Van Cleef & Arpels Tiger Eye Carnelian 16 Motif Magic Alhambra Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
The Magic Alhambra collection introduces Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic motif in a variation of sizes, exploring boldly a-symmetrical designs that transform the motifs into poetic charms.
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye, Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Tiger Eye Carnelian 16 Motif Magic Alhambra Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
The Magic Alhambra collection introduces Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic motif in a variation of sizes, exploring boldly a-symmetrical designs that transform the motifs into poetic charms.
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye, Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Tiger Eye Carnelian 16 Motif Magic Alhambra Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
The Magic Alhambra collection introduces Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic motif in a variation of sizes, exploring boldly a-symmetrical designs that transform the motifs into poetic charms.
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Tri Color Gold Flat High Polish Link Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
The flat design of the bracelet lends a modern and sleek aesthetic, while the high polish finish enhances the brilliance of the precious metals. With its vintage charm and timeless a...
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Carnelian Tiger Eye 16 Motif Long Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
The Magic Alhambra collection introduces Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic motif in a variation of sizes, exploring boldly a-symmetrical designs that transform the motifs into poetic charms.
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold Frivole Secrète Medium 35mm Ladies Watch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
The hidden diamond dial, concealed beneath a floral cover, adds an element of mystery and charm. As expected from Van Cleef & Arpels, the diamonds are of the highest quality, flawles...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Georges L'Enfant Aries Zodiac Gold Pendant Small
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Greenwich, CT
Small but very powerful this rare Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Georges L'Enfant Aries zodiac modernist 18 karat yellow gold pendant charm is both precious and collectible.
Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Mercredi a Paris 18k Rose Gold Diamond Coral Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Prepare to be enchanted by the exquisite beauty and timeless elegance of this highly collectible estate Van Cleef & Arpels Mercredi a Paris necklace. Meticulously crafted with except...
Coral, Diamond, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels MOP 18K Gold Rope Bar Cufflinks Studs Dress Set
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Simpsonville, SC
The Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Gold and Mother of Pearl Rope Bar Cufflinks and Studs Dress Set is a testament to the maison’s timeless sophistication and artistry.
Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Long Chain Necklace Alhambra Collection In 18ct Rose Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, GB
A rose gold Alhambra necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, 2014, the 33.5” necklace features twenty textured double sided clover motifs in 18ct rose gold with a beaded border, joined by ov...
Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Lion Ébouriffe Brooch 18k Estate Diamond Emerald & Onyx Gems
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in MIAMI, FL
Beautiful estate creation from famed designer Van Cleef & Arpels. The brooch is crafted in 18k yellow gold and platinum and known as the Ébouriffe Lion.
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold
Van Cleef Arpels Vintage Alhambra Ring in 18 Karat Yellow Gold 0.06 Carat
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Faithful to the very first Alhambra(R) jewel created in 1968, the Vintage Alhambra creations by Van Cleef & Arpels are distinguished by their unique, timeless elegance.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire Diamond Gold Fly Bee Brooch Pin Fine Estate Jewelry
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Montreal, QC
Elegant & Finely detailed signed Van Cleef & Arpels, France Bee Fly Wasp Brooch set with Turquoise, Sapphire and Diamonds, weighing approx. .65 total carats.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels 18 Karat Gold “Je Te Porterai Bonheur” Wood Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
It translates to “I will bring you luck.” A chic French charm made in gold and wood by Van Cleef & Arpels circa 1960.
Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Cosmo 18K Yellow Gold 1.27 ct Diamond Small Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
This piece from the Van Cleef & Arpels Cosmo collection is a good luck charm that you’ll always want by your side.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels George L'Enfant Vintage Capricorn Zodiac Gold Charm Pendant
By Georges L'Enfant
Located in Greenwich, CT
Just arrived and waiting for those born a Capricorn (December 22-January 19th) this large size coveted Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Georges L'Enfant vintage pendant zodiac charm will alw...
Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Yellow and White Gold Bangle Bracelet
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
Elegance and charm are exhibited in this vintage, two-tone bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$272,727 / set
Van Cleef & Arpels Pearls & Diamonds Earrings GIA Report 18KYG
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These Van Cleef & Arpels Estate earrings showcase the beauty of natural pearls and diamonds set in 18K yellow gold.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Jean Vitau Vintage 18k Gold Set Necklace and Earrings Gemstones Estate Jewelry
By Jean Vitau
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
In addition to working for Tiffany, Vitau created jewels for Van Cleef & Arpels in parallel with building his own company.
Amethyst, Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Trifari by Alfred Philippe 'floral' paste bracelet, 1930s
By Alfred Philippe for Trifari
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
In 1930, they employed a young designer Alfred Philippe, who had been designing magnificent, stylish jewels for Van Cleef and Arpels, and Cartier. Philippe’s designs for Trifari are ...
Rhodium, Base Metal
Sold|$7,950 / set
Jean Mahie 22k Gold Convertible Earrings
By Jean Mahie
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Since then, Jean Mahie history has been a history of growth and recognition not only by devoted customers but also by such famous makers as Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier. Neiman Mar...
22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Crown Trifari 1950s Gripoix Purple Amber Green Round Interlock Pendant Necklace
By Alfred Philippe for Trifari
Located in Wokingham, England
Crown Trifari created some of the most desirable costume jewellery of the twentieth century, many of its designers having trained and designed at Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier. Amo...
Gold Plate
Cartier Brooch by Aldo Cipullo Yellow Sapphire Unicorn Design Estate Jewelry
By Aldo Cipullo for Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Unlike other renowned luxury jewelry brands like Van Cleef & Arpels or Tiffany & Co., which often work with a variety of precious stones, Cartier has a strong focus on diamonds and p...
Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels / Tiffany & Co. Diamond Charm Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Signed Van Cleef & Arpels / Tiffany. Chain – 14k and signed Tiffany Charms – 18k and signed VCA
Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Van Cleef & Arpels Iconic Gold Charm Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
One of a Kind Special Van Cleef & Arpels charm bracelet made in 18k yellow gold.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Ruby Turquoise Yellow Gold Bird Charm Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Vintage 18k yellow gold diamond, turquoise and ruby bird charm bracelet, signed Van Cleef & Arpels. circa 1980s
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18k Gold and Malachite Alhambra Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Vaughan, CA
Van Cleef & Arpels Bracelet 18k yellow gold with 5 malachite Alhambras. Lobster claw closure. 8" in diameter. Total weight 13 grams.
18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Romance Diamond Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Feasterville, PA
A chic bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels featuring coral, moonstone and a diamond crafted in 18k rose gold. The bracelet measures 6.5" in length. Inventory ID: 0000370
Coral, Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra bracelet malachite
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra bracelet, 5 motifs, 18K yellow gold, malachite. The most beautiful green color malachite bracelet. A must have jewelry! As each stone is unique, ...
Malachite, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Dallas, TX
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Yellow Gold Bracelet - . Vintage Alhambra Yellow Gold, 5 motif Bracelet. Hallmark, designers mark. Wrist size 7.2 inches. Pre-owned with Van Clee...
Yellow Gold
Sold|$8,995 / item
Van Cleef & Arpels Coral Moonstone Gold Romance Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels Material: 18k Yellow Gold Gemstone Details: Coral and Moonstones Diamond Details: Approximately 0.10ct round brilliant diamond. The diamond on this br...
Coral, Moonstone, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Alhambra Four Motif Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Geneva, CH
Created in 1968, the Alhambra motif has quickly become an emblematic symbol of Van Cleef & Arpels. This yellow gold Lucky Alhambra four motifs bracelet features a stone combination o...
Carnelian, Malachite, Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Gold, Mother-of-Pearl and Chalcedony Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Greenwich, CT
You will create your own luck by wearing this four leaf clover inspired Alhambra bracelet. Designed and signed by Van Cleef & Arpels, this 18 karat white gold small link bracele...
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Lucky Spring Bracelet VCARP7RR00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A lovely 18k rose gold, Lucky Alhambra bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels from the Spring collection. The bracelet features a carnelian and onyx ladybug motif, a single rose gold leaf mo...
Carnelian, Onyx, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Five-Motif Diamond Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This bracelet is no other than VCA Magic Alhambra Diamond Bracelet. This coveted piece is like new with 5 motifs. Created in 2006 this bracelet has different sized Alhambra motifs ...
White Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Malachite Vintage Alhambra 5 Motif Bracelet VCARL80900
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A gorgeous 18k yellow gold malachite bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, from their Vintage Alhambra collection. The bracelet features 5 of the iconic 4 leaf clover motifs, each with a b...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Lapis Lazuli Tiger's Eye Gold Fish Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Swim in a sea of style with this posh bracelet from Van Cleef & Arpels! The bracelet is made of 18K yellow gold and features an adorable fish charm made of lapis lazuli and tiger's e...
Lapis Lazuli, Tiger's Eye, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Butterfly White Gold Turquoise Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet from the iconic Sweet Alhambra collection feature the classic butterfly accent crafted in 18k white gold and set with blue turquoise. Made i...
Turquoise, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Five Motif Turquoise Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Designed in an exceptionally elegant manner that the iconic “Alhambra” collection is renowned for, this attractive Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet is an epitome of luxurious refinement. ...
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra White and Grey MOP Onyx Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS VCA Magic Alhambra 18k Yellow Gold White, Grey Mother Of Pearl & Black Onyx Bracelet. With 2 white mother of pearl alhambra motifs 26mm & 20mm 2 black onyx alham...
Onyx, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra White Gold Mother of Pearl Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Dallas, TX
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra White Gold Mother of Pearl Bracelet - Vintage Alhambra White Gold, 5 motif Mother of Pearl Bracelet. Hallmark, designers mark. Wrist size 7.2 inc...
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Chrysoprase 5 Motif Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This rare Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet from the iconic Vintage Alhambra collection features 5 lucky clover charms crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with green chrysoprase.
Chrysophrase, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Black Onyx 18K White Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, beautifully crafted in solid 18K white gold. This refined piece features the Maison’s iconic clover motif...
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Black Onyx 18K White Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, beautifully crafted in solid 18K white gold. This refined piece features the Maison’s iconic clover motifs se...
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Black Onyx 18K White Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, beautifully crafted in solid 18K white gold. This refined piece features the Maison’s iconic clover motif...
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Turquoise 18K Yellow Gold Rare Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
18K Yellow Gold AU 750 Baby Light Blue Turquoise Motifs. Very gorgeous Turquoise with beautiful hues, colors, polish and shine. Please review all photos and video to see how it look...
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Mother of Pearl Diamonds Rose Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra bracelet crafted in solid 18K rose gold, featuring the rare and refined Grey (Silver) Mother of Pearl motifs accented ...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 5-Motif Carnelian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
By Van Cleef and Arpels, enjoy procuring this iconic Alhambra 5 Motif Carnelian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet to elevate your jewelry wardrobe. Considered a coveted design by its fam...
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 5-Motif Onyx 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
By Van Cleef and Arpels, enjoy procuring this iconic Alhambra 5 Motif Onyx 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet to elevate your jewelry wardrobe. Considered a coveted design by its famous m...
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra 5 Motif Bracelet Mother of Pearl Chalcedony
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to offer this beautiful Guaranteed Authentic Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra 5 Motif Bracelet with original VCA box and insurance valuation. Created in 2006 by Van C...
Chalcedony, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra 5 Motif Onyx MOP Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet from the Magic Alhambra collection is crafted in 18k yellow gold and features 5 lucky clover motifs, 3 inlaid with mother-of-pearl and 2 inl...
Onyx, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 5 Vintage Alhambra Green Malachite 18K Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Extremely beautiful rich Green Malachite gemstone motifs Vintage Alhambra Special Edition Bracelet. Very rare and highly desirable example showcasing the natural banded patterns and ...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Dark Pietersite 18K White Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
18K White Gold AU 750 Very gorgeous Dark Blue & Black Black Pietersite with natural veining, hues, colors, polish and shine. Please review all photos and video to see how it loo...
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Rock Crystal Yellow Gold Bracelet Rare
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Guaranteed authentic extremely are and highly collectible Vintage Alhambra 5 motif bracelet features rare Rock Crystal set in 18K yellow gold. Impossible to find and no longer availa...
Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 5 Diamond Pave Motifs Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K yellow gold. This refined piece features the Maison’s iconic clover moti...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 5 Motif Rock Crystal Quartz Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Van Cleef & Arpels 5 Motif Vintage Alhambra Rock Crystal Bracelet Elegant 5 Motif Vintage Alhambra bracelet featuring luminous transparent rock crystal motifs, showcasing the timeles...
Crystal, Quartz, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 5 Vintage Alhambra Red Carnelian 18K Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Beautiful Red Carnelian gemstone motifs Vintage Alhambra Bracelet. Very special and highly sought-after example featuring the warm, vibrant tones and natural depth characteristic of ...
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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.
These flowers will never wilt.
The classic ’60s design has become particularly popular among sporty types.
Day or night, the vintage jewels make a statement.
You know the French maison’s famous motif well. But why is this particular piece so in demand?
The tiny lovers inch closer together by the hour and minute until they finally embrace on a world-famous bridge.
Watchmakers have tucked their movements into all manner of precious baubles, from lapel pins to cocktail rings. The result is dazzling, wearable art that will get you to the party on time.
With more than 100 carats of diamonds, this vintage stunner converts into different styles, making it as versatile as it is breathtaking.
The lucky-charm style has been around for more than 50 years, and British royals are still drawn to it.