Sterle Pin
20th Century French Brooches
Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French More Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
20th Century French Modern Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s French Art Deco Brooches
Emerald, Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1890s American Victorian Brooches
14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Brooches
Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
1990s Spanish Art Nouveau Brooches
Enamel, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches
Crystal, Diamond, Rock Crystal, Turquoise, Peridot, 14k Gold, Yellow Gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches
Crystal, Amethyst, Diamond, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Rock Crystal, Turquois...
Vintage 1970s French Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century British Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Gold, Enamel
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Emerald, 18k Gold
French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby
Vintage 1950s British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Coral, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s French Clip-on Earrings
Late 20th Century French Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s French Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches
18k Gold
20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
Sterle Pin For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Sterle Pin?
Pierre Sterlé for sale on 1stDibs
The loss of his father in World War I led to Pierre Sterlé’s mentorship under his uncle, who supported his ascension into the jewelry design world. At the height of his success, Sterlé designed for jewelry titans Boucheron, Chaumet and Ostertag. He won the De Beers Diamond Award three years in a row and operated out of an exclusive boutique in Paris that served the elite and royal families by appointment only.
His uncle was a Parisian jeweler on the rue de Castiglione. Sterlé started his own workshop at the age of 29 and spent five years designing for eminent Parisian jewelry houses on rue Sainte-Anne. By the mid-1940s, Sterlé had moved his atelier closer to the Place Vendôme to better serve his wealthy patrons, who included French author Colette, King Farouk of Egypt, the Maharani of Baroda and the Begum Aga Khan.
Sterlé had a remarkable ability to “knit gold” into woven masterpieces. His technical prowess was unmatched by anyone in Paris, and arguably the world. His “angel wire” technique, considered his signature style, incorporated gold into fine ropes that became link bracelets, cocktail rings and accents on decorative pins and brooches. The effect gave a sense of movement and life to the pieces, something Sterlé strived for in his attempts to make metal and precious gemstones less rigid and cold.
Two misfortunes derailed his business. The first was a failed venture into perfume, which resulted in having to sell many of his designs to Chaumet and New York jeweler Montreaux. Sterlé rebounded with a successful display at the 1966 Biennale in Paris, where he was the first modern jeweler ever invited. His second misstep was more damaging. He opened an exclusive shop on the rue Saint-Honoré in 1969. It was unsuccessful, and he was forced to declare bankruptcy, selling most of his stock to Chaumet in 1976.
Sterlé stayed on with the company as a consultant until his death two years later in 1978.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Pierre Sterlé rings, earrings, bracelets and more.
Finding the Right brooches for You
Antique and vintage brooches, which are decorative jewels traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
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.
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 on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.