Salad" Kutchinsky Signed Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in New York, NY
18k Yellow Gold Signed Kutchinsky Brooch with mixed stones. 20 Diamonds aprox 2.25 carats . Also
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage Kutchinsky Diamond Brooch Set In 18ct Yellow & White Gold
By Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
This exquisite vintage Kutchinsky brooch is crafted in 18ct yellow and white gold, featuring a
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Diamond and Sapphire Earrings and Matching Brooch, Retro Vintage
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
A vintage sapphire and diamond Kutchinsky brooch, with matching earrings. In both the earrings and
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Turquoise Diamond Gold Flower Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
Pretty turquoise and diamond broach by Kutchinsky, London. The bud is set beautifully with
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
KUTCHINSKY Yellow Gold & Diamond Squirel Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Chicago, IL
Wonderfully detailed Squirrel brooch, 18K Yellow Gold, Diamonds and A ruby Eye.
Diamond, Ruby, Chrysophrase, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Vintage Brooch
By Kutchinsky
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
This Brooch by Kutchinsky features Sixteen Rubies Totalling 1.30cts set with One Round Brilliant
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold
W 1.42 in D 0.67 in L 1.86 in
Kutchinsky 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Ruby, Emerald and Diamond Lion Brooch Pin
By Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
A Kutchinsky 18 karat yellow gold, ruby, emerald and diamond lion brooch pin, Circa 1960. This
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold
H 1.93 in W 0.75 in L 1.14 in
Kutchinsky 1968 London Enamelled Happy Duck Brooch in Solid 18Kt Yellow Gold
By Kutchinsky
Located in Miami, FL
Happy duck brooch designed by Kutchinsky. Beautiful and unusual piece, created in London, England
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1970s Kutchinsky London Diamond Spray Brooch in Platinum
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
1970's Kutchinsky London Diamond Spray Brooch set in platinum in Platinum A Mid 20th Century
White Diamond, Platinum
Kutchinsky 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby & Diamond Vintage Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Code: COM1406 Brand: Kutchinsky Description: 18k Yellow Gold Ruby & Diamond Vintage Brooch
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Retro 1970s Kutchinsky London Diamond Spray Brooch in Platinum
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
1970's Kutchinsky London Diamond Spray Brooch set in platinum in Platinum A Mid 20th Century
White Diamond, Platinum
Kutchinsky 2.10 Carat Diamond and Ruby Floral Brooch, circa 1965
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
This gorgeous diamond & ruby brooch was hallmarked in the year 1965 and was created by the designer
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1970s Kutchinsky Tiger Eye Diamond Gold Earrings Brooch Pin Clip Set
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Elegant and classy set consisting of a pair of earrings and a brooch created by Kutchinsky in the
White Diamond, Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamond Duck Brooch Vintage and Rare
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Kutchinsky 18k Yellow Gold & Diamond Duck Brooch Vintage & Rare Here is your chance to purchase a
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky 18 Carat Gold Dog Brooch with Onyx Body and Sapphire Eyes and Nose
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
A charming gold, sapphire and onyx dog brooch by Kutchinsky 1959, the characterful little dog
Onyx, Sapphire
Kutchinsky 18 Karat Gold 0.75 Carat Diamond, Peridot, Turquoise, Ruby, Sapphire
By Kutchinsky
Located in Southampton, PA
This Kutchinsky flower basket pendant that can also be worn as a brooch is made of 18K yellow gold
Diamond, Yellow Gold
18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Ruby Rabbit Brooch, 1960s after Kutchinsky
Located in Zurich, CH
Hilarious 18 karat yellow gold single-cut diamond emerald ruby rabbit brooch of French provenance
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Brooch And Earrings Jewelry Set
By Kutchinsky
Located in New York, NY
This is a distinctive diamond set flower brooch and ear clips suite by Kutchinsky, the London-based
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Sold
W 2.04 in L 2.52 in
Kutchinsky London 1972 Retro Textured Pendant In 18Kt Gold with Tiger Eye Quartz
By Kutchinsky
Located in Miami, FL
Modernist pendant-brooch designed by Kutchinsky. Beautiful geometric retro pendant, created in
Quartz, Tiger's Eye, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky Gold Spray Brooch with Diamonds and Rubies
By Kutchinsky
Located in Darnestown, MD
The Kutchinsky family brought their business as jewelers to the Court of Bavaria to London in 1893
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s Kutchinsky Enamel Gold Koala Bear Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Kutchinsky Estate Koala Bear Brooch There is a common denominator among koala bear faces. They
18k Gold
Kutchinsky Yellow Gold and Gem Set Squirrel Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980s Kutchinsky 18K Yellow Gold Squirrel Brooch, measuring 1 5/8 inch x 1 3/4 inch. very
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Baby Chick Pin
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Greenwich, CT
Gold, ruby and diamond baby chick pin, signed by Kutchinsky. 1.3" length and 1" width at widest
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat Yellow Gold, Ruby, and Diamond Rabbit Brooch Pin after Kutchinsky
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
A playful brooch pin in the form of a rabbit, crafted from 18 karat yellow gold. The piece which is
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold
W 2.28 in L 2.21 in
Kutchinsky London 1960 Modernist Geometric Pendant Brooch in 18Kt Yellow Gold
By Kutchinsky
Located in Miami, FL
Modernist pendant-brooch designed by Kutchinsky. Beautiful geometric pendant-brooch created in
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
KUTCHINSKY Gold Mixed Gem Ribbon Earclips and Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in New York, NY
A glittering 18K gold earring and brooch set by famed Knightsbridge jeweler, Kutchinsky, in
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby
Kutchinsky 18 Karat Gold, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire and Ruby Bird Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London , GB
Kutchinsky brooch in the shape of the Bird of Paradise. 18 Karat gold weighing approx. Approximate
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
KUTCHINSKY Diamond and Ruby Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Atlanta, GA
An evocative Kutchinsky diamond and ruby brooch, 18 karat yellow gold, approxiamtely 1.50 carats of
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
KUTCHINSKY London Diamond Gold Cat Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Kutchinsky Diamond Cat Brooch Specifications: 18K Gold
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Ruby Diamond Gold Spray Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
Unmistakably Kutchinsky in style, this vintage brooch features a spray of gold wires, set with
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
KUTCHINSKY London Gold Dog Diamond Sapphire Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extraordinarily Rare: 18K Yellow Gold Kutchinsky Diamond & Blue Sapphire Dog Brooch
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky 18 Carat Gold Diamond Emerald Cat Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in St Helens, GB
A stunning KUTCHINSKY cat brooch in 18 carat yellow gold. It comes complete in original box
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky 18 Karat Yellow Gold, White Diamond, Green Emerald Leopard Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in London , GB
1960s 18 karat gold, enamel and gem set novelty brooch in the form of a leopard with emerald eyes
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
KUTCHINSKY Ruby Diamond Pin
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Atlanta, GA
This KUTCHINSKY pin/brooch features a pavé ball of rubies with diamond accents. It has a pleasing
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Black Onyx & Diamond Suite
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in New York, NY
The suite comprising a brooch, earclips and ring, with curved segments of black onyx, accented by
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
KUTCHINSKY Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond Pin and Earring Set
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Teaneck, NJ
This is a magnificent floral pin and earrings set by designer KUTCHINSKY . . .featuring faceted
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire
KUTCHINSKY LONDON Gold Ruby & Diamond Peacock Pin
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Kutchinsky London Gold Ruby & Diamond Peacock Pin
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
GIA Certified Kutchinsky Diamond Bow Pin in 18 Karat
Located in Surfside, FL
ESTIMATED RETAIL $100000 - YOUR PRICE $69500 - Kutchinsky London diamond bow pin/brooch in 18k
Diamond, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Sapphire and Diamond Precious Pooch Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Lambertville, NJ
18kt. yellow gold fancy doggy brooch made by Kutchinsky of Great Britain. The brooch measures 2
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1950s Kutchinsky Ruby Diamond Gold Figural Bird Of Paradise Brooch
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in New York, NY
18kt yellow gold Burmese rubies and full cut diamonds figural Bird Of Paradise Brooch Consisting 3
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Gold & Gem-Set Squirrel Pin
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Greenwich, CT
gold fur with circular-cut diamonds running down the center, circa 1967, signed Kutchinsky. 1.6" length
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Gubelin, Swiss Modern Diamond-Set Gold Bracelet
By Gubelin
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 18k, by Gubelin, Switzerland. Modernism ruled sixties fashion and this tasteful 18k yellow gold bracelet from Gubelin is a sublime example. Its abstract organic motif i...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Kutchinsky London Yellow Gold White and Fancy Color Diamond Ring
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980s Kutchinsky London 18K Yellow Gold Ring, measuring 1 inch across the top and 3/8 inch wide. Set with Round Brilliant cut Diamonds totaling .85 Carat and grading as F-G in ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Modernist Emerald and Diamond Bracelet
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1950s, 18k, Swiss. This superb emerald and diamond bracelet is an organo chic tour-de-force. A modernist dreamscape of melting ice and snow with the green of spring dotting th...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Italian Mid Century Bombe Cocktail Ring 18Kt Gold Platinum With 5.30 Ctw Diamond
Located in Miami, FL
Cocktail ring with a pave of diamonds Gorgeous cocktail ring, created during the mid-century period, circa late 1960's. This fabulous ring has been crafted with a bombe shape in sol...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
H. Stern Druzy Quartz Necklace
By H. Stern
Located in San Antonio, TX
Beautiful Druzy Quartz Pendant Necklace set in 18k gold signed by H. Stern. Circa 1970.
An 18k Gold French Georges Lenfant Link Chain
By Georges L'Enfant
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18 carat gold long chain with eight shaped braided links alternated with polished eight shaped links connected with oval links with a worn master mark, most likely Georges Lenfant...
Gold, 18k Gold
Hans Hansen Danish Modernist 14k Gold Faceted Crystal Ring
By Hans Hansen
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Crystal and 14K gold ring created by Hans Hansen of Denmark, circa 1960's. Faceted tension set crystal suspends mid air in its 14K gold setting. Ring stands about .75" above the fin...
Crystal, 14k Gold
Meister Gold Earrings
Located in Darnestown, MD
Unusual sculptural earrings by the Swiss jeweler, Emil Meister. They are richly colored gold with both smooth and striated textures. Backs are clips that can be converted to posts.
18k Gold
Naturalistic Designed Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Ring, circa 1960s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This elegant and intricate naturalistic diamond ring from the 1960s is crafted in 14K yellow gold and features a striking branch motif. The design evokes the organic beauty of nature...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
Andre Vassort 1960 France 18Kt Cocktail Ring with 1.02 Ct Diamonds Coral & Onyx
By Andre Vassort
Located in Miami, FL
A cocktail ring designed by Andre Vassort. Beautiful French piece created around the 1960's at the Vassort atelier in Paris. It was carefully crafted in solid 18 karats yellow gold ...
Coral, Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Turquoise Diamond Platinum Bracelet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Elegant and stylish bracelet created in France in the 1960's. Features sixty eight oval Persian turquoise and ninety seven diamonds. Turquoise varies in color from blue, to greenish ...
Diamond, Turquoise, Platinum
Van Cleef & Arpels Pearl and Diamond Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 18k, by Van Cleef & Arpels, France. Displaying iconic style, underscored by 2.16 carats of brilliant white diamonds (F color, VS clarity), meticulous gold-work, and sup...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18k Gold Brooch Vintage Cat Pin Gemstones
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This cat brooch has a charming, lifelike quality. The matte gold finish gives the cat a soft appearance, as if it's been captured mid-pose. Its slender body and gracefully curved tai...
18k Gold
Italian Mid Century Bombe Cocktail Ring 18Kt Gold Platinum And 5.60 Ctw Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
Italian cocktail ring with a pave of diamonds. Fabulous cocktail ring, created during late the mid-century period, circa 1960. This gorgeous ring has been crafted with a bombe shape...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Georges Lenfant 18k Gold Bracelet
By Georges L'Enfant
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18 carat gold bracelet with circular woven links connected by polished domed links, master mark Georges Lenfant, Paris. weight: 66.16 grams length: 19.5 cm
Gold, 18k Gold
Kutchinsky Carved Coral and Gold Starfish Ring 1972
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Cincinnati, OH
1970's fantasy ring by London Jeweler Joseph Kutchinsky.. The 18k 1 1/4"x 3/4" yellow gold textured ring with 3 stylized starfish. One, hand-carved in coral , the other two with a h...
Coral, Gold, 18k Gold
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.
Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.
From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!
There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.
Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.
In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).
When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.
The care that went into crafting this jewel, with its lifelike carved petals and diamond accents, matches the sentiment it represents.
For starters, it is one of the jewelry designer’s most celebrated works.
Though it sparkles with more than 27 carats of diamonds, this multifaceted gem delivers more than just dazzle.
Stellene Volandes takes us on a glittering, engrossing tour through the centuries.
From cameos to cigar bands, here are the looks on our radar this season.
The philanthropist and heiress was an avid jewelry collector, and her trove of Jean Schlumberger creations embodies the love of nature she shared with the famed designer.