Antique 9k Rose Gold Victorian Guard Chain with Dog Clip
Located in New York, NY
Fabulous antique 9k rose gold Victorian guard chain with dog clip at 20". We love it worn plain
Rose Gold
Vintage Guard Chain Necklace, c.1970s
Located in London, GB
1970s in the style of a Victorian guard chain and features intricate patterning on each of the chain
9k Gold
150cm Victorian 9k Yellow Gold Fancy Link Guard Chain Circa 1880
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
This Victorian fancy anchor like link guard chain is crafted in 9k yellow gold and does not have a
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 14K Gold Fancy Link Long Guard Chain with Embossed Details
Located in Venice, CA
Circa the Victorian era, this 14k gold chain consists of an alternating long rectangular link and a
Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Victorian Long Guard 58" Chain 8k Yellow Gold Fancy Link Necklace
Located in Torrance, CA
Stylish and finely detailed antique Victorian 'Long Guard' chain necklace crafted in 8k yellow gold
Gold, Yellow Gold
$8,092
W 0.19 in L 59.06 in
Antique Rare hollow long guard chain - early Victorian necklace - solid gold
Located in Antwerp, BE
alternating chains, both styles are geometric with a tough appearance. These links are all hollow and have
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$5,334
W 0.16 in L 27.37 in
18k Antique solid gold Sautoir - Victorian necklace - Long guard chain dog clasp
Located in Antwerp, BE
yellow gold and therefore turned somewhat orangy, buttery gold coloured. This elegant chain consists of
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$4,495
W 0.13 in L 59.06 in
Antique 18k solid gold Sautoir - long guard necklace - Hollow curb chain - 150cm
Located in Antwerp, BE
hollow small curb chain and a dog clasp that opens with a pull back closure. The chain is loved and worn
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
NCR & Co Antique Victorian Gold Gilt Metal Long Guard Chain with Dog Clip
Located in London, GB
NCR & Co antique Victorian gold gilt metal long guard chain, with the original swivel dog clip that
Antique Victorian Guard Chain 9ct Gold
Located in Kendal, GB
A luxurious antique Victorian guard chain made up of solid cable links fashioned in 9ct gold. Each
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Guard Chain in 15 Carat Gold
Located in Kendal, GB
A grand antique Victorian guard chain made during the late 19th Century. The chain is all 15ct gold
Gold
Antique Victorian Guard Chain 15ct Gold, Circa 1900
Located in Kendal, GB
A grand antique Victorian Guard chain from the late 19th Century consisting of solid 15ct yellow
Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Guard Chain 18 Carat Gold On Silver, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster , GB
A robust Antique Victorian guard chain made up of strong Silver cable links which have been gilded
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Victorian Guard Chain Pink Paste Necklace, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
Guard chain is Victorian, Circa 1900. The chain is long and beautifully made, displaying lovely Pink
9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Guard Chain 18 Carat Gold on Silver Link Necklace, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
An exquisite antique Victorian long guard chain made up of fabulous Silver links that have been
18k Gold, Silver
Antique Victorian Long Guard Chain Sterling Silver, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster , GB
This solid, late Victorian guard chain is made up of strong Sterling Silver links each baring a
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian 9ct Gold Guard Chain
Located in Kendal, GB
A luxurious antique Victorian guard chain made up of chunky cable links fashioned in 9ct gold. Each
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Long Guard Chain 9ct Gold
Located in Kendal, GB
A grand antique Victorian guard chain from the late 19th Century made up of faceted cable links and
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Gold Guard Chain
Located in London, GB
A very pretty 15 carat marked English gold guard chain.
Victorian Long Guard Gold Chain Necklace
Located in Middleton, WI
This fabulous antique Victorian gold chain was handcrafted around 1890, in England. This long and
15k Gold
Antique Victorian French Guard Chain Silver, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This beautiful Antique Victorian French guard chain has been commissioned in Silver. It features
Silver
Antique Victorian Long Silver Guard Chain Belcher Necklace, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This long antique Belcher guard chain has been beautifully preserved from the Victorian era and is
Silver
Antique Victorian Long Guard Chain 18 Carat Gold Cased Silver, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster , GB
A long antique guard chain from the late Victorian era made up of fancy Gold links with longer
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique French 18 Carat Gold on Silver Guard Link Chain Victorian, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This long antique French guard chain was crafted during the early 20th century and is made up of
18k Gold
Antique Victorian French 18 Carat Gold on Silver circa 1900 Guard Link Chain
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This long antique French guard chain was crafted during the early 20th century and is made up of
18k Gold, Silver
18ct Longuard/Guard/Muff Chain with Diamond Clasp
Located in Malahide, IE
This is an absolute stunner. The necklace measures 66inches in length with a beautiful adjustable 18ct gold and diamond clasp. The detail on the clasp is exquisite and centers around...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique Victorian Silver Ball Beaded Guard Chain, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
These long Victorian Silver beaded Guard chain is, Circa 1900. The necklace is adorned in Silver
Silver
Victorian Guard Chain 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Circa 1900
Located in London, GB
A Victorian guard chain in 18 karat yellow gold, circa 1900 The chain is comprised of oval motif
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Extremely Long Satin Silver Victorian Guard Chain
By Glorious Antique Jewelry Collection
Located in Stamford, CT
tripled. Chains were popular in the Georgian and Victorian eras and were often one of many jewels worn at
Sterling Silver
Antique, Victorian Guard Chain, 3 Row Rose Gold Necklace, Onyx & Rock Crystal
Located in London, GB
Victorian 9 carat Rose Gold Trace Link Guard Chain Necklace with Onyx and Rock Crystal Beads. Could
Onyx, Rock Crystal, Crystal, Gold, 9k Gold
Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold French Guard Chain Necklace
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is an antique Victorian guard chain necklace crafted in 18K yellow gold. It is in wonderful
Gold, 18k Gold
Victorian 9 Carat Gold Long Guard Chain
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Long guard chains are always beautifully versatile, this one in particular is modelled in 9ct gold
9k Gold
A Long and Lovely Victorian Gold Guard Chain
Located in Stamford, CT
Links, all strong, vary throughout the chain. Some are tubular and cylindrical. Others round
Victorian 15k Yellow Gold Long Guard Chain Circa 1880
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Victorian fancy double link gold guard chain and bolt ring catch. Metal: 15k yellow gold Weight
Yellow Gold
Victorian 9k Rose Gold Long Guard Chain Circa 1880
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Victorian fancy guard chain with double links, bars and facetted ball spacers. This chain is
Rose Gold
Victorian 9 Karat Love Knot Long Guard Watch Chain
Located in Baltimore, MD
Our Victorian ladies long guard watch chain is composed of an unusual and attractive love knot link
9k Gold
Victorian 9 Carat Gold Long Guard Chain
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Fashioned circa 1880s this Victorian long chain is comprised of flattened belcher type links to
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian 9 Karat Rose Gold Long Guard Chain With Dog Clip
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A beautiful antique Victorian long guard chain necklace with a dog clip and pendant loop. Measuring
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Long Gold Guard Chain
Located in London, GB
An antique 18ct gold long guard chain with fancy filled navette and smaller filled oval links, with
18k Gold
Antique Victorian 9 Karat Gold Long Belcher Guard Dog Clip Chain Necklace
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is an antique Victorian long belcher guard chain necklace. It features a swivel dog clip that
9k Gold
Antique 9ct Gold Fancy Rolo Link Long Guard Chain, 58 Inch Victorian Necklace
Located in Brighton, GB
exquisite Victorian long guard chain, a true testament to craftsmanship and elegance. Made from high-quality
Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Victorian 9 Carat Gold Long Guard Chain, circa 1880s
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Fashioned circa 1880s this Victorian long chain is comprised of flattened belcher type links to
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Victorian Pearl Long Guard Chain, 68in, 18kt Yellow Gold, France, c.1880
Located in London, GB
• Dimensions: 4.27 to 4.32mm Condition: Very good Comments: This long chain is from the late Victorian
18k Gold
Victorian 9 Carat Gold Trace Guard Chain Necklace Onyx and Rock Crystal Beads
Located in London, GB
Victorian 9 ct Rose Gold Trace Link Guard Chain Necklace with Onyx and Rock Crystal Beads Popular
Onyx, Rock Crystal, Crystal, Gold, 9k Gold
Victorian Yellow Gold Belcher Long Guard Belcher Link Necklace
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Victorian Yellow Gold Long Guard Belcher Link Necklace, is such an iconic Victorian piece. Over a 120 years
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 15k Yellow Gold Rope Style Guard Chain, Circa 1880-90
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Antique 15k solid yellow gold long guard chain with an intricate twisted rope design. This
Yellow Gold
18 Karat Victorian Muff Chain
Located in London, England
A fantastic example of a traditional Victorian muff/long guard chain. In wearable condition, this
18k Gold
Victorian Long 15 Kt Gold Long Chain
Located in Stamford, CT
A 32.5 gram Victorian 15 Kt gold long guard chain with beveled beads, tubular links and round links
Gold, 15k Gold
Victorian 9 Carat Gold Long Guard Chain
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Shiny and versatile, this 9ct gold long guard chain can be worn and styled in so many ways. This
9k Gold
Victorian Ornate Link Yellow Gold Guard Chain Circa 1890
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
This ornate, fancy link guard chain is beautifully unique with the fine wire work and craftsmanship
Yellow Gold
Sold
W 0.24 in L 61.03 in
Antique 18k gold Sautoir necklace, 155cm long guard, Victorian double rope chain
Located in Antwerp, BE
. The chain has one larger spring ring with a diameter of 1,1cm which is hallmarked with a French eagle
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Gold and Niello Watch Chain or Long Guard
Located in Baltimore, MD
Wonderful Victorian watch chain that can be wrapped around the neck at least three times. Niello is
9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 18 Karat Gold Pearl French Guard Chain Necklace
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is an elegant antique French guard chain necklace. Circa 1890. It is crafted in 18K yellow
Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique Victorian Long 18k yellow Gold Guard Chain Circa 1890
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
18k yellow gold Victorian guard chain, 144cm in length. Featuring hand-engraved panel links and
Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Rolled Gold Long Guard Chain Necklace
Located in London, GB
This Antique Victorian 18ct Rolled Gold Long Guard Chain is a testament to the exquisite
Victorian 9 Karat Rose Gold Long Guard Chain with Dog Clip
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A beautiful antique Victorian long guard chain necklace with a dog clip and pendant loop. Measuring
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian 9 Karat Rose Gold Long Guard Chain with Dog Clip
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A beautiful antique Victorian long guard chain necklace with a dog clip and pendant loop. Measuring
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian 9 Carat Gold Trace Guard Chain Necklace Onyx and Rock Crystal Beads
Located in London, GB
Victorian 9 ct Rose Gold Trace Link Guard Chain Necklace with Onyx and Rock Crystal Beads Popular
Onyx, Rock Crystal, Gold
Victorian Rose Gold Fob w/ Faceted Quartz on Long Double Watch Neck Guard Chain
Located in Frazier Park, CA
Rolo Link Watch Neck Guard Chain Chain 62” 9K Marked “9 CT” 3 mm wide 29.2 g Fob 5” Chain 9K Marked
Quartz, Rose Gold
Long Guard Chain in Yellow Gold with Cage Links and Rose Gold Swivel Clip
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
this long guard chain lead us to believe it was originally a lady's chain. A fine quality gold chain
Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold
W 0.26 in L 62.01 in
Antique 18k gold Sautoir necklace, 157.5cm long guard, French Victorian chain
Located in Antwerp, BE
filigree scroll decorations and millegrain details. The chain closes with a small antique spring ring and
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 9ct Gold Victorian Facted Ball & Paper Clip Link Chain
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Long Guard Chain 9ct Rose Gold Circa 1880 Lovely, Victorian long guard chain. Features
Gold, 9k Gold
Victorian Gold Belcher Link Guard Chain
Located in London, GB
A Victorian gold belcher link guard chain, the open round belcher chain, each link engraved with a
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 18 Carat Long Fancy Link Guard Chain
Located in London, GB
A Victorian 18ct long fancy link guard chain, each openwork bar design link alternating with a
18k Gold
French 19th Century Gem-Set Horseshoe Locket
Located in London, GB
special locket would look stunning on either a thick period appropriate Victorian guard chain, or on a
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Victorian Guard Chain in 9 Carat Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
This antique guard chain was crafted in the Victorian era. It is just over 50 inches long with
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
18K Gold Blocky Alternating Bar and Link Vintage Bracelet
Located in Venice, CA
This bold, 1980's bar and link bracelet is made of 18k gold and is sure to make you stand out from the crowd. The large brick-like links are hard to miss and are tied together by equ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 14K Gold Fob Watch Chain
Located in New York, NY
A victorian 14K gold watch chain worn with a watch on one end, carrying a fob on the other. Of gold round and two sizes of rectangular links, ribbed and etched in an aesthetic taste....
14k Gold
Victorian 15ct Gold Albert Chain, c.1900s
Located in London, GB
Dating back to the Victorian era, this traditional albert chain necklace has been crafted from rare 15 carat yellow gold. Featuring a T bar on the drop and a plate on the stating Ste...
Gold, 15k Gold
Estate Antique 18K Yellow Gold Unique Link Chain - VHK#966
Located in Hicksville, NY
Estate Antique 18K Yellow Gold Unique Link Chain - VHK#966 Item Details: Year: 1900s Metal Type: 18K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 27.8 grams Measurement: 29.5 Inche...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 14K and 22K Gold Nugget Bar Link Necklace
Located in Venice, CA
Acquired on a recent trip to Ketchikan, where gold mining is still active in the state of Alaska. This is a vintage piece circa the 1970’s, comprised of 1/2” bar links that alternate...
14k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat Yellow Gold Albert Watch Link Chain Necklace
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona Design Collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat yellow gold 18" long Albert watch link chain necklace. Alex Jona jewels stand out, not only for their special design an...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 14K Gold Pocket Watch Chain Necklace with T-Bar
Located in Venice, CA
This 14k gold watch chain has a fabulous hollow link interwoven with tiny balls for an unusual variation of a curb link. The links are carved with a ribbed texture that give a matte ...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 18ct Gold Albert Chain, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This wonderful Albert chain, dates to the 1880s and features a rare trombone linked design in 18 carat yellow gold. Weighing 54 grams this beautiful example of an Albert chain is 17....
Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage Heavy 24K Yellow Gold Engraved Chain Link Necklace
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A vintage yellow gold lovers dream! At nearly 5 ounces of pure gold, this stunning statement showcases a timeless design matched with an incredibly detailed artisanal craftsmanship. ...
24k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgian Long Chain 18K Gold Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Made around the end of the Georgian period in 1830, this long chain necklace is formed of 18K gold. Of endless form, it is composed of oval polished links edged by ribbed trace link ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 9 Carat Gold Longuard Necklace
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Longuard chains are so versatile and can be worn in so many ways! This chain is modelled in 9ct gold and there is also a dog clip attached. Length: 152cm Weight: 35.2g
Gold
Garland Collection Gold Transitional Belcher Chain with Charm Clip and Dog Clip
Located in New York, NY
Our antique inspired belcher chain has a bold look and limitless styling options. Each solid gold belcher (rolo) chain is designed with a spinning dog clip at one end and a removable...
Gold
Heavy Long 18k Yellow Gold Chain Necklace
Located in Bernardsville, NJ
This 18k yellow gold necklace is crafted to be substantial and weighty, giving it a bold and luxurious feel when worn. The necklace can be worn as a standalone piece or paired with ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
A Victorian gold and turquoise serpent necklace
Located in London, GB
A Victorian gold and turquoise serpent necklace, the flexible tapering yellow gold body formed of three rows of scale-like collets each set with a round cabochon-cut turquoise, the h...
Turquoise, Gold
Early Georgian Pink Topaz Necklace and Earring Demi-Parure Set
Located in Narberth, PA
A demi-parure, "parure" meaning "adorn" in French, is a partial set of matching jewelry designed to be worn en suite. This incredible handcrafted pink topaz necklace and earring set ...
Topaz, 18k Gold
$998Sale Price|20% Off
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War, 24kt Gold and Silver Ring
Located in Bozeman, MT
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War, 24kt Gold and Silver Ring by Prehistoric Works of Istanbul, Turkey. Size 7 US
Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.
Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.
The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.
Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — 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.
Vintage chain necklaces can make a statement on their own. What’s better than eye-catching chains of yellow gold or subtle silver to accessorize with everything from a designer evening dress to a comfortable sweatshirt?
Personal ornament in general has been around for eons. Ancient Egyptians designed jewelry and wore necklaces, rings and other accessories, and the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber in 1922 had the greatest impact on Art Deco jewelry. When chain necklaces first took on some visibility in ancient civilizations, these items weren’t exactly democratic.
Chain necklaces were accessories that were relegated strictly to royal families and the upper class. In ancient times, pendant necklaces conferred prestige, for example. Wealthy Greeks and Romans opted for gold and silver necklaces that featured ornate pendants and semiprecious stones. By the Renaissance period, the pendant had replaced the brooch as the most worn type of jewelry. Pendant necklaces were commonplace, or pendants were simply strung on long gold chains.
Thankfully, jewelry became more accessible over time. And trends have come and gone, but the popularity of chain necklaces today owes in part to hip-hop culture. Big, chunky gold chains and diamond necklaces were the order of the day in publicity shoots and on album covers for rappers in the early 1980s onward, and a gold chain is still a mainstay in the ever-evolving and broadening hip-hop culture as we know it.
In our modern era, a number of chain-link necklaces are trending, worn alone or layered. The stylish links that have passed the test of time include oval links, paper-clip chains and more. The best way to discover your perfect fit is to zero in on a particular name and type of link.
While it was once key to accessorizing for a formal event, a vintage chain necklace now adds a fresh dynamic to any outfit at any time of day. Find yours on 1stDibs.