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Victorian Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby and Emerald Flower Brooch, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
made out of 15 carat rose gold and silver, two common metals within the Victorian era. Gemstone
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Silver

Gold and Pearl Key Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A 15 carat gold brooch of two intertwined keys, the one above slightly bigger then the other both
Category

Antique 1870s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Natural Pearl, 15k Gold

Victorian Star and Mood Diamond Brooch, circa 1870
Located in London, GB
the crest of the moon. The brooch is made of 15 carat rose gold, adding uniqueness and character. We
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian 1850 Antique Sculptural Brooch Carved Portrait of Cupid in High Relief
Located in Miami, FL
Carved cupid brooch from the Victorian period. Exceedingly rare three-dimensional piece, created
Category

Antique 1850s British Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

15k Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond Gold Star Brooch
Located in London, GB
A French, antique, diamond star brooch, set with old-cut diamonds, mounted in silver-upon-gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian Scottish Amethyst, Citrine and Agate Kilt Fly Plaid Brooch, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This traditional Victorian Scottish Kilt/Fly Plaid brooch evokes classic Scots heritage showcasing
Category

Antique 1880s Scottish Victorian Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Citrine, Agate, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Pearl Diamond Gold Stickpin
Located in London, England
A fine Victorian pearl and diamond stick pin with detachable head. The head of the pin is formed of
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 15k Gold

1890s Antique Pearl and Ruby Yellow Gold Swallow Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique pearl and cabochon ruby, 15k yellow gold brooch modelled in the form
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Gold Gem Scottish Agate Dirk
Located in Stamford, CT
Gold engraving separates the specimen agates and citrine of this high quality and rare Scottish
Category

Antique 1870s Scottish Victorian Brooches

Materials

Agate, Citrine, Gold, 15k Gold

1890s Antique Ruby and Diamond Yellow Gold Arrow Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Victorian arrow brooch has been crafted in 15k yellow gold with silver settings. The brooch has been
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Pansy Motif Brooch
Located in Baltimore, MD
Pansy pin of pietra dura set in a 15K gold beaded bezel. Pietra dura jewelry was made in Florence
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

15k Gold

Late Victorian Fleur-de-Lis Diamond and Pearl Brooch, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
: Diamond Carat Weight: 0.50 Total Stone Shape: Old Cut, Rose Cut Metal: 15ct Rose Gold, Silver Age: 1900s
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian Blue Enamel and Diamond Set Gold Heart Pendant
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A glorious Victorian heart pendant modelled in 15 karat yellow gold and fronted with rich light
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold

English Antique Gold, Cabochon Turquoise, and Old Cut Diamond Horseshoe Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A Victorian diamond and turquoise horseshoe brooch set with graduated and alternating old mine cut
Category

Antique 1880s English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold

Magnificent Antique Girandole Brooch
Located in Baltimore, MD
This ultimate brooch in the girandole style incorporates the use of two-color 15K gold set with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Amethyst, 15k Gold

Opal Crescent Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian opal crescent brooch, set with graduated opals and rose-cut diamonds, mounted in silver
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Opal, 15k Gold, Silver

English Victorian Gothic Revival Pink Topaz, Diamond, Gold and Enamel Pendant
Located in New York, NY
An English Antique 15 karat gold and enamel pendant/brooch with pink topaz and diamonds. The
Category

Antique 1860s English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, 15k Gold

Antique Sapphire, Diamond and Gold Crescent Brooch, Circa 1890
Located in London, GB
the inner side, mounted in 15ct gold. With pin and roller catch. In Victorian symbolism the crescent
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 15k Gold

Demantoid Garnet, Pearl and Gold Crescent Brooch, circa 1875
Located in London, GB
A Victorian demantoid garnet and pearl crescent brooch, designed as two rows, with an inner
Category

Antique 1870s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Garnet, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

1890 Spinel Diamond Star Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian star brooch-cum-pendant, set with a natural purple spinel in the centre, surrounded by
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Spinel, 15k Gold, Silver

Gem Set Sword Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A 15 carat gold sword brooch bejeweled to the hilt with rose cut diamonds, emeralds, sapphires
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold

Whimsical Hunting-Themed Victorian Stick Pin
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Crafted of 15k yellow gold and made in the United Kingdom around the turn of the century, this
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

15k Gold, Yellow Gold

CARRINGTON COMPANY Green Enamel and Pearl Brooch
By Carrington Co
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A gold brooch set with six little natural pearls and geen translucent enamel on a hand engraved
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Natural Pearl, 15k Gold

Large Exquisite Reverse Carved Essex Crystal Victorian Locket
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Yellow Gold Reverse Carved Essex Crystal Victorian Locket Brooch - Superb reverse carving and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Rock Crystal, 15k Gold

Antique Enamel Portrait Brooch of a Girl with her Dog
Located in Litchfield, CT
Utterly charming, this mid-Victorian brooch features a enameled portrait of a young girl with her
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Victorian Brooches

Materials

15k Gold

Antique Scarab and Gemset Brooch, Circa 1860
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Antique Faience Scarab, Diamond, Ruby and Emerald, Silver topped Gold Mounted Brooch
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sterling Silver, 15k Gold

Victorian 3 Carats Rose Cut Diamonds Crescent Pin Pendant
Located in Narberth, PA
A spectacular diamond crescent moon pin pendant from the Victorian era (ca1880)! Made of 15kt
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Sterling Silver

Egyptian Revival 1870 Victorian Natural Scarab Beetles Suite in Box in 14Kt Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Egyptian revival scarab beetles suite. Very rare suite, created in England during the Victorian
Category

Antique 1870s English Egyptian Revival Brooches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond Pearl 18 Karat Yellow Gold Horse Shoe Stick Pin, Circa 1950
Located in London, GB
A Victorian diamond and pearl 18 karat yellow gold horse shoe stick pin, circa 1950. This charming
Category

Vintage 1950s British Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond and Ruby Set Gold Heart Pin
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1880s, 15k. This whimsical antique heart brooch is set with fine diamonds and beautiful
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Large Labradorite Gold Othello Stick Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa: 1860s Yellow Gold and Carved Labradorite 'Othello' Stick Pin, detailed in White, Red and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Labradorite, 15k Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Gold Seed Pearl Starburst Pendant Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a lovely Victorian starburst pendant brooch crafted in 15K gold. The piece features seed
Category

Early 20th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, 15k Gold

Antique Coral Cameo
Located in New York, NY
Lovely Victorian Coral Cameo in 15kt Yellow Gold frame embellished with granulation & beadwork
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Brooches

Materials

Coral, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pearl 15k Yellow Gold Necklace with Pendant / Brooch - Antique Victorian
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Victorian pearl necklace with pendant / brooch in 15k yellow gold
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Drop Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Gold Seed Pearl Buckle Pendant Brooch Necklace - c.1890
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer this lovely antique 15ct gold buckle-shaped pendant/brooch made in the
Category

Antique 19th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold

Turquoise, Pearl Yellow Gold Victorian Brooch Earring Set
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Turquoise, Pearl & Yellow Gold Victorian Brooch & Earring Set
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Turquoise, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold

Dramatic Victorian Gold Banded Quartz Suite of Brooch and Earrings
Located in Baltimore, MD
Roses, rosebuds and leaves of 15K gold adorn this Victorian suite set with banded gold quartz. The
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Quartz, 15k Gold

Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Diamond and Enamel Bow Pendant / Brooch
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Bow Pendant 15ct Gold Tested Beautiful, round Victorian pendant. Features a diamond
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel

Victorian Peridot Seed Pearl 15 Karat Yellow Gold Heart Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian peridot seed pearl 15 karat yellow gold heart brooch. This brooch is finely crafted in
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Peridot, Gold, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold

Victorian Coral Gold Demi-Parure Butterfly Earrings and Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A whimsical Victorian demi-parure suite consisting of a pair of earrings and a brooch in a fitted
Category

Antique 1880s British Stud Earrings

Materials

Coral, White Diamond, 15k Gold

Victorian Diamond and Pearl Pendant/Brooch, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
in silver and 15 carat yellow gold, the typical metals of choice. The setting work holding the
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Eight Point Old Mine Diamond Star Pendant Brooch
Located in Stamford, CT
candlelight. Victorian jewelers set the brooch in 15kt gold and the stones in silver so that the gold does not
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Diamond, Pearl and Enamel Pendant and Brooch, circa 1890s
Located in London, GB
beautiful brooch. Gemstone: Pearl Metal: 15ct Yellow Gold, 9ct Yellow Gold, Silver Age: Victorian, 1890s
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Silver, Enamel

Antique Dutch gold brooch-pendant with 26 diamonds 1.30 carat, mid-19th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique brooch-pendant from the mid-19th century, set with 26 diamonds total 1,30ct in old Dutch
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold

Biedermeier demi-parure: bracelet, brooch, earrings in original case, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
A set of German gold and silver antique jewelry in the Biedermeier style in an original case
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century German Victorian Bangles

Materials

15k Gold, Silver

Antique 15k Gold Ruby Claw Brooch, Pin, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
An interesting and rare antique Victorian claw brooch. Crafted in rich 15kt gold the brooch is
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Etruscan Revival Locket Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
My favourite thing about this Antique 15K Yellow Gold Locket Brooch is the beautiful decoration
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 15k gold and Pearl Crescent moon brooch, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
A gorgeous antique, late Victorian, 15ct gold and pearl crescent brooch. A beautiful closed
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 15k gold Crescent moon and flower brooch, Pearl, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
and era: Fully hallmarked for 15ct gold, Chester Assay office, 1898, Victorian era. Approx
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold and Silver Diamond Crowned Hearts Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
fifty-eight rose cut diamonds, in silver and 15 karat yellow gold. This Victorian brooch is designed
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique 15K Gold Champagne Citrine and Pearls Brooch
Located in Rotterdam, NL
colored stone, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication. The setting, crafted of 15 karat gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Pearl, 15k Gold

Antique 15K Yellow Gold Emerald, Ruby and Pearl Swallow Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
gold, with 15 karat yellow gold pin and fittings. This brooch is classic of the late Victorian, to
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond Mourning Brooch, Pendant, Black Enamel and 15k Gold
Located in NEWARK, GB
enamel contrasting beautifully with the rich 15k yellow gold. Black enamel was commonly used on mourning
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, 15k Gold

Antique fly brooch, crossed needles, 15k gold, Sapphire and pearl
Located in NEWARK, GB
were long worn as a talisman to ward off evil. The brooch is crafted in rich 15ct gold with an old c
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Shamrock brooch, 15k gold, Guilloche enamel and seed pearl
Located in NEWARK, GB
Wow this antique 15kt gold, guilloche enamel and seed pearl brooch is really something special
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique 15k Rose Gold and Pearl Lucky Arrow and Horseshoe Brooch
Located in London, GB
This antique Victorian brooch comprises a feathered arrow rendered in solid 15k rose gold
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Opal and Ruby Shamrock Brooch, 15k Yellow Gold, Boxed
Located in NEWARK, GB
A very pretty late Victorian, 15kt gold, opal and ruby shamrock or clover brooch. A beautiful rich
Category

Early 20th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Opal, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

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15k Gold Victorian Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact 15k gold victorian brooch you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Frequently made of Gold, 15k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. Our collection of these items for sale includes 356 vintage editions and 1 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect 15k gold victorian brooch among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Finding an appealing 15k gold victorian brooch — no matter the origin — is easy, but Glorious Antique Jewelry Collection, Carlo Giuliano and Carrington Co each produced a popular version that is worth a look. A 15k gold victorian brooch can be a stylish choice for most occasions, but Diamond rings, from our inventory of 134, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also rose cut cut and cabochon cut versions available here, too. Finding a 15k gold victorian brooch for sale for women should be easy, but there are 170 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a 15k Gold Victorian Brooch?

The price for a 15k gold victorian brooch starts at $274 and tops out at $27,371 with these brooches, on average, selling for $1,900.

A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry

The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.

Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.

The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.

Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.

Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs. 

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Brooches for You

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 GucciVersaceDior 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.