$280Sale Price|20% Off
Heidi Daus "My Cup of Tea" Pave Clear and Blue Crystal Teapot Pin Brooch
By Heidi Daus
Located in Milford, DE
A whimsical pin brooch, featuring a teapot decorated with clear and blue pave crystals, along with a large centerpiece pear-cut blue crystal.
Crystal
$5,099 / item
Moi Wisdom Gold Silver Diamond Brooch and Pendant
Located in Lawrenceville, GA
Elegance makes a beautiful contrapoint to playful in the form and colors of this whimsical brooch. Dressed in the motif of an owl, Wisdom is crafted with an eclectic mix of gemstones...
Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Vintage Diamond Emerald 18K Yellow Gold Cute Turtle Pin Pendant
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A charming and whimsical turtle brooch-pendant crafted in rich 18K yellow gold.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
0.50ct Diamond 18k Gold Fish Pin
Located in New York, NY
A refined and whimsical luxury brooch, this exquisite fish pin is crafted in rich 18k yellow gold and showcases an elegant balance of artistry and fine gem-setting.
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Estate 18K Wise Owl Diamond Ruby Lapis MOP Cabochon Amethyst Pin Pendant
Located in Winter Springs, FL
A whimsical “wise owl” brooch beautifully done in 18K yellow and white gold set with lapis, mother of pearl, .30cttw in G-I color Vs diamonds throughout as well as rubies for the eye...
Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Yellow Gold Toucan Brooche with Enamel and Ruby
Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette
This Vintage Toucan Brooch is a whimsical yet sophisticated piece of fine jewelry, meticulously crafted in 18kt yellow gold.
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
KJL Kenneth Jay Lane Cabochon Crystal and Black Enamel Salamander in Gold
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Milford, DE
A whimsical salamander/lizard/gecko brooch by Kenneth Jay Lane.
Crystal, 22k Gold, Gold Plate
$2,400Sale Price|46% Off
Midcentury Modernist Freshwater Pearl Garnet Gold Owl
Located in New York, NY
This dazzling and whimsical owl brooch features a nacreous mollusk body adorned with six Campari hued garnet "buttons" descending vertically down its front; the crown of eight garnet...
Garnet, Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
Gold Teddy Bear Pin on a Rainy Day with Diamonds & Rubies by E. Wolfe & Co.
By E. Wolfe & Company
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Wolfe & Co. has a very long history of creating wonderful and whimsical animal brooches and, this adorable little Teddy Bear is certainly no exception.
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage Christian Dior Crystal Ladybird Double Pin Set 1980s
By Christian Dior
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A wonderfully whimsical Vintage Dior Ladybird Brooch with Ladybird tack duo.
Cartier Fanned Ribbon Earring & Brooch Pin Set
By Cartier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
From the House of Cartier, this whimsical Retro brooch and earring set showcases elegant fanned ribbon motifs, delicately crafted in 14-karat yellow gold.
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Jadeite "Butterfly" with Silver-Tone Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This whimsical "Butterfly" brooch combines Jadeite with silver hardware.
Cartier Fanned Ribbon Earring & Brooch Pin Set
By Cartier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
From the House of Cartier, this whimsical Retro brooch and earring set showcases elegant fanned ribbon motifs, delicately crafted in 14-karat yellow gold.
Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Warner Vintage Duck Brooch & Earrings 1950S
Located in Wilmslow, GB
Adore this whimsical Warner Vintage brooch in the style of a duck or chick with matching earrings.
Antique 4.99 Carat Citrine 0.89 Carat Diamond Platinum Charm/Pendant Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
The warm golden tones of citrine beautifully mimic the appearance of beer, while the diamonds add a touch of sparkle, elevating the design from whimsical to luxurious. Such novelty b...
Citrine, Diamond, Platinum
A diamond-set white rabbit brooch
Located in London, GB
A whimsical diamond-set white rabbit brooch. This is perfect for any book lover.
Late 19th Century Fly Brooch
Located in London, GB
This whimsical late nineteenth century bar brooch comes from the collection of Bentley & Skinner, Jewellers by Royal Appointment to His Majesty King Charles III.
Amazonite, Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Edwardian Fly Bar Brooch with Three Ascending Flies
Located in London, GB
This whimsical Edwardian bar brooch was made in around 1900 and comes from the collection of Bentley & Skinner, Jewellers by Royal Appointment to His Majesty King Charles III.
Garnet, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage Bicolor Gold, Turquoise, Diamond and Ruby Bee Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
This whimsical bee brooch features a turquoise and black enameled body with diamond accents and wings containing 52 high quality round brilliant and single cut diamonds containing 1...
Ruby, Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.
The care that went into crafting this jewel, with its lifelike carved petals and diamond accents, matches the sentiment it represents.
For starters, it is one of the jewelry designer’s most celebrated works.
Though it sparkles with more than 27 carats of diamonds, this multifaceted gem delivers more than just dazzle.
Stellene Volandes takes us on a glittering, engrossing tour through the centuries.
From cameos to cigar bands, here are the looks on our radar this season.
The philanthropist and heiress was an avid jewelry collector, and her trove of Jean Schlumberger creations embodies the love of nature she shared with the famed designer.