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18 Karat Gold Diamond Bow Brooch Pendant
Located in London, England
A stunning diamond ribbon brooch/pendant in 18-karat white gold, set with 2.18ct's total diamond, F
Category

2010s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Bow 18K Tri Color Earrings and Brooch Diamond Jewelry Set
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Gold set of bow earrings and a brooch, in 18k tri color gold, by Van Cleef & Arpels, adorned with
Category

20th Century French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian .60 Carat Diamond Bow Design Brooch
Located in Napoli, NA
Handcrafted in 18k white and yellow gold, this elegant brooch features in the center a large
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

A Platinum Art Deco Bow Brooch with Diamonds
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An Art Deco 18kgold and platinum bow brooch set with 2.5ct diamonds, French marks, circa 1920
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Old European Diamond Bow Brooch Pendant in 18K 2 Tone Gold
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful 1.19 ct. old European cut diamond with smaller round diamonds. Handmade in 18k white and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Vintage Retro 1950s French Antique Old Diamond in 18k Gold Ribbon Bow Brooch
Located in London, GB
A 1950s French 18 karat rose gold pin brooch, the soft ribbon-curl bow decorated with an arcing
Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Edwardian Belle Epoch Diamond Bow Motif Pendant Brooch
Located in Birmingham, AL
This gorgeous 18k yellow gold pendant/brooch features 3 prominent old European cut diamonds which
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique French Diamond and White Gold Bow Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique 1930s French 0.97 ct diamond and 18k white gold 'bow' brooch; part of diverse
Category

Vintage 1930s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Platinum and Gold Bow and Heart Brooch Diamonds
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A delicate Edwardian platinum brooch in the shape of a bow with a heart shaped locket dangling
Category

Vintage 1910s American Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

1950s Diamond Gold Tank Tubogaz and Bow Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 carat yellow gold. This tank brooch in the form of a bow features a central strap set
Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Old Cut Diamond Natural Pearl Bow Brooch
Located in Banbury, GB
An Edwardian diamond brooch with two natural saltwater pearls. It has a looped diamond-set bow
Category

20th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Yellow Gold Diamond and Sapphire Bow Brooch 7.62 carats
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k yellow gold Bow brooch. The brooch is set to the centre with baguette and round brilliant
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Pavé Yellow Gold Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Taking the attractive form of an ever-feminine bow, this beautiful Van Cleef & Arpels brooch will
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1980 s Diamond Aquamarine 18K Yellow Gold Rope Bow Knot Drop Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
,  This intricate rope bow design brooch pin features one exotic vibrant blue Drop Shape Aquamarine
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Yellow Gold

Vintage Diamond, Emerald and Pearl Bow Brooch, circa 1940s
Located in London, GB
This stunning and vintage brooch is an elegant gift for any lady. The expertly designed bow is
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Pave Yellow Gold Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
A mesmerizing and memorable sight with a delightfully feminine spirit, this fabulous brooch from
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold 3.75 Carat Diamond Bow Tie Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This stunning vintage diamond bow brooch is crafted in solid 18K yellow gold. Features a bow of
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Yellow Gold Flower Design Diamond Set Bow Brooch 10.29 Carat
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A stunning 18k yellow gold diamond Bow brooch. The brooch is set with round brilliant cut diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

VAN CLEEF ARPELS Colored Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A cute 18 carat gold bow brooch set with small brilliant cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds and
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Chalcedony Rhodochrosite Diamond Gold Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York City, NY
Rare and unusual 18K gold, diamond, chalcedony and rhodochrosite bow brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Chalcedony, 18k Gold

18 Karat White Gold Diamond Bow Brooch with 2.20 Carat
Located in New York, NY
18 Karat White gold Bow Brooch with approximately 2.20 carats of white diamonds.The Pin has movable
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

A Silver and Gold Antique Bow Brooch set with Diamonds
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18 carat gold bow brooch open worked and set with rose cut diamonds, numbered, 657, with French
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

Diamonds Rubies 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bow Brooch and Pendant
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
Amazing bow 18 karat yellow gold brooch and pendant. Butterfly Handmade by our craftsmen assembled
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Yellow and White Gold Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
made of a prestigious blend of 18K yellow and white gold in the appealing shape of a bow. Included
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Mario Buccellati Designer Signed Diamond Gold Bow Brooch Pin
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Montreal, QC
Brushed Gold Bow Brooch. Securely hand set with Diamonds, weighing approx. 0.20tcw. Measuring approx. 44mm
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1950s Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Bow Vintage Pin Brooch
Located in Boca Raton, FL
1950's diamond bow pin fashioned in 18 karat white gold. The pin features round brilliant cut
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

1950s Matched 18 Karat and Diamond Bow Brooches, Trabert Hoeffer Mauboussin
By Trabert Hoeffer Mauboussin
Located in Birmingham, AL
This matched pair of 1950s 18k white gold and diamond bow brooches is made by the famous design
Category

Vintage 1950s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Pave Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Taking the attractive form of an ever-feminine bow, this beautiful Van Cleef & Arpels brooch will
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mid-Century 1960s 18K White Gold Diamond Bow Pin
Located in Houston, TX
Mid-century 18K white gold bow brooch with 323 round and baguette diamonds that total 13.65 carats
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Paris Mid-20th Century Sapphire Diamond Gold Platimum Bow Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A French Mid-20th Century 18 karat gold and platinum brooch with diamonds and sapphires by Cartier
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold Rose Cut Diamond Bow Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is an elegant antique Victorian bow brooch crafted in 18K gold and adorned with silver. The
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver Plate

Vintage VCA Van Cleef and Arpels Coral and Diamond Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
cut diamond, set in 18K yellow gold. Made in France. Hallmarks: eagle head, VCA, 18K, serial number
Category

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Sapphire and 1.27 Carat Diamond Platinum Bow Brooch, circa 1910
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique 0.60 carat sapphire and 1.27 carat diamond, platinum bow brooch with an 18
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Ruby Yellow Gold Bow Brooch Pin Clip
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
. It is made of 18 karat yellow gold and set with round brilliant cut diamonds (total weight
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Chalcedony Bow and Arrow Brooch by Cartier
By Cartier
Located in New Orleans, LA
Cartier created this rare and fabulous brooch depicting a sleek bow and quiver filled with arrows
Category

20th Century French Retro Brooches

Materials

Chalcedony, Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian 1910s Tiffany Co. 4.50 Carat Diamond Bow Ribbon Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in platinum and 18k yellow gold with an Old European cut center Diamond weighing
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

1980s Vintage 5.55 Carat Diamond Onyx 18 Karat Gold Striped Bow Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch is designed as a stylized bow motif, contraposto, with black onyx stripes alternating with
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Unique brooch in the shape of a bow with diamonds and aquamarine.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Unique brooch in the shape of a bow with diamonds and aquamarine. A charming brooch made of 18
Category

Late 20th Century European Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Teone Diamond Pave and Invisible Set Ruby White Gold Bow Pendant/Brooch
Located in Southampton, PA
Beautifully crafted in shimmering 18K white gold, this gorgeous brooches by Teone is absolutely
Category

20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Classic Set Old Mine Diamonds Bow Brooch in Platinum and Gold
Located in New York, NY
Vintage platinum and 18 karat yellow gold diamond bow brooch Mid century period Old mine diamonds
Category

Vintage 1950s American Post-War Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Beautiful Bow Brooch with Natural Pearls and Diamonds in Platinum and Gold
Located in Lucerne, CH
Superbly crafted platinum mounted bow brooch set with 18 natural pearls and 124 diamonds of G-H
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Pave and Lapis Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
is made in the form of a charming bow. The brooch is crafted from 18K yellow gold and embellished
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

5 Ct Natural Emerald 2.5 Ct Brilliant cut Diamond Bow Brooch /Pin 18 KY Gold
Located in New York, NY
Approximately 5 Ct Natural Emerald 2.5 Ct Brilliant cut Diamond Bow Brooch /Pin 18 Kt Yellow
Category

2010s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Vintage Boucheron Mixed Cut Diamond 18 Carat Multi-Row Bow Double Clip Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in London, GB
Introducing an absolutely stunning diamond double-clip brooch by the Parisian jewellery house
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Edwardian 950 Platinum 5.80 Carat Old Cut Diamond Pearl Bow Drop Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is an elegant antique bow drop pin brooch crafted in 950 platinum (pin - 18K white gold
Category

Early 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Late-20th Century Diamond 18 Karat Two Tone Gold Vintage Bow Pin Brooch
Located in Boca Raton, FL
This Late-20th Century Diamond Bow Pin Brooch is a beautifully crafted vintage piece, featuring a
Category

Late 20th Century American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co. 1.30 Cts Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Bow Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a bow comprised of ridged gold ribbon with round brilliant cut diamonds. Weighing
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

18 Karat White Gold Bow Brooch with Round Diamonds and Square Cut Emeralds
Located in Crema, Cremona
18K white gold bow brooch with Round Diamonds and Square Cut Emeralds. 1 central Diamond (0.30cts
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Retro 1950s French Antique Old Diamond in 18 Karat Gold Ribbon Curl Bow Brooch
Located in London, GB
A 1950s French 18 carat rose gold pin brooch, the soft ribbon-curl bow decorated with an arcing
Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Platinum on 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bow Brooch, circa 1910
Located in Wailea, HI
Platinum on 18k Yellow Gold Bow Brooch Circa 1910 Weighing in Just Shy of Seven carats This
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Edwardian Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond and Sapphire Bow Pin
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Diamond and Pink Sapphire Bow Pin, Set with .99 Carats of Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold

Vintage White Gold 2ct Round Brilliant Cut Bezel Pave Set Diamond Bow Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Round Brilliant Cut - Bezel Set - H Color - VS2 Clarity
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Vintage 18K Yellow Gold 0.19 Ct Diamond and Chrysoprase Bow
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Bold colors and shimmering gemstones make this vintage bow tie brooch from Van Cleef & Arpels an
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Mixed Metal Tourmaline Diamond Bow Pin
Located in New York, NY
of Diamonds on either side. Beautifully constructed & created. Ca. 1930-1940
Category

Vintage 1930s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, Platinum, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Bow Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom designed Material: 18K yellow gold Diamonds: 6 round diamonds = 0.18ct Color: G
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Bow Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: 18K yellow gold Diamonds: 17 round brilliant cut = .66cttw Color: G
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Gold Bow Pin
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
of lavish 18K yellow gold mesh and is cinched at the center with .37ct diamond-set 18K yellow gold.
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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18k Diamond Bow Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate 18k diamond bow brooch for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Find an antique version now, or shop for 225 vintage or 31 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. If you’re looking for a 18k diamond bow brooch from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 18th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic 18k diamond bow brooch over the years, but those made by Van Cleef Arpels, Cartier and Bulgari are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes brilliant cut and old european cut alternatives. Most of our 18k diamond bow brooch for sale are for women, but there are 81 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a 18k Diamond Bow Brooch?

Prices for a 18k diamond bow brooch can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $315 and can go as high as $200,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $5,975.

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.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond 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.