Michael Zobel
21st Century and Contemporary German Modernist Clip-on Earrings
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Platinum
1990s German Bangles
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s German Bangles
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s German Bangles
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s German Bangles
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s German Bangles
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s German Bangles
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s German Bangles
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s German Modernist Stud Earrings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary More Rings
Beryl, Diamond, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Platinum
1990s German Drop Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary More Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
1990s Modern Cocktail Rings
Cat’s Eye, Chrysoberyl, 22k Gold, Platinum, Gold
1990s Modern Link Necklaces
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary More Rings
Diamond, Morganite, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
Vintage 1980s Artisan Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Tourmaline
Late 20th Century German Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Modernist Bangles
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary German Modernist Bangles
Diamond, Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, 22k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, 22k Gold, Sterling Silver
1990s German Cocktail Rings
Diamond
Early 2000s German Artist Band Rings
Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
1990s European Modern Solitaire Rings
Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, Platinum, White Gold
Early 2000s German Artist Clip-on Earrings
Jade, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s German Modern Fashion Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Mixed Metal, Sterling Silver, Silver, Rhod...
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Link Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 24k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal, Yellow Gold
1990s German Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Quartz, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary German Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary German Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1990s French Drop Necklaces
Opal, Mandarin Garnet, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling ...
2010s German Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Black Diamond, Gold, 24k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, S...
2010s German Artist Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold, Mixed Metal, Sterling ...
21st Century and Contemporary German Artist Rope Necklaces
Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Oriental Pearl, Natural Pearl, Black Pear...
Early 2000s German Modernist Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 22k Gold, 24k Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s German Modernist Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Jade, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Link Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Silver, Gold, 18k Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, S...
2010s German Artist Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling ...
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Multi-gemstone, Tourmaline, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, 24k ...
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
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Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Italian More Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s European Modern Cocktail Rings
Rock Crystal, Crystal, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Michael Zobel For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Michael Zobel?
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.