Rebajes Dove
Vintage 1950s American Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Copper
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Link Bracelets
14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s American Brooches
Mid-20th Century Unknown Native American More Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s American Retro Cuff Bracelets
Gold-filled, Copper, Gold
Vintage 1950s Retro Dangle Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Pearl, Diamond, Coral, Rose Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
Vintage 1970s Italian Artisan Cuff Bracelets
Onyx, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Link Bracelets
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s American Pendant Necklaces
Late 20th Century Unknown More Bracelets
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Artisan Beaded Bracelets
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rhodium
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches
Rhodium
Vintage 1970s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Vintage 1980s German Baroque Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cuff Bracelets
Sapphire, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Finding the Right pendant-necklaces for You
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.