Vintage Robert Lee Morris Necklace
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American Modern Link Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass
Vintage 1980s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass
Vintage 1980s American Modern Link Necklaces
Brass
Vintage 1980s Unknown Modernist Hoop Earrings
1990s Unknown Modernist Dangle Earrings
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1990s Brooches
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
1990s Italian Blouses
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Brooches
Vintage 1930s French Byzantine Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, Quartz, Gold, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Multi-Strand Necklaces
Early 2000s Italian High Heels
Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches
Gold Plate, Rhodium, Base Metal, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century German Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
1990s French Chandelier Earrings
Amethyst, Quartz, Tiger's Eye
Vintage 1950s French Renaissance Brooches
Silver Plate, Bronze, Enamel
Vintage 1980s French Classical Roman Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s Unknown Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1950s Brooches
Enamel
1990s French Drop Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1950s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Recent Sales
1990s American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Modern Choker Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Choker Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s American Modernist Choker Necklaces
Base Metal
American Beaded Necklaces
Labradorite, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Drop Necklaces
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.
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