$3,500
H 2.1 in W 1 in L 30 in
Antique Zuni Bear 77 Fetish Necklace Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Native American
Located in New York, NY
BLACK JET BEAR IN THE NAJA CENTER! The fabulous hand carved Zuni fetishes include the Black Jet standing
Agate, Turquoise, Pearl
Multi-Strand Beaded Necklace
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Four strand choker necklace. Featuring interspersed stones of turquoise, coral, purple and orange spiny oyster, and lapis. All beads are of different sizes and shapes, including roun...
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Unavailable|$2,700
L 29 in
Native American Navajo Sterling Silver Turquoise Vintage Squash Blossom Necklace
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Beautiful! Highly Desirable Native American Original Navajo Squash Blossom Necklace. A unique take on the traditional Squash Blossom necklaces, with elongated modern blossoms ...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Bulgari Serpenti Vintage Pink Coral Bracelet-Watch, circa 1970
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Step into the captivating embrace of history and luxury with the Bulgari Serpenti Bracelet-Watch - an extraordinary vintage treasure that encapsulates the essence of timeless allure....
Coral, 18k 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
Art Nouveau Moonstone Locket on Chain
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau Moonstone Locket on Chain from the late 19th Century. Assembled with gunmetal chain set with pastes with an Art Nouveau sterling locket with cabochon moonstone. Wonderful...
Moonstone, Sterling Silver, Gilt Metal
$18,500
W 1.25 in L 38.5 in
Exceptional Large Natural Vermillion Color Faceted Antique Baltic Amber Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Superb, rare natural translucent faceted Baltic amber necklace of impressive size, gem quality and color reminiscent of fine rich cognac. This necklace has been tested for natural am...
Amber
Turquoise 5 Strand Heishi Sterling Silver Clam Shell Necklace Native American
Located in Wallkill, NY
Stunning 5 strands Heishi Necklace with discs of graduated Turquoise and shell 11.66 mm down to 4mm attached to large Turquoise stations then onto more turquoise beads. Sterling silv...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Zuni Native American Turquoise Bear Fetish Necklace
By Purry
Located in Wallkill, NY
This is a fantastic piece of wearable art Native American ~ Bear Fetish necklace in sterling silver. Circa 1970s-80s. Large detailed bear with bezel set Turquoise stone throughout. M...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Native American Zuni Turquoise Necklace, 1960s
Located in Wallkill, NY
Large, very large Pendant hanging on Rattle snake jar beads. The pendant measures 3.24 in x 2.51 in. The Beads graduate in size from 20mm down to 9mm and the Necklace length is 30 i...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Zuni Triple Strand Fetish Native American Necklace
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mid-20th century Zuni triple strand Fetish native American necklace A dramatic triple-strand fetish necklace is festooned with birds, fish, buffalo, and turtles, all anchored by fiv...
Important Old Mine Cut Heart Locket Pendant and Diamond Necklace, Certified
Located in Hong Kong, HK
A piece of history. This very important necklace we bought from a major auction house over 10 years ago. We sold the original old mine cut necklace. The buyer was only interested in ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Zuni Fetish 44 Multi animal Bone Leaf Necklace Hand Carved
Located in Wallkill, NY
This necklace is a beautiful Hand Craved Fetish Necklace, each fetish is done by hand, what a wonderful array of different animals on this necklace such as birds, fish, buffalo, Loin...
Zuni Beaded Coral Necklace
By Zuni
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Native American Zuni six strand beaded coral necklace with traditional cord wrapping. Strung with graduated coral beads, accented with turquoise and patinaed silver beads. Coral is a...
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Zuni Turquoise Beaded Shell Pendant Necklace
By Zuni
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Native American Zuni Indian Kingman turquoise necklace. With beaded chain featuring repeating pattern of Heishi turquoise beads, coral, mother of pearl, and onyx. Chain ends in large...
Coral, Onyx, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
$1,695
H 2 in W 1.75 in L 25 in
Santo Domingo Kewa Pueblo Inlaid Petrified Shell Turquoise Heishi Necklace
Located in New York, NY
This is a fantastic, antique SANTO DOMINGO Kewa Pueblo necklace. The piece is very rare and special as it is made with a Petrified Shell pendant instead of the typical shell. This p...
Onyx, Turquoise
Whether you’re layering multiple jewelry pieces or opting for a single strand, vintage pendant necklaces are versatile accessories that can elevate your casual wear as easily as they can add a creative flourish to your formal attire.
The earliest jewelry was less about accessorizing than it was about wearers arming themselves with amulets. In Ancient Egypt, some amulets featured a loop so that they could be strung around one’s neck. While rubies have long been one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money, members of some ancient civilizations valued the stones from the get-go, donning ruby pendants as well as other stones with the belief that these adornments would bring protection, healing powers or strength. Today, we still wear our charm bracelets and charm pendants around our necks for good luck.
Later, pendant necklaces, like most fine jewelry, were worn strictly by royalty or the upper class and conferred wealth and prestige. This changed over time, thankfully, as wearing jewelry became more widespread, a democratized means of personal expression.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, pendant necklaces evolved from their status as spiritual amulets, but the jewels still carried deep personal significance. Victorian pendants, in particular, were part of the “mourning jewelry” tradition. Wearers would embed their pendants with locks of hair from a deceased loved one as a way of grieving in the wake of a loss. In the case of cameo jewelry, some pendants were even decorated with miniature hand-carved portraits in a detailed raised relief. Today, portraiture is still a characteristic of many of the hand-carved pendant necklaces offered by Italian jewelry house Scala Gioielli.
Luxury fine jewelry brands such as Cartier, BVLGARI and David Yurman offer their own unique interpretations of the cherished accessory, embellishing platinum or gold pendant necklaces with diamonds, sapphires and other stones.
On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage pendant necklaces and other necklaces today.