Skip to main content

Victorian Lariat

Victorian Frosted Glass and Black Jet Beaded Lariat Necklace
Victorian Frosted Glass and Black Jet Beaded Lariat Necklace

Victorian Frosted Glass and Black Jet Beaded Lariat Necklace

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Victorian beaded lariat necklace made with black jet faceted beads with unique clear frosted glass beads.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Opaline Glass

Gemistry Victorian 14.19 Carat T.W Diamond and Emerald Lariat Necklace
Gemistry Victorian 14.19 Carat T.W Diamond and Emerald Lariat Necklace

Gemistry Victorian 14.19 Carat T.W Diamond and Emerald Lariat Necklace

Located in New York, NY

The stunning Lariat necklace by Gemistry is manifested in 18K/925 Black Rhodium Sterling Silver.

Category

2010s Victorian Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver

Yellow Gold Victorian Fancy Wheat Chain Lariat Necklace 18 1/4" 12k Antique
Yellow Gold Victorian Fancy Wheat Chain Lariat Necklace 18 1/4" 12k Antique

Yellow Gold Victorian Fancy Wheat Chain Lariat Necklace 18 1/4" 12k Antique

Located in Greensboro, NC

Era: Victorian Metal Content: 12k Yellow Gold Chain Style: Fancy Wheat Necklace Style: Chain Lariat Fastening Type: Hinged Snap Clasp Measurements Length: 18 1/4" Width: 9/32" (6...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Link Necklaces

Materials

Yellow Gold

Victorian 39.98 Cttw Pink Tourmaline, Kyanite & Diamond Necklace In 18K/SS
Victorian 39.98 Cttw Pink Tourmaline, Kyanite & Diamond Necklace In 18K/SS

Victorian 39.98 Cttw Pink Tourmaline, Kyanite & Diamond Necklace In 18K/SS

Located in New York, NY

This beautiful Victorian style lariat necklace, crafted in 18K gold and 925 sterling silver, has a pair of blue oval kyanite and pink oval tourmaline laden drops.

Category

2010s Victorian Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, Kyanite, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Recent Sales

1890's Victorian 14 Karat Gold Chain Link Lariat Necklace
1890's Victorian 14 Karat Gold Chain Link Lariat Necklace

1890's Victorian 14 Karat Gold Chain Link Lariat Necklace

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Necklace is comprised of barrel style links Deeply grooved with texturous accenting With two jump ring stations for adjustable length and style Completed by an antique clasp the o...

Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Link Necklaces

Materials

Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Russian Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Curb Chain Lariat Necklace
Russian Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Curb Chain Lariat Necklace

Russian Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Curb Chain Lariat Necklace

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Eternity long chain necklace is comprised of doubled curbed links Terminating as an antique lobster clasp with spring loaded mechanism With maker's mark and Russian assay marks for...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Russian Victorian Link Necklaces

Materials

Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian Austrian-Hungarian 14 Karat Rose Gold Chain Link Lariat Necklace
Victorian Austrian-Hungarian 14 Karat Rose Gold Chain Link Lariat Necklace

Victorian Austrian-Hungarian 14 Karat Rose Gold Chain Link Lariat Necklace

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Necklace is comprised of elongated links alternating with jump ring spacer links Can be worn as a collar chain necklace or as a lariat style Terminating as a spring ring clasp and ...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Link Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace
Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace

Located in Great Neck, NY

Beautiful Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace - 42 Inches.

Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces

Materials

Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Blue Enamel Chain with Hand
Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Blue Enamel Chain with Hand

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Blue Enamel Chain with Hand

Located in Great Neck, NY

Beautiful Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Blue Enamel Chain With Hand - 46 Inches.

Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces

Materials

Yellow Gold, Enamel

Victorian Seed Pearl 14 Karat Gold Floral Lariat Necklace, circa 1900
Victorian Seed Pearl 14 Karat Gold Floral Lariat Necklace, circa 1900

Victorian Seed Pearl 14 Karat Gold Floral Lariat Necklace, circa 1900

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Lariat style necklace comprised of elongated links with seed pearl accents measuring approximately 2.0 mm, gray in body color and very well matched With floral stations flanked by l...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Chain Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace
Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace

Located in Great Neck, NY

Beautiful Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Lariat Necklace - 42 Inches.

Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces

Materials

Yellow Gold

Victorian Gold Lariat Slide Chain
Victorian Gold Lariat Slide Chain

Victorian Gold Lariat Slide Chain

Located in New York, NY

Antique 14K gold lariat chain featuring a rectangular slide decorated with black enamel and finished with 2 roundel-mounted tassels. America, ca. 1890. Excellent condition with beaut...

Category

Antique 1890s Chain Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold

Victorian Jet Fringed Statement Lariat Necklace or Belt, 1890s
Victorian Jet Fringed Statement Lariat Necklace or Belt, 1890s

Victorian Jet Fringed Statement Lariat Necklace or Belt, 1890s

Located in Tucson, AZ

Three individual strands of Victorian jet seed beads braided together and terminated with 2 ¼” looping fringe on each end.

Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Rope Necklaces

Materials

Other

Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Slide Lariat with Pearl Necklace
Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Slide Lariat with Pearl Necklace

Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Slide Lariat with Pearl Necklace

Located in Washington Depot, CT

Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Slide Lariat with Pearl Necklace 20"" when slid down with 2.5"" and 4.5"" chains dangling 4.2 dwt 6.6 g original lock has been replaced with a lobst...

Category

Antique 19th Century More Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Yellow Gold

Lariat Chain Necklace with Diamond Slide
Lariat Chain Necklace with Diamond Slide

Lariat Chain Necklace with Diamond Slide

Located in Rotterdam, NL

A silver necklace with a 14 karat gold slide pendant and tassels. This rare Victorian-style chicken eye link necklace, has ends of which holds two golden tassels.

Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Victorian Chain Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

1890s Dutch Pearl and 14k Yellow Gold 'Lariat' Necklace
1890s Dutch Pearl and 14k Yellow Gold 'Lariat' Necklace

1890s Dutch Pearl and 14k Yellow Gold 'Lariat' Necklace

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

This fine and impressive pearl lariat necklace has been crafted in 14k yellow gold. The lariat style necklace has a feature pierced decorated setting ornamented with a 3mm pearl, ei...

Category

Antique 1890s Dutch Victorian Chain Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14K White Gold Antique Lorgnette Eye Glasses with Handle and 14K Gold Lariat
14K White Gold Antique Lorgnette Eye Glasses with Handle and 14K Gold Lariat

14K White Gold Antique Lorgnette Eye Glasses with Handle and 14K Gold Lariat

Located in Old Tappan, NJ

19th Century Antique Victorian folding lorgnette eye glasses. The lenses are encased in 14k white gold and is hand engraved. It has a handle and comes with a removable 14k white go...

Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Gold and Turquoise Lariat Necklace
Victorian Gold and Turquoise Lariat Necklace

Victorian Gold and Turquoise Lariat Necklace

Located in London, GB

A Victorian gold and turquoise lariat necklace, the gold snake chain comprising of three cabochon-cut turquoise-set caps, ending with foxtail fringes, circa 1870 Gross weight 47.99

Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Necklaces

Materials

Turquoise, Yellow Gold

Victorian Platinum Natural Seed Pearl Necklace Lariat Tassel
Victorian Platinum Natural Seed Pearl Necklace Lariat Tassel

Victorian Platinum Natural Seed Pearl Necklace Lariat Tassel

Located in St.amford, CT

Victorian sea pearl necklace in a lariat style with tassel endings.

Category

Early 20th Century Victorian More Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Platinum

People Also Browsed

Antique Bohemian Garnet And Silver Gilt Necklace Circa 1870's
Antique Bohemian Garnet And Silver Gilt Necklace Circa 1870's

Antique Bohemian Garnet And Silver Gilt Necklace Circa 1870's

Located in Firenze, IT

Victorian bohemian garnet necklace. This piece is set in silver gilt with pretty garnet flowers and smaller drop flowers. Circa 1870-80, Measures: 42cm long and the central drop me...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Drop Necklaces

Materials

Garnet, Silver, Gilt Metal

Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Necklace
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Necklace

Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Necklace

Located in London, GB

A Victorian natural pearl and diamond necklace, the twelve graduated cluster motifs each centred with natural bouton pearls measuring from 5.6 mm to 9 mm, within a surround of old br...

Category

Antique 1880s Link Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Vintage Etruscan Revival Portuguese Cannetille 19.2K Gold & Turquoise Necklace
Vintage Etruscan Revival Portuguese Cannetille 19.2K Gold & Turquoise Necklace

Vintage Etruscan Revival Portuguese Cannetille 19.2K Gold & Turquoise Necklace

Located in Venice, CA

A superb Portuguese necklace with incredible cannetille gold work in 19.2 karats. The necklace has a luxurious design of heavy woven gold that glows from its high karat. It contains ...

Category

20th Century Portuguese Etruscan Revival Chain Necklaces

Materials

Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage A. Tillander Diamond Platinum Tiara
Vintage A. Tillander Diamond Platinum Tiara

Vintage A. Tillander Diamond Platinum Tiara

$46,587Sale Price|20% Off

H 1.78 in Dm 4.73 in

Vintage A. Tillander Diamond Platinum Tiara

Located in London, GB

An A. Tillander diamond platinum tiara, circa 1910. This exceptional diamond tiara by A. Tillander is beautifully handcrafted in platinum. The tiara is composed of intertwining, sc...

Category

Vintage 1910s European Retro Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

14k White Gold Emerald Necklace With Diamonds
14k White Gold Emerald Necklace With Diamonds

14k White Gold Emerald Necklace With Diamonds

Located in Boca Raton, FL

14k White Gold 6ctw Emerald Necklace With Diamonds This stunning 6ctw Emerald Diamond Necklace is in excellent condition and is ready to ship! This exquisite 6ctw Emerald Diamond N...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 18ct Rose Gold, 1940s Cushion Cut Aquamarine & Diamond Cocktail Ring
Vintage 18ct Rose Gold, 1940s Cushion Cut Aquamarine & Diamond Cocktail Ring

Vintage 18ct Rose Gold, 1940s Cushion Cut Aquamarine & Diamond Cocktail Ring

Located in Brighton, GB

Vintage Aquamarine Cocktail Ring 18ct Rose & White Gold Tested Circa 1940’s Introducing a stunning 1940s 18ct gold cocktail ring that exudes timeless elegance and sophistication...

Category

Mid-20th Century European Cocktail Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Pigeon's Blood Burmese Ruby and Diamond Necklace/Tiara, circa 1915
Pigeon's Blood Burmese Ruby and Diamond Necklace/Tiara, circa 1915

Pigeon's Blood Burmese Ruby and Diamond Necklace/Tiara, circa 1915

Located in London, GB

Pigeon's blood Burmese ruby and diamond necklace/tiara. Set to the centre with twenty six oval old cut natural unenhanced Pigeon's blood Burmese rubies in open back claw settings, ra...

Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold, Platinum

Pierre Balmain Couture Ballgown  1955 Iconic Gown Dress
Pierre Balmain Couture Ballgown  1955 Iconic Gown Dress

Pierre Balmain Couture Ballgown 1955 Iconic Gown Dress

By Pierre Balmain

Located in Berlin, BE

'La Robe Broderie À Ramages' PIERRE BALMAIN PARIS Made In France, ca.1955 Majestic evening gown in silk and cream satin with the most astonishing embroiderery by PIERRE BALMAIN Haut...

Category

1950s French Evening Dresses and Gowns

Important Wide Art Deco Diamond and Sapphire Bracelet
Important Wide Art Deco Diamond and Sapphire Bracelet

Important Wide Art Deco Diamond and Sapphire Bracelet

Located in New York, NY

A very impressive Wide Art Deco Diamond and Sapphire Bracelet The largest sapphire weighs approx 6.01 ct The other two sapphires weigh approx 7.57 ct Diamond weight is approx 31.48 ...

Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco More Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

GIOVANE Multi-Strand Ruby Bead Diamond Tassel Necklace
GIOVANE Multi-Strand Ruby Bead Diamond Tassel Necklace

GIOVANE Multi-Strand Ruby Bead Diamond Tassel Necklace

By Giovane

Located in New York, NY

An 18 karat yellow gold, ruby and diamond necklace, Giovane, Italy, circa 1990s. Designed as ten strands of graduated ruby beads gathered by two floral motifs, each centering an ova...

Category

1990s Italian Multi-Strand Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Van Necklace & Earrings Suite (220.66 ct Colombian Emeralds & Diamonds) in 18K
Van Necklace & Earrings Suite (220.66 ct Colombian Emeralds & Diamonds) in 18K

Van Necklace & Earrings Suite (220.66 ct Colombian Emeralds & Diamonds) in 18K

By Beauvince Jewelry

Located in New York, NY

The Van Necklace & Earrings Suite is a ethereal depiction of nature. It is named after the Sanskrit word for forest - Van (pronounced akin to 'one'). The fine Colombian Emeralds juxt...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Heart Shaped Rubellite Platinum and Diamond Necklace
Heart Shaped Rubellite Platinum and Diamond Necklace

Heart Shaped Rubellite Platinum and Diamond Necklace

Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY

A breathtaking platinum necklace designed with a romantic floral motif, featuring seven vibrant heart-shaped rubellite tourmalines totaling approximately 34.19 carats. Each drop is s...

Category

Vintage 1980s Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Rubelite, Platinum

Vintage Triple-Strand Emerald Bead Necklace with Diamond Floral Clasp
Vintage Triple-Strand Emerald Bead Necklace with Diamond Floral Clasp

Vintage Triple-Strand Emerald Bead Necklace with Diamond Floral Clasp

Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY

A breathtaking vintage triple-strand necklace composed of richly hued natural emerald beads, elegantly graduated in size for a flowing, layered silhouette. The necklace is strung on ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

Statement 6.04 CTW Octagon Emerald Halo Diamond Pendant in 14k Solid Yellow Gold
Statement 6.04 CTW Octagon Emerald Halo Diamond Pendant in 14k Solid Yellow Gold

Statement 6.04 CTW Octagon Emerald Halo Diamond Pendant in 14k Solid Yellow Gold

By VR Jewels

Located in New York, NY

Statement 6.04 CTW Octagon Emerald Halo Diamond Pendant in 14K Gold studded with octagon cut emerald and diamonds. This stunning piece of jewelry instantly elevates a casual look or ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Aquamarine Pendant Necklace, 40.00 carats
Tiffany & Co. Aquamarine Pendant Necklace, 40.00 carats

Tiffany & Co. Aquamarine Pendant Necklace, 40.00 carats

By Tiffany & Co.

Located in New Orleans, LA

This exceptional Art Deco pendant necklace exemplifies Tiffany & Co.'s mastery during the height of the Jazz Age. The centerpiece is a magnificent Brazilian aquamarine of approxi...

Category

20th Century American Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Emerald Cocktail Ring Set In 18K Gold & Silver
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Emerald Cocktail Ring Set In 18K Gold & Silver

Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Emerald Cocktail Ring Set In 18K Gold & Silver

By Bochic

Located in New York, NY

Bochic “Orient” Vintage Natural Ruby & Emerald Ring Set In 18K Gold & Silver Natural Oval Shape Ruby - 15.50 Carat Natural Round Brilliant Emeralds - 3.00 Carat This Ring is fr...

Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Victorian Lariat", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Victorian Lariat For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate victorian lariat for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 14k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. You can easily find a 12 antique edition and 1 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect victorian lariat among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Take a look at a victorian lariat featuring Pearl from our inventory today to add the perfect touch to your look. Today, if you’re looking for an oval cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes rose cut alternatives. Most of our victorian lariat for sale are for women, but there are 4 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a Victorian Lariat?

Prices for a victorian lariat can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $220 and can go as high as $10,549, while this accessory, on average, fetches $2,388.

A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry

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. 

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.

Finding the Right Necklaces for You

We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.

Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers. 

In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs. 

For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone. 

Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage David Webb necklaces — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt

On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.