Sold|$16,750
1960s Van Cleef & Arpels Gold Flower Ear Clips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Vintage ! gold & diamond flower design ear clips, 5 beautiful flower petals with diamond pistols. (Very light weight, feels like a feather) circa 1960's Makers signature: Van Cl...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose De Noel Mother of Pearl Medium Model Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Blossoming brilliance by Van Cleef & Arpels. Designed with shinning white mother of pearl petals and perfectly placed colorless diamonds to create the flower motif. Crafted in 18k ye...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels "Rose de Noël" Earrings Mother of Pearl
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
"Rose de Noël earrings, Small Model, yellow gold, white mother-of-pearl, round diamonds Since the 1970s, Van Cleef & Arpels has devoted a jewelry collection to Christmas roses, which...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 1970 Pair of Clips on Earrings in Textured 18Kt Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Clips-Earrings designed by Van Cleef & Arpels. Gorgeous bold pieces, created by the house of Van Cleef & Arpels, back in the 1970's.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS 18K Yellow Gold Lion Door Knocker Earrings w/Box Vintage 1970
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Van Cleef & Arpels NY 18K Yellow Gold Lion Door Knocker Earrings w/Box 1970s Vintage Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer pair of earrings.
Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS 1970 Coral Earrings In 18Kt Gold With 1.68 Ctw VS Diamonds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Condition: The overall condition of these Van Cleef & Arpels earrings is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the gold.
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Carnelian 18k Rose Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-2188 Comes With Box Only Date 2014 RRP £2,560 Inc VAT / $2,720 Excl VAT / 2920 € Inc VAT Model VCARN6BO00 Serial Number JE****** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stones Carnelian Weight 2....
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Carnelian 18k Rose Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU CT-2097 Comes With Full Set (Box, Card, Invoice) Date 2019 RRP £2,560 Inc VAT / $2,720 Excl VAT / 2920 € Inc VAT Model VCARN6BO00 Serial Number JA****** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stone...
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 1970 Paris Clips On Earrings In 18Kt Gold With Carved Wood
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Ear clips designed by Van Cleef & Arpels. Fabulous and very rare pair of clips-on earrings, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of Van Cleef & Arpels, back in the 1970.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 0.50 Carat Diamond and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clip-On Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Tantalizingly shaped, immaculately polished, and ever-enchanting, the classically luxurious 18K yellow gold is tastefully embellished with scintillating F color diamonds of VS clarit...
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels Pair of Diamond White Gold 18K Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Geneva, CH
Pair of diamond white gold 18K Earstuds. Each diamond weights approximately 0.50 carat. Signed Van Cleef and Arpels. Numbered Vca B3051 Z1. French marks. Original Van Cleef and Arpe...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Two Motif Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33301645 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2014 RRP £6,300 Incl. Taxes / €7,400 Incl. Taxes / $7,100 Excl. Taxes Model VCARD78800 Serial Number JE****** Metal 18k Yellow Gold...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Trefle 18 Karat Yellow Gold 0.82 ct Diamond and Ruby Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
The Van Cleef & Arpels “Trefle” earrings are made of 18K yellow gold and each weighs 3.3 grams, measuring 0.60” in length and 0.60” in width.
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Two Motifs Mother of Pearl Yellow Gold Earring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU CT-2498 Comes With Full Set (Pouch + Card) Date 2017 Model VCARD78800 Serial Number JE****** Metal 18k Yellow Gold Stones Mother of Pearl Weight 14.3 g Condition Excellent Other ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Two Motifs Mother of Pearl Yellow Gold Earring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU CT-2498 Comes With Full Set (Pouch + Card) Date 2017 RRP £6,000 Incl taxes / $ 6,400 Excl /7,000 € Incl taxes Model VCARD78800 Serial Number JE****** Metal 18k Yellow Gold Stones...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Two Motifs Mother of Pearl Yellow Gold Earring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU CT-2564 Comes With Box Date 2021 RRP £6,000 Incl taxes / $ 6,400 Excl /7,000 € Incl taxes Model VCARD78800 Serial Number JE****** Metal 18k Yellow Gold Stones Mother of Pearl We...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage 18K Rose Gold and 0.98 Carat Diamond Clip-On Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
These vintage earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels are made of 18K rose gold and embellished with a total of 0.98 carats of diamond stones that boast grade F color and VS1 clarity.
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Retro Pink Sapphire and Diamond Swirl Earring, 18k
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Van Cleef & Arpels Retro Pink Sapphire and Diamond Swirl Earrings made in 18k yellow gold.
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Circa 1970s Van Cleef & Arpels 5.50 Carat Diamond Ear Crawler Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
From the House of Van Cleef & Arpels these stunning diamond ear crawler earrings are crafted in 18 karat yellow & white gold, and feature 56 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing app...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef And Arpels PURE Alhambra Mother Of Pearl Diamonds Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Van Cleef & Arpels Earrings from the Iconic "Pure Alhambra Collection" features 2 lucky Clover Design Crafted in 18k White Gold and set with Fine White D-E Color Diamonds. .85 cts o...
Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Andre Vassort VCA Knot Ring and Clip Earrings Set Gold 1970s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
Van Cleef & Arpels André Vassort for VCA gordian knot earrings & cocktail ring set in 18kt textured yellow gold, vintage 1970s.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Gold Flower Lace Earclips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
V.C.A. Flowerlace Earrings in 18k White Gold. Centered around a sparking fleurette motif, the elegant curved diamond petals give a light airy look to these delicately extravagant ear...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 1970 Enameled Earrings In 18Kt Gold With 1.68 Ctw in Diamonds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Enameled earrings designed by Van Cleef & Arpels. Beautiful pair of clips-on earrings, created in France by the iconic Parisian jewelry house of Van Cleef & Arpels, back in the1970's.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Diamond, Mother of Pearl, Coral & Chrysoprase Earring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
These very rare vintage earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels are crafted from 18K yellow gold and each of the two weighs 12.1 grams.
Chrysophrase, Coral, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 1.50 CTW Diamond 18 Karat Gold Vintage Drop Ear-Clip Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ear-clips are designed as two scalloped shell forms connected via gold disc Drops articulate and feature pavè set round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing in total approximately 1.50 ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Gold Ring and Earclips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Geneva, CH
Diamond Gold Ring and Ear-clips. Signed and numbered. French marks. Ring Size: 50.5 (FR) / 5 1/2 (US). Ear-clip Measures: Height: 4 cm (1.6 inches) Width (at the largest): 3 ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold, White Gold 0.99 ct Diamond and Sapphire
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Dissimilar colors make these Van Cleef & Arpels butterfly earrings truly captivating to behold.
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Chalcedony Mother of Pearl Long Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARN18800 Date Circa 2013 Serial No ...
Chalcedony, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Mother-of-Pearl 2 Motifs Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-1734 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARD78800 Date Circa 2014 ______________________________________ Metal 18K Yellow Gold Stone Mother-of-Pearl Weight Approx. 14g Serial No...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Chalcedony Mother of Pearl Long Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-1507 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARN18800 Date ...
Chalcedony, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra Letterwood Rose Gold Long Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous Van Cleef & Arpels necklace is crafted in 18k rose gold and features a letterwood pendant. The Magic Alhambra collection inspired by lucky four-leaf clovers and the sca...
Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Late 20th Century Ruby Diamond Platinum 'Mystère' Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French Mid-20th Century 18 karat gold and platinum earrings with diamonds and rubies by Van Cleef & Arpels.
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
French Van Cleef & Arples 12.8 Carat Diamond Clip Earrings, Circa 1970s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Hailing from the prestigious French Maison of Van Cleef & Arpels, these circa 1970 earrings are a testament to timeless elegance and the artistry of fine jewelry making.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise Butterfly 18K White Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
Dandelion Antiques Code AT-0704 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model Sweet Alhambra Date Ci...
Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Coral Onyx Diamond Earrings and Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Coral Onyx and Diamond Earrings and Ring by Van Cleef and Arpels Signed, serial numbered and French Marked Made in France circa 1970
Coral, Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
Sold|$41,234
Van Cleef & Arpels Coral Half Set
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
Van Cleef & Arpels half set composed with a ring and earrings in yellow gold, diamonds, white and red coral.
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Emerald Diamond Gold Flower Ear Clips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A pair of florar ear clips with diamonds and central emeralds by Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1980. Diameter of approx 2cm (0.8 inches)
Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Van Cleef & Arpels Emerald Earrings with Rubies and Diamonds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in 18k yellow gold with two Cabochon Emeralds weighing approximately a total of 12.00 carats, 10 Pear-Shaped Rubies weighing approximately a total of 3.00 carats, and ...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels "Cosmos" Medium Size Diamond Gold Earclips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
With their four subtly angled, heart-shaped petals, Cosmos creations are inspired by one of Van Cleef & Arpels signature flowers, dating from the 1950s. Elegance all the way, with 1...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Paris 1980s Diamond and Gold Door Knocker Ear Pendants
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French 18 karat gold, platinum and diamond earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Sold|$14,500
Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise Pearls Earclips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of Gold, Turquoise and Cultured Pearl Earclips by Van Cleef & Arpels, mounted on 18kt yellow gold. Made in France, circa 1950. The bombé earclips of alternating lines of round...
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Sold|$49,000
Van Cleef & Arpels Swan Diamond Earclips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Elegant ! Van Cleef & Arpels "Swan" diamond & emerald earclips 246 brilliant cut diamonds with 7.23 carats & 2 round emerald eyes Makers hallmark: V C A 756H-1
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Mother of Pearl 18KYG Earrings Box and Papers
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Authentic Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Mother of Pearl earrings crafted in 18 karat yellow gold.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Mother-of-Pearl 18K White Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-2054 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARG12000 Date Approx 2014 Retail Price £2,440 Incl taxes/2 790 ...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Miroir des Eaux Mother-of-Pearl, Onyx and Diamond Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Weston, MA
In these earrings the mother-of-pearl plaques are inlaid with onyx cherry tree branches and a-topped with diamond cherry blossoms and a single pear-shaped diamond drop of dew creatin...
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Mother of Pearl and Chalcedony 3 Motif Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
*Rare Find* Exude elegance with these stunning Magic Alhambra earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels. Crafted from 18k white gold, this exquisite pair showcases three motifs featuring a h...
Chalcedony, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$14,750
Van Cleef & Arpels Gold Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, finely crafted in 18k yellow gold weighing 29.9 dwt.
18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose de Noel Turquoise Diamond 18kYG Earrings Box & Papers
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Iconic Van Cleef & Arpels Rose de Noel turquoise and diamonds floral earrings crafted in 18 karat yellow gold.
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise Butterfly White Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-1856 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARN5JN00 Date Approx 2015 Retail Price £3,250 Inc taxes/3 700 € Inc taxes/$ 3,450 ______________________________________ Metal 18...
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise 18k Yellow Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-1638 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARD25600 Date ...
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise 18k Yellow Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-1592 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARD25600 Date ...
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Mid 20th Century Diamond and Gold Earclips
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French 18 karat gold and platinum flower ear clips with diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise 18K White Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-1865 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARA44500 Date Approx 2014 Retail Price £3,250 Inc taxes / $3,450 Excl taxes / 3 700 € Inc taxes _________________________________...
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Turquoise 18K White Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-1754 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARA44500 Date Approx 2017 Retail Price £3,250 Including taxes / $3,450 Excluding taxes / 3 700 € Inc taxes ______________________...
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Onyx 18k Yellow Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU. AT-1635 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARA44900 Date Approx 2017 Retail Price £2,300 Including taxes ...
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Onyx 18k Yellow Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU. AT-1632 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARA44900 Date Approx 2022 Retail Price £2,300 Including taxes ...
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Carnelian 18k Rose Gold Earstuds
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
Dandelion Code AT-1633 Brand Van Cleef & Arpels Model VCARN6BO00 Date Approx 2021 Retail Price £2,560 Including taxes / $2,72...
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose 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.
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.