Vintage Necklace Beads
1950s Modernist Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Vintage Necklace Beads
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Unknown Retro Vintage Necklace Beads
Amber, 14k Gold
1970s Italian Vintage Necklace Beads
Bronze, Gilt Metal
1970s French Byzantine Vintage Necklace Beads
Pearl, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American Native American Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Sterling Silver
1930s American Vintage Necklace Beads
Late 20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Silver Plate, Enamel
20th Century Unknown Artisan Vintage Necklace Beads
Jade, Silver
20th Century American Native American Vintage Necklace Beads
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Retro Vintage Necklace Beads
Amber
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Emerald, 14k Gold
20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Agate, Quartz, Brass
Late 20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Agate, Silver
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Topaz, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Vintage Necklace Beads
Amethyst, Gold
20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral
1980s American Vintage Necklace Beads
Malachite, Gold
Late 20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Onyx, Turquoise
20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Retro Vintage Necklace Beads
Malachite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Vintage Necklace Beads
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
1950s European Vintage Necklace Beads
Amber
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Aquamarine, Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Necklace Beads
Onyx, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Vintage Necklace Beads
Amber
1980s Unknown Vintage Necklace Beads
Jade
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Vintage Necklace Beads
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Jade, 10k Gold
20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Agate, Amethyst, Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Artisan Vintage Necklace Beads
Turquoise, Gold-filled
1970s Vintage Necklace Beads
Crystal, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Base Metal
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1930s Australian Vintage Necklace Beads
Opal, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Vintage Necklace Beads
Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Late 20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Agate, Jasper, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Necklace Beads
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Necklace Beads
Diamond, Jade, Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1960s Vintage Necklace Beads
Tourmaline, Gold, Silver
20th Century Chinese Artisan Vintage Necklace Beads
Jade
1960s Italian Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Necklace Beads
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Necklace Beads
Onyx, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Central American Vintage Necklace Beads
Turquoise
1960s Retro Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Gold
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Gold
1960s Retro Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Vintage Necklace Beads
Coral, Other
1980s European Modern Vintage Necklace Beads
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
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Vintage Necklace Beads For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Vintage Necklace Beads?
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.
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 necklaces designed by David Webb — 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 Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
- What is a Samoan bead necklace?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023A Samoan bead necklace is a type of jewelry produced by the Indigenous people of Samoa, an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean. Also called ula, the necklace features natural materials like leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, shells and whale's teeth. Visitors arriving in Samoa are often presented with ula necklaces as a sign of welcome. Explore a variety of bead necklaces on 1stDibs.
- What do amber bead necklaces do?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Amber bead necklaces are believed to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. Amber is a fossilized tree resin that contains succinic acid. Many believe that when amber is heated against the body, it releases the acid onto the skin where it is absorbed, providing a boost to the body’s immune system. Find an assortment of amber bead necklaces on 1stDibs.
- Why do guys wear bead necklaces?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023Why guys wear bead necklaces varies. Bead necklaces may represent a person's cultural heritage, as many artisans from Africa and North American Indigenous tribes produce intricate handmade bead necklaces. In addition, bead necklaces have become associated with certain fashion styles, including surfer and boho. Men may also wear bead necklaces because they like their appearance. Find a large selection of bead necklaces on 1stDibs.
- What makes a necklace vintage?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023What makes a necklace vintage is its age. Any necklace made at least 20 to 80 years ago is vintage. Necklaces produced a century ago or more are antiques. A vintage-inspired or vintage-style necklace is one manufactured during the past 20 years but inspired by older jewelry. Find a wide variety of vintage necklaces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Clasp design on vintage necklaces vary significantly, so there’s no uniform way to open and close a clasp. Research the specific type of necklace to find resources on the style of clasp. On 1stDibs, you'll find a collection of vintage necklaces from some of the world's top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The easiest way to tell if a bead is glass or plastic is to feel it. Glass beads will be cooler to the touch, whereas plastic beads will be closer to room temperature and warm up quickly in your hands. Another test you can perform is to listen to the sound. Glass has a distinctive ring since it’s harder whereas plastic is softer and has a duller sound. Shop a range of vintage glass bead pieces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To determine whether a pearl necklace is modern or vintage, first look for signs of wear, such as blunted edges on the prongs. The pearls will likely have dull spots where they came into contact with skin. The clasp can clue you in, too. Lobster clasps appeared in the 1970s, while early 20th century clasps were generally safety-pin style or C-clasps. Modern necklaces typically have a spring-loaded clasp. Shop a selection of vintage pearl jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Vintage Chanel jewelry always has a date stamp and logo located somewhere on the piece that you can use for authentication. Everything on the date stamp should be easy to read, and the Chanel logo should look immaculate. Fake logos are often hard to read and have mistakes in the font. All the details should be exquisite, and the necklace should feel substantial. If it feels light and cheap, it’s probably a fake. Shop a collection of authentic vintage Chanel necklaces from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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