Find an expansive variety of vintage marcasite jewelry necklaces and pendants available on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from
silver,
sterling silver and
base metal — can elevate any look. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 20th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 20th Century. Our collection of vintage marcasite jewelry necklaces and pendants includes designs that are universally popular, but
Art Deco and
Art Nouveau styles, specifically, are sought with frequency.
Les Bernard and
Judith Jack each produced beautiful examples of these items that are worth considering. While most can agree that any pick from our collection easily elevates most outfits, but the choice of
marcasite versions from the 12 available is guaranteed to add a special touch to your ensemble. A selection of
bead,
cabochon and
round cut can be found today on these pages. Most of our vintage marcasite jewelry necklaces and pendants for sale are for
women, but there are 3 pieces available to browse for
men.
On average, vintage marcasite jewelry necklaces and pendants at 1stDibs sell for $395, while they’re typically $79 on the low end and $1,850 for the highest priced versions of this item.
Whether you’re layering multiple jewelry pieces or opting for a single strand, vintage pendant necklaces are versatile accessories that can elevate your casual wear as easily as they can add a creative flourish to your formal attire.
The earliest jewelry was less about accessorizing than it was about wearers arming themselves with amulets. In Ancient Egypt, some amulets featured a loop so that they could be strung around one’s neck. While rubies have long been one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money, members of some ancient civilizations valued the stones from the get-go, donning ruby pendants as well as other stones with the belief that these adornments would bring protection, healing powers or strength. Today, we still wear our charm bracelets and charm pendants around our necks for good luck.
Later, pendant necklaces, like most fine jewelry, were worn strictly by royalty or the upper class and conferred wealth and prestige. This changed over time, thankfully, as wearing jewelry became more widespread, a democratized means of personal expression.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, pendant necklaces evolved from their status as spiritual amulets, but the jewels still carried deep personal significance. Victorian pendants, in particular, were part of the “mourning jewelry” tradition. Wearers would embed their pendants with locks of hair from a deceased loved one as a way of grieving in the wake of a loss. In the case of cameo jewelry, some pendants were even decorated with miniature hand-carved portraits in a detailed raised relief. Today, portraiture is still a characteristic of many of the hand-carved pendant necklaces offered by Italian jewelry house Scala Gioielli.
Luxury fine jewelry brands such as Cartier, BVLGARI and David Yurman offer their own unique interpretations of the cherished accessory, embellishing platinum or gold pendant necklaces with diamonds, sapphires and other stones.
On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage pendant necklaces and other necklaces today.