Pendant Necklaces
Early 20th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Rock Crystal, 9k Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century British Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold
1960s American Modernist Vintage Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1950s American Modernist Vintage Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Enamel
1880s British Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Ruby, Enamel, Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver
19th Century Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Late Victorian Vintage Pendant Necklaces
Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold
1980s Israeli Modernist Vintage Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
Late 19th Century Indian Victorian Antique Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage Pendant Necklaces
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.