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Plique A Jour Dragonfly

Antique-Style Plique à Jour Dragonfly Brooch, 0.90 Carat Old Miner Diamond, Gems
Located in Houston, TX
Immaculate plique a jour dragonfly brooch in 22K yellow gold with one 0.90 carat fine cushion
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 22k Gold

Art Nouveau Plique-a-Jour Dragonfly Silver Pendant Necklace
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Plique-a-Jour Art Nouveau dragonfly pendant necklace in sterling silver in beautiful
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Silver

Dragonfly Plique-à-Jour Enamel Brooch
Located in Milano, MI
Vintage dragonfly shaped brooch with exquisite plique-à-jour enamels set in rose gold and silver
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel

Antique Plique a Jour Enamel Dragonfly Clip of 14k Gold
Located in Lewisburg, PA
A 14k gold dragonfly scarf clip from 1908, featuring wings of blue plique a jour enamel and a
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel

A diamond, sapphire, emerald and plique a jour enamel dragonfly brooch
Located in New York, NY
emeralds, the wings decorated with coloured plique a jour enamel as well as round cabochon blue sapphires
Category

Early 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire

Plique-à-Jour Enamel Diamond Sapphire Ruby Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A unique dragonfly brooch. It features enameled Plique-a-Jour wings, which are enamel without a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

A splendid plique a jour sterling silver and enamel 'dragonfly' brooch, 1970s
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
A beautiful plique a jour and sterling 'dragonfly' brooch, carefully created and designed. Probably
Category

Late 20th Century British Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

A splendid plique a jour sterling silver and enamel 'dragonfly' brooch, 1970s
A splendid plique a jour sterling silver and enamel 'dragonfly' brooch, 1970s
$1,244
H 2.75 in W 2.75 in D 0.4 in Dm 4.2 in L 4.2 in
Modern Plique À Jour Enamel, Sapphire, Diamond And Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
A modern plique à jour enamel gem set dragonfly brooch, with trembling wings, with buff-cut calibré
Category

2010s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel

Modern Plique À Jour Enamel, Opal, Diamond And Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
eyes, weighing 2.45 carats, with blue to green plique à jour enamel wings, set with eight-cut diamonds
Category

2010s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Enamel

Modern Plique À Jour Enamel, Ruby, Diamond and Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
thorax, with surrounding eight-cut diamonds, with blue to green plique à jour enamel wings, with old-cut
Category

2010s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel

Modern Plique À Jour Enamel, Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
A modern plique à jour enamel gem set dragonfly brooch, with trembling wings, with a cabochon-cut
Category

2010s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel

Modern Plique À Jour Enamel, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire and Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
1.73 carats, set in the thorax, with blue to green plique à jour enamel wings, with an old-cut diamond
Category

2010s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel

Moira Dragonfly Plique à Jour Enamel, Diamond, Pink Sapphire and Gold Brooch
By Moira Fine Jewellery
Located in London, GB
A Moira dragonfly brooch, with lilac to yellow plique à jour enamel wings, with pink sapphire eyes
Category

2010s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, Silver, Enamel

Art Nouveau Plique-A-Jour Pink Sapphire Pearl and Diamond Dragonfly Necklace
Located in London, GB
period, the French revived the plique-a-jour technique, and this dragonfly pendant is a stunning example
Category

20th Century Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Modern Plique À Jour Enamel, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby and Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
, set in the thorax, with surrounding round brilliant-cut diamonds, with blue to green plique à jour
Category

2010s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Modern Plique À Jour Enamel, Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire and Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
thorax, with blue to green plique à jour enamel wings, with eight-cut diamonds in the wings and nose
Category

2010s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel

Recent Sales

Plique-a-jour Dragonfly Pin
By Shreve, Crump & Low
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
18 karat yellow gold dragonfly pin consisting of plique-a-jour wings set with old mine cut diamond
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Plique-a-Jour Dragonfly Pin
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
Sterling silver on 18 karat yellow gold antique dragonfly pin with blue - green plique-a-jour wings
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Onyx, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Style Plique-a-jour Cut Diamond gold Dragonfly Pin
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
18 karat yellow gold antique style en tremblant dragonfly pin with green and blue plique-a-jour
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Green Sapphire, 18k Gold

Art Nouveau, Sapphire, Diamond and Plique-a-Jour Enamel Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
AN ART-NOUVEAU RUBY, SAPPHIRE, DIAMOND AND PLIQUE-A-JOUR ENAMEL DRAGONFLY BROOCH in 18ct yellow
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Modern Plique a Jour Enamel Pink Sapphire Tourmaline Diamond Dragonfly Pendant
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
shows no evidence of wear or use and is being offered as new. This modern Plique-a-Jour Enamel Pink
Category

20th Century American Contemporary Necklace Enhancers

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Plique a Jour Dragonfly Emerald Ruby Diamond Gold Brooch Estate Fine Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Beautiful! Plique-à-Jour Dragonfly Brooch with Blue, Green and Red Enamel Wings, Hand set
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Plique-a-Jour Dragonfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
dragonfly with a green enamel body and plique-a-jour enamel wings edged in diamonds.
Category

Unknown Brooches

Plique-à-jour Ruby and Diamond Dragonfly Gold Brooch Pin Estate Fine Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Fabulous! Plique-à-Jour Dragonfly Brooch with Blue and Red enamel wings, Hand set with
Category

Late 20th Century Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Huge Plique a Jour Diamond Gemstone Dragonfly 18K
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This gorgeous Plique a Jour dragonfly is 10.5 cm wide and 7.0 cm long (4.25" x 2.78") depth is 7.65
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Plique à Jour Huge Diamond Gemstone Dragonfly Brooch 18 Karat
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This Plique a Jour Dragonfly Brooch is spectacular and huge with wings and the body measuring 12cm
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Artisan Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

18K Gold, Enamel, Sapphire, Diamond, & Tsavorite Garnet Brooch
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Gorgeous 18K yellow Gold handmade plique-a-jour dragonfly, studded with seven cabachon Sapphires
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, 18k Gold

Antique Art Nouveau Dragonfly Plique-à-Jour Brooch 18k Gold Diamond Pearl Old
Located in Torrance, CA
Captivating antique Art Nouveau plique-a-jour dragonfly brooch/pendant crafted in 18 karat yellow
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian Dragonfly Plique-a-Jour Enamel Peridot Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Dragonfly Plique-a-jour Enamel Peridot Diamond Ring crafted in 18 karat yellow gold. 5
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Cocktail Rings

Plique-à-Jour Enamel Diamond 18K Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in Media, PA
An exceptional 18K yellow and white gold large life-sized dragonfly with plique a jour enameled
Category

2010s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel

Plique à Jour, Sapphire, Emerald and Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
, with articulated blue to green plique à jour enamel wings, set with an estimated 0.77ct of old-cut
Category

2010s British Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Diamond Ruby Plique-a-Jour Enamel Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A magnificent example of fine quality plique-a-jour by an experienced master jeweler. Approximately
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, Enamel

Italian Plique-A-Jour Enamel Diamond 18k Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in New York City, NY
Step into a world of exquisite elegance with our Italian Plique-A-Jour Enamel Diamond 18k Gold
Category

Vintage 1970s European Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Nouveau Plique a Jour Enamel and Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
Located in Hummelstown, PA
brooch. A flutter with fern green plique-a-jour wings, a diamond lined abdomen and two cabochon ruby eyes
Category

Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel

Plique à Jour Dragon Fly Diamond Ruby Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Plique a jour diamond and ruby dragonfly brooch mounted in silver and gold circa 1990. The large
Category

1990s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Plique a Jour Diamond Dragonfly Pendant Necklace
Located in New York, NY
A enchanting Dragonfly pendant necklace in
Category

Vintage 1910s French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond

Plique a Jour Enamel Diamond Gold Dragonfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
18k gold plique-a-jour and diamond dragonfly brooch. Measuring 45mm x 73mm. Marked: Hallmark, 0.75
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

Dragonfly Brooch in 18 Karat Gold Diamonds, Saphires and Plique-á-Jour Wings
Located in Bilbao, ES
An exquisite an art nouveau style dragonfly brooch, with multicolored plique à jour wings, with
Category

20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Masriera 18Kt Gold Plique-à-Jour and Basse Taille Fired Enamel Dragonfly Ring
By Masriera
Located in New York, NY
Masriera 18-karat yellow gold ring with plique-à-jour and basse taille fired enamel. From the house
Category

2010s Spanish Art Nouveau Fashion Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Plique-a-Jour Dragonfly Pin
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
18 karat yellow gold dragonfly pin with yellow, green and blue plique-a-jour wings, set with
Category

Antique 1890s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau Plique-a-Jour Dragonfly Brooch
Located in San Francisco, CA
wings shimmer and glow in translucent, subtly shaded plique-a-jour enamel which transition from
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Plique a Jour Gold and Diamond Dragonfly pin
Located in New York, NY
A delicate plique a jour dragonfly with diamonds set in 18 kt gold
Category

French Brooches

Materials

Diamond

Dragonfly Plique-a-Jour Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite 18K yellow gold and transparent enamel dragonfly pin. Head and body are vibrant emerald
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Brooches

Materials

18k Gold

Plique-a-Jour Tsavorite & Diamond Dragonfly
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
18 karat yellow and white gold dragonfly pin with plique-a-jour en tremblandt wings, .84 carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold

Diamond Plique-à-jour Articulated Dragonfly Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning 18k gold articulated dragonfly brooch with blue & green plique-à-jour wings and a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Plique a Jour and Enamel Gold Dragonfly Pin
Located in New York, NY
plique a jour wings. Brilliant coloring. 2 1/4" x 1 1/2." Alice Kwartler has sold the finest
Category

Vintage 1910s Brooches

Materials

18k Gold

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Antique Mid-19th Century Pendant Necklaces

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Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
By Fred Leighton
Located in New Orleans, LA
Enveloped in a sea of 60.26 carats of fancy vivid yellow diamonds is this tour de force of jewelry craftsmanship from the collaboration of jewelry legends Fred Leighton and Carvin Fr...
Category

20th Century American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Yellow Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Large Vintage Yellow Gold Enamel and Gem Set Owl Clip Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970s 18K Yellow Gold Owl Brooch, measuring 2 1/2 inches from wing end to end, 2 inches tall and weighing 33.2 grams. Finely detailed with Hand Chased Gold work, Enamel Feather...
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel

Belle Époque Diamond Tiara
Located in London, GB
A Belle Époque diamond tiara, to the centre three diamond-set clusters with diamond-set foliate decorations and one large diamond-set cluster on each side, all within a waved frame o...
Category

Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry

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Diamond, Platinum

Exceptional Art Deco Mazer Pendant Brooch
By Mazer
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Art Deco Mazer Pendant Brooch from the 1930's. High Art Deco design with step faceted faux aquamarines and sapphires set within an intricate pave and baguette dangle sett...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Bee Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This tiny bee brooch boasts a voluptuous, glimmering belly adorned with white round brilliant diamonds, approximately F-G color, VS clarity, and flanked with intricately engraved gol...
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Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Bee Brooch
Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Bee Brooch
$6,100
W 1.4 in L 1.1 in
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Located in London, GB
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Category

Antique 1840s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Yellow Gold, Silver, Gold, 14k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Opal and Demantoid Snake Stick Pin
Located in Hummelstown, PA
A miniature work of art by Tiffany & Co, this exquisitely crafted stick pin features a sinuous snake set with vibrant apple green demantoid garnets, slithering up the side of a glowi...
Category

Early 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Opal, 14k Gold

Plique-a-Jour Enamel Sapphire Diamond Butterfly Brooch Art Nouveau 18 Karat Gold
Located in New York, NY
This is a wonderful and rare Museum Quality Art Nouveau Brooch in the form of a Butterfly or Moth. The magnificent Butterfly has exquisite Plique-a-jour enamel wings, a fine blue Sa...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Purple Enamel Flower Brooch of 14k Gold
Located in Lewisburg, PA
A 14k gold brooch (circa 1930-1940) featuring a purple and white enamel flower accented with a post set pearl. The piece measures 1 inch from top to bottom by 1.2 inches wide and we...
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Pearl, 14k Gold

ART NOUVEAU 1900 Edwardian Enameled Flowers Brooch In 18Kt Gold With Diamond
Located in Miami, FL
Edwardian art nouveau enamel flowers pendant-brooch. This is a really fantastic three-dimensional antique brooch with flowers, created in America during the Edwardian and the Art No...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold

ART NOUVEAU 1900 Edwardian Enameled Flowers Brooch In 18Kt Gold With Diamond
ART NOUVEAU 1900 Edwardian Enameled Flowers Brooch In 18Kt Gold With Diamond
$1,706 Sale Price
25% Off
W 0.69 in D 0.31 in L 1.69 in
M. Buccellati Vintage Diamond Gold Ruby Butterfly Brooch Pin
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
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Art Nouveau 1890 Plique a Jour Pendant Brooch in 18kt Gold Diamonds Pearls Ruby
Located in Miami, FL
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Renaissance Revival Carved Opal Cameo Pendant
Located in London, GB
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Antique 1880s British Renaissance Revival Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Pearl, Yellow Gold

Belle Epoque Diamond-Set Dragonfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
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Antique 1890s British Belle Époque Brooches

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Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Tiffany & Co. 18K Yellow Gold, Sapphire and Ruby Butterfly Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
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Plique A Jour Dragonfly For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate plique a jour dragonfly for your needs in our varied inventory. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Enamel. Find an antique version now, or shop for 17 vintage or 4 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. If you’re looking for a plique a jour dragonfly from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 20th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. Finding an appealing plique a jour dragonfly — no matter the origin — is easy, but Masriera, Moira and René Lalique each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Take a look at a plique a jour dragonfly featuring Diamond from our inventory today to add the perfect touch to your look. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes oval cut and cushion cut alternatives. Most of our plique a jour dragonfly for sale are for women, but there are 9 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a Plique A Jour Dragonfly?

The price for a plique a jour dragonfly starts at $2,070 and tops out at $95,000 with these brooches, on average, selling for $5,400.

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.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.