Swiss Blue Topaz Bracelet

The word “topaz” comes from Topazios, the Greek name for St. James Island on the Red Sea (presently known as Zabargad). And even though the Greeks believed that topaz protected the wearer and gave them strength, we unfortunately cannot promise that your antique and vintage topaz jewelry will give you any superhuman abilities.

Beloved by royalty, topazes were once believed to possess special powers for curing diseases and breaking magical spells. While they may not have supernatural properties, these autumnal gems are enchanting just the same.

It’s appropriate that as the temperatures cool and the leaves turn yellow, the birthstone for November is a gem found in autumnal hues. The deep browns, reds and oranges of the topaz, a stone once believed to have the power to cure fevers, is perfect for this time of year. In fact, the palette has also inspired a second birthstone for the month: citrine, which is less expensive and easier to find. Truth be told, topazes can be found in a wide variety of colors (which can get confusing since the blue topaz, along with turquoise, is a birthstone for the month of December), but it’s nice to wax poetic about the season.

The topaz can be blue, green, yellow, pink, purple and red. The colors of this allochromatic stone result from impurities in its crystal structure and are not part of its chemical composition, which is aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide. The true color of topaz is no color at all. Isn’t it fascinating that a stone that can come in a variety of colors is colorless in its purest form?

Find a range of vintage and antique topaz rings, topaz necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.

Today, antique and vintage bracelets are versatile and universally loved accessories that can add polish and pizzazz to any ensemble.

Bracelets were among the jewels discovered to have been buried with Pharaoh Tutankhamun when his tomb was unearthed in 1922, and wrist and arm bracelets were allegedly worn by Queen Puabi in Sumer, southern Mesopotamia. But preceding the adornments of Ancient Egypt and elsewhere, the people of prehistoric times likely wore the decorative accessory, fashioning it from shells and fish bones. When the Bronze Age allowed for more durable materials and semiprecious stones to be incorporated into jewelry, bracelets became a treasured symbol of wealth.

In the thousands of years following the debut of the world’s first bracelets, the artistry behind this common accessory has only broadened, with designers at popular jewelry houses growing more venturesome over time. David Webb looked to nature for his Animal Kingdom bracelets, and for her best-selling bracelets and more at Tiffany & Co., Elsa Peretti would frequently do the same. From bangles to tennis bracelets, the modern age offers plenty of options.

Internationally acclaimed bracelet designs have on occasion become powerful symbols of status, style and, in the case of Cartier's iconic design, love. The Cartier Love bracelet can be found on the wish list of most jewelry lovers and on the wrist of some of the world’s biggest stars. Its arrangement of mock screwheads and distinctive functionality — it was initially locked and unlocked with an accompanying vermeil screwdriver — is an enduring expression of loyalty, unity and romance. (Do you know how to spot a fake Cartier Love bracelet?)

While the Love bracelet has played a role in the skyrocketing popularity of cuff-style bracelets, they are far from the only glamorous option for collectors. Make a statement with an Art Deco design, a style that sees all kinds of iterations fitted with studded cuffs, one-of-a-kind shapes and dazzling insets. A chunky vintage gold bracelet in the Retro style will prove eye-catching and elevate any outfit.

One of the best things about bracelets, however, is that you never have to choose just one. Style icon Jacqueline Kennedy stacked her Croisillon bracelets — designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. — with such frequency that the ornate bangles were eventually dubbed “Jackie bracelets” by reporters. Contemporary silver pieces can easily complement each other, rendering a layering of luxury almost a necessity.

Find a diverse collection of bracelets that you can sort by style, stone cut and more on 1stDibs.