Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother of Pearl Magic Alhambra Necklace VCARD7930
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A gorgeous 18k yellow gold Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from the Magic Alhambra collection.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra 16 Motif Yellow Gold Green Malachite Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This rare stunning long necklace from the Magic Alhambra collection by Van Cleef & Arpels is crafted in 18k yellow gold and features 16 lucky clover motifs with round bead settin...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Long Necklace 20 Motifs 18K Rose Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Faithful to the very first Alhambra jewel created in 1968, the Vintage Alhambra creations by Van Cleef & Arpels are distinguished by their unique, timeless elegance.
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Bullseye Vintage Alhambra Holiday Pendant VCARP0MV00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k rose gold Bullseye and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2017 Holiday collection. The pendant features a beaded edge 4-leaf clover mo...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2017 Bullseye Vintage Alhambra Pendant VCARP0MV00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k rose gold Bullseye and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2017 Holiday collection. The pendant features a beaded edge 4-leaf clove...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Diamond Pave 1 Motif Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra 1 motif pendant necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K gold.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpel Blue Agate 20-Motif Vintage Alhambra Necklace In 18k
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Agate 20-Motif Vintage Alhambra Necklace In 18k Yellow Gold.
Agate, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Long Necklace Silver Obsidian & 18K
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in West Chester, PA
Purchased December 2025 directly from a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique, this Vintage Alhambra 20-Motif Necklace features mesmerizing silver obsidian motifs perfectly complemented by 18k...
Other, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra 6 Motifs Necklace Carnelian Tiger Eye
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33302199 Comes With Full Set (Pouch + Card) Date 2013 RRP £10,700 Incl. Taxes / €12,600 Incl. Taxes / $12,800 Excl. Taxes Model VCARN5JP00 Serial Number JB0328** Metal 18k Yellow...
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Alhambra Butterfly Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Lucky Alhambra Butterfly pendant necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, beautifully crafted in solid 18K yellow gold.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels "Lucky" Alhambra Multi Gemstone Long Chain Necklace In 18k
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Alhambra Multi Gemstone Long Chain Necklace In 18k Yellow Gold.
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 20 Motif Vintage Alhambra Diamond & Onyx White Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Alhambra 20 Motifs Diamond And Black Onyx Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Diamond, Onyx, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Mother of Pearl White Gold Special Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Magic Alhambra Special Edition necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K white gold.
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2017 Bullseye Vintage Alhambra Pendant VCARP0MV00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k rose gold Bullseye and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2017 Holiday collection. The pendant features a beaded edge 4-leaf clover mo...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Necklace in 18K Rose Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Chevy Chase, MD
An impossible to find Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Necklace! This necklace features 120 round brilliant Diamonds, DEF color, and VVS clarity with a total weight of 4.83 carat...
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Long Necklace 20 Chalcedony Motifs 18k Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra long necklace, 20 motifs, rhodium plated 18K white gold, chalcedony.
Chalcedony, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Blue Agate 18K Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra pendant, beautifully crafted in solid 18K yellow gold. This refined piece features a rich blue agate motif, showcasing t...
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 2018 Holiday Van Cleef & Arpels Shell and Diamond Alhambra Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
A beautiful vintage Van Cleef & Arpels gold shell and diamond Alhambra pendant necklace set in 18k yellow gold from 2018.
Diamond
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Blue Agate Alhambra 20 Motif Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Blue Agate Necklace in 18K Yellow Gold A classic Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra necklace featuring 20 blue agate motifs set in 18K ...
Agate, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef Arpels Lucky Alhambra Necklace. Genuine VCA 18k WG Shell Heart Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Rare Van Cleef and Arpels Necklace Lucky Alhambra Heart Collection Pendant. 18k White Gold with Mother of Pearl.
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Guilloche Vintage Alhambra Pendant VCARP4KL00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k yellow gold Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from the Vintage Alhambra collection.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Alhambra Gray Mother-of-Pearl White Gold 14 Motif Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This classic Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from the Pure Alhambra collection is crafted in 18k white gold and features 14 lucky clover motifs inlaid with gray mother-of-pearl and c...
White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Mother Of Pearl Flower 18k Yellow Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Mother Of Pearl 18 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace.
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Princess Grace Vintage Alhambra Pendant VCARP9W300
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A rare, limited-production 18k yellow gold 'Princess Grace' pendant from the Vintage Alhambra collection by Van Cleef & Arpels. Released for just 18 months in three chosen French bou...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2020 Guilloche Vintage Alhambra Holiday Pendant VCARP6L800
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k white gold Guilloche and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2020 Holiday collection. The pendant features a beaded edge 4-leaf clover ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold Link Necklace Alhambra Clover Motifs 48 Inch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels Video: Video Link Detailed Description: Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold Necklace with Clover Motifs DESCRIPTION: Elevate your jewelry collectio...
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
$57,200Sale Price|20% Off
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold Vintage 20 Motif Alhambra 1985 Coral Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Gold Vintage White Coral 20 Motif Alhambra Chain Necklace.
Coral, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Long Necklace Mother of Pearl Motifs 18K Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Created in 2006 by Van Cleef & Arpels, the Magic Alhambra jewelry creations gather different-sized Alhambra motifs, coming together in a joyful dance.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Burnt Onyx 20 Motif Necklace 18K White Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers this Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20-Motif Necklace in rare Burnt Onyx is an extraordinary expression of heritage elegance and collector rarity.
18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Malachite 18K Yellow Gold 20 Motif Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 77702065 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2013 RRP £19,700 Incl Taxes / €23,200 Incl. Taxes / $23,600 Excl. Taxes Model VCARL88100 Serial Number JB3673** Metal 18k Yellow Go...
Chalcedony, Malachite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Celadon Porcelain Vintage Alhambra Holiday Pendant VCARP9RV00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k white gold light green Celadon Sèvres porcelain and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2022 Holiday collection. The pendant featur...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Necklace Blue Sèvres Porcelain 18K White Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
*Rare Find* SKU 77701911 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2012 Model VCARO2TD00 Serial Number JB****** Metal 18k White Gold Stones Sèvres Porcelain Weight 10.63 g Length 40 cm W...
18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Mother of Pearl Long Necklace 18K Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Created in 2006 by Van Cleef & Arpels, the Magic Alhambra jewelry creations gather different-sized Alhambra motifs, coming together in a joyful dance.
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Malachite Pendant 18K Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
The pendant is attached to the necklace’s chain. Faithful to the very first Alhambra jewel created in 1968, the Vintage Alhambra creations by Van Cleef & Arpels are distinguished...
Malachite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Obsidian 18k Rose Gold 20 Motif Necklace w/Cert 34"
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Brand: Van Cleef & Arpels Collection: Vintage Alhambra Style: 20 Motif Necklace Material: 18k rose gold Gemstone: Silver obsidian Design: Twenty clover motifs with double-sided b...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Pendant PRIMARY DETAILS SKU: Z158535 Listing Title: Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl Vintage Al...
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Pendant PRIMARY DETAILS SKU: 157902 Listing Title: Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl Vintage Alh...
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33302202 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2012 RRP £16,600 Incl. Taxes / €19,500 Incl. Taxes / $19,800 Excl. Taxes Model VCARA42100 Serial Number JB2098** Metal 18k Yellow G...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Ltd Edition Light Green Celadon Porcelain & Diamond Alhambra
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k white gold light green Celadon Sèvres porcelain and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2022 Holiday collection. The pendant featur...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef Vintage Alhambra Necklace Chalcedony White Gold 2016
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Oyster Bay, NY
Material: 18k White Gold Gemstone: Chalcedony Collection: Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Year: 2016
Chalcedony, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Diamond 2017 Limited Edition Vintage Alhambra Penda
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Diamond 2017 Limited Edition Vintage Alhambra Penda PRIMARY DETAILS SKU: T147002 Listing Title: Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Diamond 2017 Limite...
Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Edition 2018 Mother of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Holiday
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k yellow gold mother of pearl and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2018 Holiday collection. The pendant features a beaded edge 4 l...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Edition 2018 Mother of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Holiday
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k yellow gold mother of pearl and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2018 Holiday collection. The pendant features a beaded edge 4 l...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pavé Diamond Pendant 18K White Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33302034 Comes With Full Set (Pouch + Card) Date 2016 RRP £7,950 Incl. Taxes / €9,300 Incl. Taxes / $8,700 Excl. Taxes Model VCARA46100 Serial Number JE5621** Metal 18k White Gol...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 2015 Holiday Pendant Diamond Pink Sèvres Porcelain
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33302242 Comes With Full Set (Pouch + Card) Date 2015 Model VCARO5SY00 Serial Number JE3924** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stones Diamond Weight 6.56 g Length 42 cm Width 1.5 cm Condition...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage 2023 Holiday Alhambra Obsidian Pendant 18K Rose Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
This Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Alhambra Pendant Necklace, inlaid with Silver Obsidian Porcelain, with a .5 carat White Diamond in the center, made out of 18k Rose Gold, has a ha...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels Necklace Multi-Strand 14k Gold Coral Beads
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A vintage Van Cleef & Arpels necklace that comprises multiple strands of tubular coral and gold beads.
Coral, 14k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Lucky Spring 15 Motif Necklace VCARP7RT00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A stunning 18k rose gold, Lucky Alhambra 15 motif necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels from the Spring collection.
Carnelian, Onyx, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
VAN CEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra MOP Onyx 6 Motif Yellow Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from the iconic Magic Alhambra collection features a 6-motif design of beaded clovers crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with Mother-of-Pea...
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Edition 2008 Star Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Star pendant from the highly sought-after 2008 Holiday Edition, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K yellow gold. This ref...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2012 Holiday Edition White Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2012 Holiday Edition by Van Cleef & Arpels, beautifully crafted in solid 18K gold. This refined piece features a lumino...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels choker 18k gold diamonds flowers and blue, yellow sapphires
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Comes with Box The necklace is a multi-strand beaded design from Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring two prominent gold flower motifs set with diamonds.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Edition 2019 Celestial Blue Porcelain Vintage Alhambr
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k yellow gold Celestial Blue porcelain Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2019 Holiday collection. The pendant features a beaded edge 4 leaf...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
• Model: Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx • Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels • Condition: Great.
Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
• Model: Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx • Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels • Condition: Great.
Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
• Model: Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx • Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels • Condition: Great.
Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
• Model: Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Onyx • Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels • Condition: Great.
Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Mother of Pearl
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
• Model: Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Mother of Pearl • Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels • Condition: Great.
Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Mother of Pearl
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
• Model: Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Mother of Pearl • Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels • Condition: Excellent.
Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Mother of Pearl
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Houston, TX
• Model: Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K Yellow Gold and Mother of Pearl • Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels • Condition: Great.
One of the world’s foremost jewelry houses, Van Cleef & Arpels is particularly noted for a focus on technical virtuosity, craftsmanship and artistry, evident since its beginning. Rather than create earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other adornments primarily for the aim of displaying of wealth and opulence, Van Cleef & Arpels sought to produce jewelry that projected the wearer’s taste and style.
The company was formed a year after the 1895 marriage of Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a gem cutter, to Estelle Arpels, daughter of precious-stones dealer Salomon Arpels. Ten years later, Van Cleef & Arpels opened its first boutique on the Place Vendôme in Paris, setting the march on a square now crowded with dealers in bijouterie. (The company still occupies the New York flagship store opened in 1939 at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street.)
Born from a union of expertise in both jewelry making and gem selection, Van Cleef & Arpels distinguished itself with both the consistency of the color and clarity of its stones and the creativity of its designs. In doing so, the house would win a roster of dedicated, fashion-conscious clients that included the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Barbara Hutton, Jacqueline Onassis and Elizabeth Taylor. In 1933, Van Cleef & Arpels patented its trademark Mystery Setting — a technique by which gems are fitted into an intricate matrix of slots and “drawers” that keep the setting hidden. Another signal innovation was the Zip necklace, introduced in 1951, which can be worn either around the neck or, with the zipper closed, as a bracelet.
But as much as to the firm’s craftsmanship, clients have been drawn by the insouciance and playfulness of Van Cleef & Arpels designers, as well as their attunement to the cultural climate. After the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the company produced several lavish pieces featuring hieroglyphics and other Egyptian motifs to go along with the geometric Art Deco jewelry of that decade and the next. Following World War II, as symbols of freedom and rebirth, the firm focused on naturalistic forms such as birds, flowers, fruit and flying insects. High society’s 1960s fascination with the Near East and India prompted such pieces as the best-selling Alhambra necklace, popularized by Princess Grace.
Lately, attention among collectors and connoisseurs has centered on Van Cleef & Arpels’s quality of workmanship as much as its glamour. The firm was the subject of a 2012 show at the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, as well as exhibitions at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, in 2013 and at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2014.
Find an exquisite collection of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry on 1stDibs.
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.
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. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.
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 David Webb necklaces — 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 Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
With more than 100 carats of diamonds, this vintage stunner converts into different styles, making it as versatile as it is breathtaking.
Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.