Peter Suchy Green Tourmaline Pendant

Peter Suchy is one of the world’s foremost specialists in vintage and estate jewelry, which he has collected and sold for more than three decades. A perusal of his inventory on 1stDibs reveals a fondness for substantial gemstones of all varieties. Many of his own eye-popping designs — for engagement rings, necklaces and other accessories — are simple but powerful, with carat weights in the double digits.

Suchy has made a niche in antique diamond engagement rings and signed pieces, offering jewelry and watches from brands like Cartier, Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co., Rolex and Patek Philippe. One could argue that he is the kind of vintage jewelry dealer that is the backbone of the market, someone who demonstrates expertise and integrity while delivering exceptional fine jewelry to a global client base.

When asked about his beginnings as a jewelry dealer and designer, Suchy is concise and keen to reflect pragmatically on the facts of which he is most proud. Among those facts: He worked at the bench as a repairman and goldsmith for more than 20 years, after which he studied at the Gemological Institute of America.

Today Suchy’s showroom is situated in a disarmingly unassuming retail building in Stamford, Connecticut. But inside, it is clear why clients have described it as a “vintage jewelry museum.” The characterization is not hyperbole — the store houses more than 10,000 pieces of vintage, estate and antique jewelry.

Like its owner, the space is devoid of artifice or pretense, with classical American decor featuring curved walnut architraves and overhead Art Deco–style light boxes. This lack of ostentation hints at the taste and refinement of the jewels on offer and reflects a sales philosophy belonging to a bygone era, that the only decoration necessary is the jewelry itself.

Find a collection of authentic Peter Suchy bracelets, rings and other jewelry on 1stDibs.

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.