Seed Pearls Vintage
Mid-20th Century European Pendant Necklaces
Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Bangles
Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Brooches
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century English Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
Vintage 1910s European Edwardian Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
20th Century Engagement Rings
Pink Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century European Drop Earrings
Pearl, Sapphire, Gold
2010s Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1990s Drop Earrings
Vintage 1950s American Retro Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Vintage 1950s Swiss Retro Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Victorian Choker Necklaces
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Retro Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Artisan Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver, Brass
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Chrysophrase, Pearl, White Gold
Vintage 1940s European Baroque Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Drop Earrings
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Retro Multi-Strand Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Indian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Jade, Opal, Pearl, Yellow Gold
20th Century Brooches
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Beaded Bracelets
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Unknown Retro Bangles
Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage 1930s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Unknown Modern Brooches
Aquamarine, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Arts and Crafts Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Jade, Opal, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century European Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century English Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Pearl, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Victorian Bangles
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Cuff Bracelets
Garnet, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century English Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Arts and Crafts Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Modern Engagement Rings
Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Carnelian, Pearl, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Bangles
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Cluster Rings
Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Revival Brooches
Diamond, Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold
Vintage 1940s Engagement Rings
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Seed Pearls Vintage For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Seed Pearls Vintage?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Seed pearls are small pearls that get their name from their diminutive size. They’re sometimes used in jewelry today but were most popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of antique and modern seed pearl jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Vintage Mikimoto pearls are set with cream or white pearls. Colored pearls are a modern addition. All Mikimoto pearl jewelry includes marks on the back or inside of the piece that is either the Mikimoto name, an “M” logo or the outline of an oyster. In addition, strands of pearls will have a dangling “M” charm. Mikimoto stores and authorized retailers will also appraise and issue a certificate of valuation for any Mikimoto piece. Find a variety of expertly vetted Mikimoto pearl jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To determine whether a pearl necklace is modern or vintage, first look for signs of wear, such as blunted edges on the prongs. The pearls will likely have dull spots where they came into contact with skin. The clasp can clue you in, too. Lobster clasps appeared in the 1970s, while early 20th century clasps were generally safety-pin style or C-clasps. Modern necklaces typically have a spring-loaded clasp. Shop a selection of vintage pearl jewelry on 1stDibs.