Enamel Jewelry
16th Century German Renaissance Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, 22k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
Early 17th Century American Modern Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum, Enamel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier Greek Greek Revival Antique Enamel Jewelry
18k Gold, Enamel
15th Century and Earlier Artisan Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, Enamel, Gold, 22k Gold
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Enamel Jewelry
Copper, Enamel
1790s French Georgian Antique Enamel Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
18th Century European Byzantine Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
18th Century Indian Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, Enamel
Late 18th Century Georgian Antique Enamel Jewelry
Enamel, Gold
1780s French Antique Enamel Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
1790s British Georgian Antique Enamel Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Enamel
15th Century and Earlier Artisan Antique Enamel Jewelry
Topaz, Gold, 22k Gold, Enamel
1790s French Antique Enamel Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
17th Century Spanish Antique Enamel Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
18th Century British George III Antique Enamel Jewelry
Enamel, Copper
Late 18th Century Indian Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Enamel, 22k Gold
18th Century Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Enamel
1790s Swiss Antique Enamel Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
1790s Swiss Antique Enamel Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
1790s British George III Antique Enamel Jewelry
Diamond, 9k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Late 18th Century Unknown Antique Enamel Jewelry
Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Late 18th Century French Antique Enamel Jewelry
Base Metal, Copper, Enamel
18th Century British Georgian Antique Enamel Jewelry
22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
18th Century British Georgian Antique Enamel Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
Antique and Vintage Enamel Jewelry and Watches
From vibrant to subtle, elegant to cheeky, vintage and antique enamel jewelry and watches encompass a wide range of colors and styles, and there are almost as many techniques for creating these distinctive pieces.
Enameling is one of the oldest forms of surface decoration, used to add color to jewelry without having to rely on gemstones. Evidence of enameling goes back to ancient Greece. Throughout history, far-flung cultures favored different techniques. For example, cloisonné enamel was popular during the Byzantine Empire, while artisans living in France and Germany in the Middle Ages preferred champlevé. And Art Nouveau jewelry designers favored plique à jour.
At its core, enamel is the fusion of powdered glass to metal, and artists like enameling because it allows them to add a painterly or illustrative quality to their work.
Cloisonné (“cell” in French) is a technique in the creation of enamel jewelry that sees the use of thin wires of fine silver or gold to outline a design, which is then filled with enamel. The piece is subsequently placed in a kiln where the enamel is melted. Cloisonné is distinct because the individual wires remain visible, forming an outline of the motif.
Champlevé (“level field” in French) enamel is almost the opposite of cloisonné. In this technique, depressions in the metal are made by etching, engraving or chiseling, and then layers of enamel are built up until they rise slightly above the surface of the metal. The enamel is then fired and polished.
Guilloché is a technique in which translucent enamel is applied to a piece of metal that has had designs cut into it using a lathe. After the firing, the patterns on the metal become visible. Guilloché was made famous by Peter Carl Fabergé, whose jewelry house used the technique on many of its objets d’art as well as jewelry.
Find antique and vintage enamel rings, bracelets, necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.