18k Sputnik
20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Retro Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modernist Drop Earrings
Citrine, Garnet, Topaz, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold
Vintage 1910s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Retro Cluster Rings
Aquamarine, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Modernist Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Dangle Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Dutch Modernist Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
2010s Clip-on Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
20th Century Brazilian Modernist Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Retro Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Peridot, Tourmaline, 18k G...
Mid-20th Century Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Modernist Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Peridot, 18k Gold...
Vintage 1950s Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Retro Dome Rings
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Cluster Rings
18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Clip-on Earrings
Citrine, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Link Bracelets
Amethyst, Garnet, Citrine, Aquamarine, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Coral, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Canadian Collectible Jewelry
Gold
20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Citrine, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Peridot, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Retro More Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Retro Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Cluster Rings
Quartz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Beryl, Citrine, Garnet, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k G...
Mid-20th Century English Modern Dome Rings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Modernist More Earrings
18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Retro Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Tourmaline, Zircon, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Unknown More Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Retro Lever-Back Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Quartz, Topaz, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Ye...
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Retro Stud Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Quartz, Topaz, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Ye...
Mid-20th Century Lever-Back Earrings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yello...
Vintage 1960s Contemporary Stud Earrings
Multi-gemstone, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Contemporary Stud Earrings
Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Sapphire, Tanzanite, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Dome Rings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Tourmaline, Zircon, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, ...
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Stud Earrings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Rose...
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Retro Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Garnet, Topaz, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Brooches
Aquamarine, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s American Clip-on Earrings
Garnet, Peridot, Tourmaline, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Yellow Gold,...
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Retro Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Peridot, Quartz, Tourmalin...
Mid-20th Century American Link Bracelets
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Multi-gemstone, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Go...
Vintage 1960s Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century European Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Cluster Rings
Alexandrite, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Tour...
Vintage 1960s Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Peridot, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Modern Cocktail Rings
Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Modernist Cluster Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Rainbow Moonstone, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Rock Crystal, Crystal, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Drop Earrings
Topaz, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Retro Bracelets
18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Cluster Rings
Emerald, Yellow Gold
2010s French Evening Gowns
Vintage 1980s Link Bracelets
Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Diamond
20th Century Dome Rings
Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Modernist Cocktail Rings
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Cocktail Rings
Black Opal, Opal, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Link Bracelets
Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Gold
18k Sputnik For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 18k Sputnik?
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.