Van Cleef And Arpels Diamond Suite
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
Coral, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Link Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century French Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Link Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Modernist Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
20th Century French Art Deco Figurines and Sculptures
Rock Crystal, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k ...
20th Century Greek Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Enamel
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Vintage 1970s French Cuff Bracelets
Chrysophrase, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Stud Earrings
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
1960s Cropped Jackets
20th Century French Three-Stone Rings
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
1980s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
Early 2000s Italian High Heels
Early 2000s Italian High Heels
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
1970s English Maxi Dresses
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
Vintage 1970s French Modernist Band Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Chrysophrase, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1990s French Jackets
2010s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s French More Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
French Chandelier Earrings
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
American Chandelier Earrings
Late 20th Century More Jewelry
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold
French Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Link Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Retro More Necklaces
White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1960s American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Cufflinks
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Retro Stud Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Choker Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Stud Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Dangle Earrings
Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1960s French Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Brooches
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Modern Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Multi-Strand Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s French Link Necklaces
White Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
Onyx, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
French Clip-on Earrings
French Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s French Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s French Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
French Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
American Clip-on Earrings
Van Cleef And Arpels Diamond Suite For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Van Cleef And Arpels Diamond Suite?
Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship
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.
The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design
Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.
From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!
There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.
Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.
In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).
When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
Read More
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Day or night, the vintage jewels make a statement.
This Turquoise Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Necklace Is a Rare and Alluring Find
You know the French maison’s famous motif well. But why is this particular piece so in demand?
A Mini Romance Plays Out on the Dial of This Van Cleef and Arpels Watch
The tiny lovers inch closer together by the hour and minute until they finally embrace on a world-famous bridge.
15 Scintillating Jewelry Watches to Elevate Your Holiday Style
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.
This Van Cleef & Arpels Necklace Is an Heirloom in the Making
With more than 100 carats of diamonds, this vintage stunner converts into different styles, making it as versatile as it is breathtaking.
Why the Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Collection Remains So Alluring
The lucky-charm style has been around for more than 50 years, and British royals are still drawn to it.
7 Vibrant Jewels for a Breezy Late-Summer Wardrobe
Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.
The 6 Most Popular Jewelry Houses on 1stDibs
Get to know the history behind the world's most iconic jewelry houses and the fabulous styles they designed.