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Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Crescent Brooch
Located in London, GB
This is a gorgeous sapphire and diamond set crescent moon brooch dating back to the Victorian
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Sapphire & Diamond Clover Brooch Circa 1890
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
This stunning Victorian brooch features a long stemmed three leaf clover set with sapphires and
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal

Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Sapphire & Diamond Brooch
Located in Brighton, GB
Oval Shaped Brooch. Set with Gorgeous Sapphires & Diamonds. Beautifully Detailed with Fine Etruscan
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 15k Gold

Victorian 0.95ct Sapphire and Diamond Brooch, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
A charming sapphire and diamond halo, is central to this Victorian Brooch. The main sapphire is
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Late Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Crescent Brooch
Located in London, GB
Late Victorian crescent brooch (circa 1890), showcasing 15 vivid oval cut blue sapphires and 15
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire

Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Crescent Brooch, Circa 1890
Located in Glasgow, GB
A late 19th-century Victorian brooch, crafted circa 1890s, featuring sapphires and diamonds set in
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 9k Gold, Silver

Victorian Sapphire, Diamond and Gold Crescent Brooch, Circa 1880
Located in London, GB
A Victorian sapphire and diamond crescent brooch, set with seven, round faceted sapphires
Category

Antique 1880s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Victorian Diamond Crescent Brooch, with Sapphire, Ruby and Diamond Inserts
Located in London, GB
A Victorian three row crescent brooch, with a removable, original, sapphire insert and newly made
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Silver

Victorian Sapphire Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold Bar Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Victorian 0.18 carat sapphire and seed pearl, 0.08 carat diamond and
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 5.00ct Pink Sapphire and Diamond Brooch, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
Hand crafted during the Victorian period, this stunning brooch is a true one off. The floral design
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian 0.40ct Sapphire, Diamond and Pearl Clover Brooch, c.1900s
Located in London, GB
A lovely clover is set with gorgeous blue sapphires, diamonds and pearls in this Victorian brooch
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Diamond, Sapphire, Silver

Victorian Sapphire Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold 'Insect' Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Victorian 0.04 carat diamond and 0.05 carat natural blue sapphire
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Ruby Sapphire and Diamond Love Heart Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have a charming brooch taken from the Victorian period. This antique piece has been crafted
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Sapphire Diamond Pearl Gold Brooch Pin
Located in New York, NY
Victorian 18k gold brooch, with three blue sapphires and one old mine diamond, as well as 5 pearls
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold

Victorian Silver-Gilt Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby and Pearl Butterfly Brooch
Located in Darien, CT
and delightful, the butterfly brooch is set with sapphires, rubies, rose-cut diamonds, and seed pearls
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Silver

Victorian Sapphire Rose Cut Diamond 3-Dimensnional Swan Brooch
Located in Narberth, PA
A magnificent sapphire and diamond swan pin from the Victorian (ca1880) era! Crafted in sterling
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Sterling Silver

Estate 14K Gold Victorian Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby Crescent Brooch
Located in Hicksville, NY
Estate 14K Gold Victorian Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby Crescent Brooch - VHK#994 Item Details: Year
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Opal Pink Sapphire Rose Cut Diamond Antique Victorian Brooch
Located in New York, NY
stunning Pink Sapphires, and 88 sparkling Rose Cut Diamonds. The Opals are just out of this world. It is
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby and Opal butterfly brooch, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
An incredible mix of diamonds, sapphires, rubies and opals encrust this hand crafted butterfly
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 15k Gold

Victorian 0.50ct Sapphire, Diamond and Pearl Bug Brooch, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This charming Victorian brooch is crafted in the delightful form of a flying bug. At its centre
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Antique 18KT Yellow Gold and Silver Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A stunning piece from the Victorian era, this antique brooch is crafted in 18KT yellow gold with a
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl Diamond Emerald Sapphire and Ruby Bug Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have a remarkable brooch taken from the Victoria period. This antique piece demonstrates
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 6.50 Carats Cushion Cut Sapphire & Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An antique Victorian brooch, featuring a bezel-set 6.50 carats old mine cushion cut natural
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Silver

Victorian 8.00ct Diamond, Sapphire and Emerald Butterfly Brooch, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This one of a kind brooch from the 1880s is encrusted with a colourful collection of diamonds
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond & Sapphire Crescent Moon Brooch in 18K Gold and Platinum
Located in Miami, FL
A romantic celestial brooch from the Victorian era, crafted in 18K yellow gold with a platinum top
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 2.92ct Sapphire and 0.72ct Diamond 12ct Yellow Gold Bar Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique Victorian 0.72 carat diamond and 2.92 carat sapphire, 12
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Victorian 15K gold horse-shoe sapphire brooch
Located in Braintree, GB
Antique Victorian 15kt yellow gold cushion-shaped horse-shoe sapphire and diamond brooch. Made in
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 15k Gold

Victorian Style 7.55ct Diamonds, Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald Brooch Silver & Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Beautiful victorian style tutti frutti brooch. Approximately 3.85ct round cut diamonds, J/K color
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Snake Brooch 18k Gold Emerald, Sapphire & Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Orlando, FL
Victorian 18K Gold Snake & Flower Brooch with Emeralds, Sapphire, and Rose Cut Diamonds – ca. Mid
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond Ruby Sapphire and Pearls 18k Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
Old mine cut diamonds, rubys, sapphires and pearls 18k yellow gold and platinum brooch. Probably
Category

Vintage 1930s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian 2.80 carat synthetic sapphire diamond pearl 18k yellow gold brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Victorian brooch features a 2.80-carat cushion cut synthetic sapphire surrounded by 24 rose
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian Snake Sapphire 3.5 Carat Diamonds 3.2 Carat Pendant Pin Brooch, 1890
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Sapphires and Diamonds. Can be worn as a pin brooch or as a pendant, please take a look at all the pictures
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire

Victorian 0.34 Carat Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire Clover Brooch, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
This pretty Victorian brooch features diamonds, ruby and sapphire forming a three-leaf clover. The
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian 1880s Diamond Ruby and Sapphire Yellow Gold Bar Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine 0.52 carat diamond, 0.24 carat ruby and sapphire, 9k yellow gold and silver set bar brooch
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian Sapphire & Diamond GIA Pin/ Brooch 3.14ct 14K Antique Original 1900s
Located in Dearborn, MI
Sapphire & Diamond Pin/Brooch of 3.14cttw. Experience authentic vintage elegance today! Victorian Sapphire
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Gold Silver 9.5ct Sapphire & Diamond Dangle Brooch Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
, open design that is completely drenched with fine quality sapphires and diamonds throughout. The round
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian 0.15 Carat Sapphire, Pearl and Diamond Bug Brooch, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
This charming gem set fly brooch was created in the Victorian era. The thorax of the fly is made of
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian pearl ruby diamond sapphire 14k yellow gold crescent clover brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This charming Victorian brooch from the 1880s is crafted in 14k yellow gold and features a 3.90 mm
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Sapphire and Pearl Diamond and Yellow Gold Bar Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique Victorian 0.95 carat sapphire and seed pearl, 0.82 carat diamond and 14 karat
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

18ct Gold & Silver French Victorian Ruby Sapphire Diamond Pearl Butterfly Brooch
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Butterfly Brooch 18ct Rose Gold French Stamped Circa 1880 This exquisite Victorian-era
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold

Victorian 9K Gold Fly Pin or Brooch with Diamonds, Rubies, and Sapphire
Located in Venice, CA
Perched in the center of this 9k gold brooch is a beautiful jewel encrusted Victorian fly. The fly
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Era 3.82 Carat No Heat Sapphire and Diamond GRS Certified Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
1800's Victorian Era Silver & 9K Gold Brooch with No Heat 3.82 Carat Cushion Sapphire Brooch
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Baroque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 9k Gold, Silver

5.15 Carat Ruby Sapphire Diamond Opal Gold Silver Victorian Moth Brooch
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid 1880's Victorian moth Brooch. Set with rubies, diamonds, sapphires and opals in a 11-12 yellow
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Yellow Gold, Gold

Victorian Natural Unenhanced Star Sapphire Diamond Sapphire Silver Gold Pin
Located in London, GB
Star sapphire, sapphire and diamond pin. Set with an oval cabochon natural unenhanced star sapphire
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Silver, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond and Sapphire Double Pin, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
rows of diamonds and sapphires. The old cut diamonds total to 0.40 carat, while the french cut blue
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Late 19th Century Sapphire Diamond Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
with five natural blue sapphires framed by rose cut diamonds. Estimated total sapphire weight is 1.70
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Antique Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold and Platinum Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
and impressive sapphire and diamond brooch has been crafted in 12k yellow gold with a platinum setting
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald Vermeil Silver Grasshopper Cricket Brooch
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
Grasshopper or Cricket form brooch-pendant, set with rose cut diamonds and cabochon sapphires
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Vermeil, Silver

Victorian French Ruby, Diamond, and Sapphire Horseshoe Pin
Located in Narberth, PA
An absolutely exquisite gemstone pin from the Victorian (ca1847-1919) era! Crafted in vibrant 18kt
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

14kt Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Brooch/Pendant CGL Certified
Located in Antwerp, BE
14kt Yellow Gold & Silver Sapphire & Diamond Brooch / Pendant CGL Certified Sapphire: 2.2 carat
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

French Antique Sapphire Diamond and Silver Upon Gold Crescent Brooch, Circa 1890
Located in London, GB
A French antique sapphire and diamond crescent brooch, with a graduating row of cushion-cut
Category

Antique 1890s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Silver

Antique 1.60ct Sapphire, 1.05ct Diamond, Ruby and 15k Yellow Gold Insect Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive, rare antique Victorian 1.60 carat sapphire, 1.05 carat diamond
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 19th Century Sapphire Ruby Diamond Bee Insect Animal Brooch Silver Gold
Located in Lisbon, PT
Antique 19th Century Diamond, Sapphire, and Ruby Bee Brooch in Silver and Gold. A captivating 19th
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Silver

Antique GIA Certified 6 Carat Cabochon-Cut Sapphire and Diamond Floral Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
Antique GIA Certified 6 Carat Total Cabochon-Cut Blue Sapphire and Round Cut Diamond Halo Floral
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Rose Cut Diamond, Ruby Sapphire Emerald Vermeil Cricket Silver Brooch-Pendant
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
Grasshopper or Cricket form brooch-pendant, set with rose cut diamonds and cabochon sapphires
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Vermeil, Silver

Victorian Pear Cut Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Snake Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
cut sapphire Weighing approximately 1.03 carats Transparent vibrant medium blue in color Accented by
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

French Victorian Style Multi-Gem and Diamond Dragonfly Brooch for Him in Silver
Located in New York, NY
French Victorian Style Multi-Gem and Diamond Dragonfly Brooch for Him in sterling silver which is a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver

18kt Gold Silver Old Diamond Pink Sapphire and Cameo Brooch
Located in Firenze, IT
Depicting Dionysus with vine leaves and grapes, lenght 6,5cm, Holland mark. Fitted case by Calderoni Milano.
Category

Antique 1870s Dutch Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

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Victorian Diamond Sapphire Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the victorian diamond sapphire brooch you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, Silver and 18k Gold. Our collection of these items for sale includes 173 vintage editions and 5 modern creations to choose from as well. Finding the perfect victorian diamond sapphire brooch may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic victorian diamond sapphire brooch over the years, but those made by Fabergé, Giuliano and Tiffany & Co. are often thought to be among the most beautiful. A round cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also rose cut and old mine cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for a victorian diamond sapphire brooch, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Victorian Diamond Sapphire Brooch?

On average, a victorian diamond sapphire brooch at 1stDibs sells for $4,017, while they’re typically $550 on the low end and $208,807 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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 ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.