Vintage Lalaounis Snake Bracelet Platinum Diamond 16 carats Bangle
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Stunning stylized snake bracelet custom made by Ilias Lalaounis in Greece in the 1970’s.
Diamond, Platinum
Snake Earrings by Lalaounis
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 18k, by Lalaounis, Greece. For millennia, we have worn gold snakes for luck, for friendship … for the spiritual and mystic moments they bring to our lives.
18k Gold
LALAoUNIS Vintage Snake Torque Necklace 18K Rose Gold Ruby Emerald Diamond 1980s
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Lisbon, PT
LALAoUNIS Vintage Snake Torque Necklace in 18K Rose Gold with Rubies, Emeralds, and Diamonds, Greece, 1980s/1990s.
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Wrap Around 18K Gold Snake Bangle Bracelet with Enamel Green Apple by Lalounis
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in San Francisco, CA
This Lalounis snake bracelet is the snake bracelet to end all snake bracelets. It just wins all snake bracelet competitions. Vintage, 18K Gold, wrap around, lovely snake texture, g...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
LALAOUNIS SNAKE RING
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
Woven 18Kt Yellow Gold Snake ring set with ruby Eyes. Size 9 1/2
Ruby, 18k Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Snake Earrings Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Clip on Signed Jewelry
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Torrance, CA
Stylish Ilias Lalaounis snake earrings crafted in 18 karat yellow gold.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold
W 0.99 in D 0.4 in L 1.58 in
Vintage Ilias Lalaounis Snake 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clip Earrings, Circa 1970
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in London, GB
A vintage pair of Ilias Lalaounis snake 18 karat yellow gold clip earrings, circa 1970.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ilias Lalaounis 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Ruby Snake Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Southampton, PA
This Ilias Lalaounis snake ring is made of 18K yellow gold and set with diamonds and rubies.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ilias Lalaounis 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Ruby Snake Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Southampton, PA
This Ilias Lalaounis snake ring is made of 18K yellow gold and set with diamonds and rubies.
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Lalaounis Ruby Snake Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in San Antonio, TX
18 kt. Gold ring with fluted shank, centering 4 coiled snakes with cabochon ruby heads. signed.
Ruby, 18k Gold
LALAOUNIS Ruby and Diamond Gold Snake Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in South Pasadena, CA
The stylized snake design set with seven rubies on the head and nine diamonds on the tail.
Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold
Lalaounis Emerald Diamond Gold Water-Snakes Set
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
A peculiar set comprising earclips and ring, with emeralds and diamonds, representing water snakes, mounted on 18kt yellow gold. Made in Greece, circa 1975.
White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Lalaounis Expandable Snake Ring w Ruby Eyes
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
Coiled Serpent Ring with engraved detailing and ruby Eyes made in 18kt Yellow Gold. Height of the 60's -Large and prominent and very comfortable. Size 8 1/2-9.
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Vintage Snake Greek Amphisbaena Yellow Gold Coil Band Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Southampton, PA
Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Snake Greek Amphisbaena Coil Ring by Ilias Lalaounis.
Yellow Gold
Vintage Ilias Lalaounis Emerald & Ruby Double Snake Figural Ring in 18K Gold
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Fairfield, CT
This unique vintage Ilias Lalaounis 18k yellow gold emerald & ruby double snake figural ring is a stunning example of intricate design and craftsmanship.
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold Snake Pin
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Southampton, PA
The majestic shape of an entwining snake is brilliantly carved from 18K yellow gold to achieve a realistic sight embellished with passionate rubies, while glistening diamonds are set...
White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold
H 1.32 in W 0.92 in
Ilas Lalaounis Greek 18k Gold Textured Lion Snake Swirl W/ Diamond Ruby Earrings
Located in Montclair, NJ
This is an absolutely magnificent pair of earrings that was crafted in Greece from solid 18k yellow gold and designed by Ilas Lalaounis. They each feature a unique and beautifully de...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Lalaounis Gold Snake Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 22k, Lalaounis, Greece. Mixing ancient aesthetics with bohemian sixties verve, this snake ring is visually arresting and smartly au courant.
22k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Lalaounis Gold Snake Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 18k, Lalaounis, Greece. This charming snake ring mixes ancient motifs with bohemian sixties pop style.
18k Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Gold Snake Choker Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Designer: Ilias Lalaounis Material: 18k yellow gold Necklace Measurements: 13.25″ in length Pendant Dimensions: Snake head drops down 2″ Total Weight: 44.2g (28.6dwt) Additional Deta...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Diamond and Ruby Snake Earrings
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Miami, FL
The earrings are fashioned into sleek snakes, capturing the unparalleled beauty of nature, with 4 lively ruby eyes weighing 0.08 carats total.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Lalaounis 18 Karat Gold Snake Serpent Ring, 1960s
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Toronto, ON
Lalaounis 18K Gold Snake Serpent Ring 1960’s. Realistically textured entwined snake, full Lalaounis and Greece marks.
Ilias Lalaounis Gold and Diamond Double Headed Snake Ear Clips
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
A pair of diamond and 18 karat gold serpant ear clips, by Ilias Lalaounis, Greece. The earrings are signed Lalaounis, stamped with the maker's mark and 750.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold Snake Pin
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Southampton, PA
The majestic shape of an entwining snake is brilliantly carved from 18K yellow gold to achieve a realistic sight embellished with passionate rubies, while glistening diamonds are set...
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Ilias Lalaounis 4 Snake Ring Vintage 22k Yellow Gold Estate Signed Jewelry
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Torrance, CA
The dramatic and bold ring highlights four snakes in a graduated setting. Greek jeweler Ilias Lalaounis was a pioneer and globally renowned goldsmith.
22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Lalaounis 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Cabochon Ruby Double Snake Ring Vintage Rare
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer ring. Truly a great piece at a great price! Weight: 11.3 grams Dimensions: 1" (height) 1/8" (width of...
Ruby, 18k Gold
Lalaounis 18 Karat Earrings, Greece, circa 1990
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Toronto, ON
Lalaounis 18K Earrings coil serpent snake like textured, Greece C.1990.
18k Gold
LALAOUNIS Snake Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Atlanta, GA
This ever popular LALAOUNIS snake necklace features 14 snakes wrapped around the necklace mesh chain.
18k Gold
22k Pair of LALAOUNIS Snake Bracelets
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great pair of LALAOUNIS snake bracelets. They are 22k gold, with a hammered finish and a hinged back.
Ilias Lalaounis Ruby Gold Snake Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in London, GB
The reeded Gold 4 coil serpent is set with a Cabochon Ruby in its head and inside the coil is stamped Greece and behind the Snake's head are further marks: the Lalaounis registered m...
Ruby, 18k Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Hammered Gold Snake Collar Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Lambertville, NJ
18k hammered gold collar necklace, crafted by Ilias Lalaounis in Greece, featuring snake design. Necklace will fit an average size neck up to 14" - 15", snake head measures 18mm x 40...
18k Gold
Lalaounis Greece Ruby Snake Wrap Gold Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Lambertville, NJ
The weight of the ring is 23.2 grams. Marked: Lalaounis mark, 750 , A21
Ruby, 18k Gold
LALAOUNIS Estate 18k Gold Abstract Snake Earrings
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Narberth, PA
A fabulous pair of LALAOUNIS earrings! Crafted in 18kt yellow gold, omega back stud earrings depict an abstract snake motif.
18k Gold
Large Ilias Lalaounis Sapphire Emerald Gold Snake Brooch
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Large Ilias Lalaounis Greece 18k yellow gold snake brooch with emeralds and sapphires.
Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Ilias Lalaounis Sapphire Ruby Gold Snake Serpent Brooch Pin
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Ilias Lalaounis Greece 18k gold serpent snake brooch, decorated with four sapphires and two ruby eyes.
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
18K Gold Cobra Earrings
Located in Honolulu, HI
Earrings Specifications: Metal: 18k Yellow Gold Earring Diameter: 1.00" x 0.38" Total Weight: 3.7 Grams Stamped: "K18" Condition: Preowned, excellent
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Snake Serpentine Earrings 18k Yellow Gold
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Aventura, FL
These whimsical earrings from Tiffany & Co. feature chic flexible snakes made from 18k yellow gold. Channel your inner Reputation era, Taylor Swift, with these sleek, serpentine ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Henry Dunay Small Knot Earrings
By Henry Dunay
Located in Darnestown, MD
Henry Dunay 18 karat gold knot earrings that are typical of his design but smaller than his usual size. The earrings measure half an inch wide by 9/16 inch long. They are done with t...
18k Gold
Alex Jona Burmese Jade and Tsavorites 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, yellow gold bangle bracelet featuring a 3.73 carats Burmese Jade drop and set with 91 Tsavorites for a total of 0.99 carats. Dimen...
Jade, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Lalaounis Shell Gold Ear Clips
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
Lalaounis shell gold ear clips 18 karat yellow gold, shell motif; marked Lalaounis hallmark, 750, Greece Size: width 2 cm, length 3 cm Total weight: 19.8 grams
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamonds Snake 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet
Located in Marcianise, IT
Beautiful 18 karat yellow gold snake bracelet mounted with natural diamonds and green,blue and red enamel, the bracelet can be adapted to any wrist size as shown in the video. Snake-...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Lalaounis Gold Drop Earrings
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
Lalaounis gold drop earrings, made in Greece 22k karat yellow gold; marked Ilias Lalaounis, Greece, A21 Size: width 1.13 inch, length 2.38 inches Total weight 21.3 grams
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamonds Snake 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet
Located in Marcianise, IT
Beautiful 18 karat yellow gold snake bracelet with green,blue and red enamel. Snake-shaped jewels always have a particular charm and denote grace, seduction and mystery. In many civi...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Flexible Snake Necklace/Bracelet 55 cm, 66 g, Ruby Eyes
Located in Berlin, BE
Beautifully crafted snake-style jewelry piece, wearable as both a necklace and a bracelet. The workmanship is exceptional, and the piece is highly flexible, giving it a unique and el...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960's 14k White Gold Diamond Bangle
Located in Boston, MA
Vintage 1960's 14K White Gold Diamond Bangle - The bracelet contains one European cut diamond set in a 4 prong head which weighs about .45ct. The diamond quality is I color and VS2 c...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
An Antique 18 Carat Gold old Snake Necklace with Emerald and Diamond
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An antique 18-carat yellow gold snake necklace, in the head a pear-shaped, faceted natural Colombian emerald in a slightly bluish green color (10.6 x 8.0 mm, NEL certificate: E 24202...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Snake Bangle Bracelet – 14K Yellow Gold, 0.70ct Diamond, Emeralds, c1900
Located in Santa Monica, CA
A gorgeous antique snake bracelet featuring a single 0.70ct natural round diamond (VS1 clarity, H color) on its head and two emerald eyes. The bangle opens by suppressing a discrete ...
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$34,500
Emerald Gold Snake Bracelet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This sculptural 18K yellow gold serpent bracelet coils gracefully around the wrist, culminating in a finely chased head set with sparkling white diamond eyes and crowned by a 1.00-ca...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Mid-Century Goldtone Serpent Snake Necklace with Faux Emerald & Diamond Paste
Located in New York, NY
This is a fabulous and dramatic statement fashion Serpent Snake Necklace of very high quality in gold tone metal with faux emerald and diamond paste stones. The necklace comes from ...
Mixed Metal
Antique Victorian Double Snake Bracelet Coiled Enamel 14k Yellow Gold Bangle
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian double coiled snake bracelet crafted in 14 karat yellow gold (circa 1880s to 1900s). Red and green enamel adorn the snakes. Some loss to the ename...
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
La Nouvelle Bague 18 Karat Gold Bangle Bracelet with Diamonds and Green Enamel
By Nouvelle Bague
Located in New York, NY
This magnificent 18 karat yellow gold bracelet is designed by the world renowned Italian company La Nouvelle Bague. They are known for their exquisite enamel work, marrying the class...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$39,988Sale Price|20% Off
CARTIER Paris Art Deco Enameled Cocktail Ring 18Kt Gold With Diamonds & Gemstone
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
An art deco ring designed by Cartier. This is a magnificent art deco ring, created in Paris France and designed by the jewelry house of Cartier. This colorful cocktail ring is very ...
Amethyst, Diamond, Jade, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Steven Battelle 12.6 Carats Rainbow Moonstone 22K Gold Ring
By Steven Battelle
Located in Soquel, CA
A luminous and flashing 12 mm high-dome cushion shaped cabochon rainbow moonstone rests in a vertical "4-point with jawan" Steven Battelle designed setting atop a tapered matte-finis...
Moonstone, Rainbow Moonstone, 22k Gold
Hermes Sunset Rainbow Sellier Birkin 35 Rare Limited Edition Bag
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a rare, limited edition Hermes 35 Birkin Sellier bag featured in Sunset Rainbow. This exquisite bag is a collectors treasures and very rare to market in new, never...
Hermes Birkin 25 Rouge Exotic Lizard Bag Palladium Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
The Hermès Birkin 25 is presented here in Rouge Exotique lizard, a softened red tone that balances vibrancy with restraint. The color offers presence while remaining versatile, makin...
Van Cleef & Arpels Carnelian and Tiger's Eye 'Magic Alhambra' Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This Van Cleef & Arpels 18K gold necklace features 16 variously sized carnelian and tiger's eye quatrefoil motifs on a fine link chain. Necklace length 48 inches. French assay and wo...
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold
Bulgari Serpenti 18K Gold Diamond Wristwatch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Bulgari 18K rose gold Serpenti red lacquer diamond wristwatch with presentation box Weight : 90.9 g Interior circumference : 6 5/8" Case : 26 mm Marked : Au 750 18K BULGARI FABRIQUE ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
5.03 Carat Royal Blue Sapphire Cushion Three Stone Platinum Engagement Ring
By Merkaba
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A G.I.A certified 5.03 carat royal blue sapphire cushion cut platinum three stone ring, handcrafted by Merkaba Jewelry Beverly Hills as a refined collector jewel and meaningful alter...
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
$24,659
H 9.06 in W 11.82 in D 5.91 in
Hermès Multicolour Striped Toile Canvas Jumping Birkin 30cm Retourne
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Marron Fonce Swift Leather & Multicolour Striped Toile Canvas Jumping Birkin 30cm Retourne Product Details Xupes Ref: JJLG140 Brand: Hermès Model: Birkin 30cm Type: Tote Seri...
An 18k Gold Bulgari Celtaura Ribbed Bangle
By Bulgari
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A flexible, heavy 18-karat yellow gold bracelet with semi circular ribs all around that taper in size. Signed: Bulgari, model: Celtaura, Italy. weight: 86.55 g internal dimensions: ...
18k Gold
Natural GIA Blue Sapphire Diamond Pear Drop Platinum Earrings
Located in Miami, FL
These stunning natural blue sapphire and diamond drop earrings are hand crafted in solid platinum. weighing 10 grams and measuring 24mm long x 11mm wide. Exposing a pair of prong-set...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
$260,916
H 9.06 in W 11.82 in D 6.3 in
Hermès Birkin 30 Himalaya Crocodile Niloticus Palladium Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Berlin, BE
Hermès Birkin 30 Himalaya in crocodile niloticus leather with palladium hardware. The bag is unworn and comes as full set including the receipt and Cites. Stamp Y (2020)
$4,052Sale Price|26% Off
1970's Georg Jensen Sterling Red Agate Necklace Vivianna Torun
By Georg Jensen
Located in Toronto, ON
Vivianna Torun Bulow Hube for George Jensen, a rare Sterling Silver Necklace with reddish brown banded agate detachable pendant on collar, Denmark, C. 1975, stamped Georg Jensen in a...
Agate, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Lalaounis Gold Ram Horns Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
Finley crafted in 22K yellow gold. Signed by Lalaounis Circa 1960s
22k Gold
Syna Yellow Gold Blue Topaz Ring with Diamonds
By Syna Jewels
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
Created in 18 karat yellow gold Blue Topaz 4.50 carats approx. Diamonds 0.50 carat approx. Ring size US 6.5, can be sized Limited edition Crafted from 18 karat yellow gold, this lim...
Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$98,614
H 4.34 in W 5.91 in D 1.97 in
Hermès Special Order Vintage Convertible Kelly 15cm Sellier with Constance Belt
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Vert Moyen Lizard Leather Special Order Vintage Convertible Kelly 15cm Sellier with Constance Belt Product Details Xupes Ref: JJLG117 Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 15cm Type: To...
Awe Inspiring Vintage Ilias Lalaounis 22k Gold Ivy Leaf Necklace
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Featured in his 1984 book Metamorphoses, this stunning statement necklace by Ilias Lalaounis drapes seductively on your neck. We love the deep, rich color and tone of the high karat ...
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
It’s fitting that Ilias Lalaounis (1920–2013) is the only jeweler ever inducted into the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts — the Greek jeweler’s creations, such as his decorative gold necklaces and rings, are less fashion adornment and more works of art.
Lalaounis was born in Athens in 1920 to a family of goldsmiths and watchmakers with origins in Delphi. Before turning to the family business, Lalaounis studied law, economics, business and music and trained with the painter Alexandros Alexandrakis. Such a well-rounded education laid the foundation for his unique approach to jewelry.
Lalaounis took the helm of his uncle’s jewelry company in 1940. The impact of the Second World War on Greece inspired the jeweler to celebrate his country’s history by reinterpreting its artifacts into new works of art. In 1957, Lalaounis founded the Greek Jewelers’ Association and exhibited at the Thessaloniki International Fair, showcasing the first of his “collections,” as he would come to define his phases of work. This, the Archaeological Collection, was informed by classical and Hellenistic history.
Lalaounis would go on to find new ways to render historic motifs in gold and gemstones after founding his namesake house in 1969. For his 1970s-era collection, Blow Up, he displayed gold pieces inspired by Minoan art on his models’ entire bodies; after opening a store in Tokyo, he presented a collection informed by Japanese art. Later, Lalaounis introduced a collection inspired by Native Americans at his Madison Avenue store in Manhattan. One of the jeweler’s most important commissions came in 1976, when he designed a collection that drew on Persian art for Empress Farah of Iran.
In 1984, Lalaounis explored his unique creative vision with a book, Metamorphoses. By the 1990s, he had stores across Europe as well as in Tokyo, Hong Kong and New York City, and his work had been exhibited at the National Museum of American History and the Penn Museum in Philadelphia, to name a few. In 1994, he founded his own eponymous museum in Athens, with a permanent collection of pieces from 45 of his collections. Lalaounis died in 2013.
Lalaounis’s research-driven approach to jewelry design gives his pieces a depth on par with any art form.
Find an ornate assortment of Ilias Lalaounis’s yellow-gold necklaces, rings and more on 1stDibs.
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.