Lagos Caviar Bead Necklace
20th Century Beaded Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Link Necklaces
18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
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Mid-20th Century Link Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Link Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Malachite, Carnelian, Pearl, Tiger's Eye, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Beaded Bracelets
Jasper
2010s Indian Art Nouveau Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
1990s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Malachite, White Gold, 18k Gold
1990s French Hoop Earrings
Yellow Gold
20th Century Evening Bags and Minaudières
Late 20th Century Band Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Stud Earrings
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Bangles
18k Gold, Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s American Modern Bangles
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Link Bracelets
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Link Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1990s Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold
Late 20th Century Link Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
20th Century Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Hematite, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Necklace Enhancers
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Link Necklaces
Onyx, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Link Necklaces
Malachite, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Link Necklaces
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Necklace Enhancers
Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Malachite, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Garnet, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
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.
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 necklaces designed by David Webb — 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 Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.