Important Charles Duron Renaissance Revival Brooch
Located in London, GB
An Important Charles Duron Renaissance Revival brooch, the oval hardstone cameo in classical style
Agate, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Necklace
Located in London, GB
A Victorian natural pearl and diamond necklace, the twelve graduated cluster motifs each centred with natural bouton pearls measuring from 5.6 mm to 9 mm, within a surround of old br...
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
$2,950
H 1.58 in W 1.66 in L 16.15 in
Art Nouveau 18K Gold Ombre Enamel Peridot Pearl Diamond Necklace, circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
Fine Art Nouveau period 18K gold, Ombre enamel, faceted peridot, diamond and natural pearl necklace. Early 20th Century With a central oval peridot measuring 9mm by 6mm, surrounded ...
Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold, Enamel
Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vanity Case 279 Grams, Art Deco, 279 Gm Gold, Rare
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A beautifully crafted Vanity case by Cartier in 18-karat yellow gold from the Art Deco period of the 1930s Cartier - Art Deco 18-karat yellow gold vanity or compact box with diamonds...
18k Gold
Victorian Garnet Enamel and Diamond Pendant or Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian garnet, enamel and diamond pendant, set to the centre with an oval cabochon-cut garnet, measuring approximately 21.5x17.2mm, surrounded by old-cut diamond-set floral moti...
Diamond, Garnet, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
Edwardian Ruby and Diamond Brooch Pendant
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian ruby and diamond brooch pendant, of diamond bow and ribbon design with calibre-cut rubies and heart shaped diamond drop, circa 1910, gross weight 12.6 grams. This antiq...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Vivid Diamonds GIA Certified 14.8 Carat Dangle Diamond Earrings
By Vivid Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
Sensational Vivid Diamonds Dangle earrings crafted in platinum showcasing 2 GIA certified round brilliant cut diamonds weighing 6.05 carats total, G-H color, VS1-SI1 clarity and 2 GI...
Diamond, Platinum
A turn of the 20th century diamond-set fringe tiara
Located in London, GB
A turn of the 20th century diamond-set fringe tiara, the base consisting of interlocking openwork geometric scroll sections set with small old-cut diamonds estimated to weigh 3¼ cara...
Diamond, Platinum
Imperial Faberge Enamel Silver-Gilt Thermometer
By Fabergé
Located in London, GB
An Imperial Fabergé silver-gilt and enamel thermometer, of rectangular form with semi-circular ends, the surface enamelled in translucent royal blue over banded wavy engine-turning w...
Silver
John Brogden Shell Cameo Brooch and Earrings, English, circa 1870
By John Brogden
Located in London, GB
Antique shell cameo brooch and earrings by John Brogden, English, circa 1870. A yellow gold suite of jewellery, the brooch composed of a horizontally situated oval Bull’s Mouth shell...
Yellow Gold
Antique Greek Mythology Cameo 18K Gold Pendant Necklace Lapis Lazuli
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Magnificient, extremely rare double-sided carved lapis lazuli cameo pendant. The exquisite carving is mounted in a fine 18K gold frame that is decorated with chiselled acanthus leave...
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
Fabergé Yellow and Rose Gold Miniature Picture Frame
By Fabergé
Located in London, GB
A Fabergé yellow and rose gold miniature picture frame with pearl decoration and ribbon bow top, workmaster Michael Perchin, St Petersburg, circa 1895. This elegant miniature frame ...
Rose Gold
Art Deco Opal & Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco Opal & Diamond Brooch A platinum and 18 karat white gold brooch set with a center black opal weighing approximately 7.75 carats framed by approximately 3.35 carats of round...
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Antique 1899s Guilloche Enamel And Diamond Russian Cross Pendant
Located in Cairo, EG
Antique 14k gold large russian cross pendant in blue guilloche enamel with rose cut diamonds estimate weight of 2 carats and 12 white natural pearls this unuswal cross was made in st...
An Edwardian diamond and pearl-set tiara/necklace
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian diamond and pearl-set tiara/necklace, consisting of eleven knife-edge bars graduating from the centre, each embellished with old-cut diamonds in cut-down collet settings...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver
A Victorian diamond riviere necklace
Located in London, GB
A Victorian diamond riviere necklace, consisting of fifty-six old brilliant-cut diamond graduating from the centre estimated to weigh a total of 22½ carats, assessed mounted to be of...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
16th Century Renaissance Limoges Enamel Gilt Bronze Ring c. 1550
Located in Chicago, IL
France, circa 1550 This one of a kind, museum rarity, Renaissance gilt bronze ring features a Limoges enameled copper plaque superbly painted in shades of grey with Christ as the M...
Bronze, Copper, Enamel
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.