Stephen Dweck Turquoise Necklace

Stephen Dweck is known as the “romancer of the stones” for his bold use of faceted gemstones and semiprecious stones in silver settings. The Brooklyn-born jeweler is inspired by a deep love of nature, handpicking gemstones and minerals, such as moonstones and white quartz, from around the world to create colorful, sculptural necklaces, earrings and other pieces that have been worn by the likes of Drew Barrymore and Barbara Walters.

“I use stones as an artist works with paints,” Dweck once told Robb Report. By selecting stones for their color, shape and other features, rather than just their value, no two pieces are alike, and each reflects a distinctive vision.

Dweck, who studied sculpture at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, founded his eponymous house with a collection of stone bangles in 1981. He continues to operate his family-run business in the working-class neighborhood of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. While his rings and other accessories can be found in major department stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, he also consults with clients on special commissions from his atelier. Among his most unique details are the small “Adam” silver and bronze beetles that often adorn his pieces.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the scene — a few decades of operation is the blink of an eye in the jewelry world — Dweck’s pieces are already in impressive collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Dallas Museum of Art in Texas. They’ve also been seen on screen in such shows as Fox’s Empire.

Find a collection of vintage Stephen Dweck jewelry on 1stDibs.

We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners.

Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers. 

In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs. 

For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone. 

Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage necklaces designed by David Webb — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt. 

On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.