Tiffany Twist Rope Necklace
Vintage 1970s Rope Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Rope Necklaces
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Modern Link Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
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20th Century Rope Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s French Modernist Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary More Rings
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Tennis Bracelets
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, White Gold
Early 2000s Italian Cuff Bracelets
18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Modern Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
2010s American Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Italian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
20th Century Italian Contemporary Rope Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Contemporary Retro Bracelets
14k Gold
Late 20th Century Rope Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Rope Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Rope Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Rope Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Rope Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Unknown Modern Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Link Necklaces
18k Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Link Necklaces
18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Link Necklaces
18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Link Necklaces
18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Link Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Contemporary Link Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French More Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian More Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Beaded Necklaces
Quartz, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
20th Century American Retro Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Rope Necklaces
Gold, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Rope Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Rope Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Modern Rope Necklaces
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Neoclassical Rope Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Rope Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Choker Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Rope Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French More Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Link Necklaces
18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
American Link Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby
Finding the Right necklaces for You
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.