Skip to main content

1960 Diamond Gold Brooch

to
64
1,523
1,196
558
204
178
1,485
412
292
261
219
1
1,545
2
5
1,517
2
1
824
720
4
423
168
60
58
17
to
115
90
75
44
20
247
154
114
17
14
12
8
5
5
1
1,536
12
1,072
458
Sort By
Vintage Mid-Century Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Openwork Floral Brooch 1960s
Located in Towson, MD
diamonds, totaling approximately 0.41 carats, are delicately set throughout the brooch to enhance its
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1960s Diamond Emerald Sapphire Platinum 18 Karat Gold Serpent Dragon Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a mythical serpent dragon with a coiled tail, a lashing tongue, and a wide wing Gold
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold...

1960s Diamond Emerald Sapphire Platinum 18 Karat Gold Serpent Dragon Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a mythical serpent dragon with a coiled tail, a lashing tongue, and a wide wing Gold
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold...

Tiffany Co. 18 Karat White Gold, Diamond and Cultured Pearl Dragonfly Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Weston, MA
brilliant diamonds 2 cultured pearls 18k white gold Signed Tiffany & Co. Circa 1960s
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold

Coral and Diamond Balloon Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold, carved coral, platinum set diamond and turquoise brooch.
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Coral, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Platinum

Julius Cohen Gold, Rough Diamond and Rose-cut Rock Crystal Owl Brooch c1960s
Located in London, GB
round brilliant cut diamonds, to a single pin brooch fitting. 2 x round rose cut rock crystal (quartz
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Quartz, Yellow Gold

Mid-Century Modern Diamond Sapphire Emerald Gold Brooch Pin Estate Fine Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Brooch Pin. Hand crafted in 18 Karat yellow Gold and hand set with round Diamonds, weighing approx. 3.00
Category

Vintage 1960s Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold

1963 Georges Braque Yellow and White Gold and Cut Diamonds Brooch "HEBE"
By Georges Braque
Located in Paris, FR
RoundCut Diamonds Brooch by Georges Braque (1882-1963), inventor of cubism. It is Signed "Bijoux de Braque
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Diamond Emerald and Pearl 18K Yellow Gold Love Bird Brooch 1960s
Located in Towson, MD
A whimsical and romantic design, this 1960s love bird brooch is masterfully crafted in 18 karat
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Kutchinsky 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Ruby, Emerald and Diamond Lion Brooch Pin
By Kutchinsky
Located in London, GB
A Kutchinsky 18 karat yellow gold, ruby, emerald and diamond lion brooch pin, Circa 1960. This
Category

Vintage 1960s British Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1963, Georges Braque "Zephir Icarios" 18 Karat White Gold and Diamonds Brooch
By Georges Braque
Located in Paris, FR
Diamonds (2,36 Carats) brooch by Georges Braque (1882-1963), inventor of cubism. It is called "Zephir
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

1960s Pierre Sterle Hematite Peridot Citrine Diamond Figural Brooch
By Pierre Sterlé
Located in London, GB
Unusual figural clip brooch designed as the bust of a woman in carved heamatite with a yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Hematite, Peridot, Yellow Gold

Mesh Flower Brooch
Located in London, GB
A diamond set flower brooch, with gold mesh opening and closing petals, with eight-cut diamond set
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

White Gold 2.00 Carat Diamond Double Bird Brooch Ruby Eyes 18 Karat
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This Double Bird Brooch is covered in Diamonds and has Ruby eyes. This brooch is large 2 3/4" long
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Ruby Rabbit Brooch, 1960s after Kutchinsky
Located in Zurich, CH
Hilarious 18 karat yellow gold single-cut diamond emerald ruby rabbit brooch of French provenance
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Oscar Heyman 3.60 Carat Sapphire Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Gold Floral Brooch
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Circular brooch is designed with floral clusters of sapphire and diamonds alternating with polished
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...

Asprey London 1960s Diamond Rose Flower Brooch 18 Karat Yellow Gold English
By Asprey London
Located in Lisbon, PT
A 1960s Asprey London Diamond-set Flowerhead Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold, circa 1961
Category

Vintage 1960s English Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Ruser Jade Baroque Pearl Diamond Sapphire Platinum 18 Karat Gold Bird Brooch
By William Ruser
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch depicts a stylized bird with a baroque pearl head - white with strong iridescence Accented
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Go...

Tiffany Co. 10.23 Carats Tanzanite Transitional Cut Diamond Platinum Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
transitional cut diamond surround. With additional diamonds set with platinum prongs throughout petals
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Gem-Set Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 18k, American. Set with excellent-quality diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Vintage Estate Tiffany Co. 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Flower Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Great Neck, NY
Vintage yellow gold Tiffany & Co. flower brooch with rubies & diamonds. The larger flower opens and
Category

Vintage 1960s Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

1.30 Carat Diamond Starburst Flower Brooch Pendant in 18K Gold and Platinum
Located in Miami, FL
. Each gold petal is tipped with platinum and diamond accents, creating striking contrast and dimensional
Category

Vintage 1960s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Tiffany Co. Enamel Ruby Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Large Flower Pin Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Sapphire & Ruby Enamel Large Flower Brooch by Tiffany & Co. With 56 round
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

18 Karat Gold Owl Brooch Pin
Located in New York, NY
of yesteryear. Combining precious gemstones; sapphires diamonds emeralds and pearls this remarkably
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

French Van Cleef Arpels Ruby Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Gold Scarecrow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch is designed as a texturous scarecrow with a windswept scarf and whimsical hat Its head is
Category

Vintage 1960s Modernist Brooches

Materials

Chrysophrase, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold

French Van Cleef Arpels Ruby Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Gold Scarecrow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch is designed as a texturous scarecrow with a windswept scarf and whimsical hat Its head is
Category

Vintage 1960s Modernist Brooches

Materials

Chrysophrase, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold

Mauboussin Turquoise and Diamond Bird Brooch, 1960s
By Mauboussin
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
and leaf are made out of yellow gold wires and the flower is centred by a diamond. It is a cute brooch
Category

Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co 1960s Turquoise Blue Enamel Diamond Wreath Brooch White Yellow Gold
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Lisbon, PT
Tiffany & Co. turquoise blue enamel and diamond wreath brooch in 18 karat white and yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels Lion Ebouriffé brooch in gold, diamonds, emeralds and enamel
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in PARIS, FR
Clip "Lion Ébouriffé", enameled muzzle paved with brilliant-cut diamonds and faceted emerald eyes
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Enamel

Tantalizing Turquoise Brooch
Located in Palm Beach, FL
optional basis. Both sections of the brooch feature 18K yellow gold braided wire work, while the top
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Georges L Enfant French Yellow and White Gold Diamond Tree of Life Brooch
By Georges L Enfant
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Georges L'Enfant French Yellow and White Gold Diamond Tree Of Life Brooch This is a magnificent
Category

Vintage 1960s French Post-War Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Diamond Multi-Gem 18 Karat Gold Carved Stone Chameleon Lizard Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
finely matte finished gold branch Featuring a round chrysoprase cabochon eye with carved amethyst
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Chrysoberyl, Chrysophrase, Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline,...

Van Cleef Arpels VCA Lion Ebouriffé Diamond Emerald Brooch Yellow Gold French
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) “Lion Ebouriffé” diamond and emerald brooch in 18kt yellow and white gold
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage Rock Crystal Jade Diamond Lily of the Valley Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Austria, circa 1960s The brooch is finely modeled as a lily of the valley. The flower heads are
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Crystal, Diamond, Jade, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

CARTIER Lapis, Turquoise, and Diamond Unicorn Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Houston, TX
This Cartier brooch features 4.7 carats of round brilliant-cut diamonds to compliment the turquoise
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Boucheron Paris 8.60 Carat Diamond Sapphire Platinum 18 Karat Gold Flower Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Philadelphia, PA
diamonds and bright vivid blue sapphires in bead set gold stamen Natural blue sapphires weighing
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

An 18 Carat Gold Cartier Paris Duck Brooch with Diamond, Sapphire and Aventurine
By Cartier
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18 carat gold duck brooch with diamond and sapphire eyes and an aventurine belly, signed and
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Aventurine, Gold, 18k Gold

Hammerman Brothers Butterfly Brooch of Diamonds, Opals, Emeralds and Rubies
By Hammerman Brothers
Located in Darnestown, MD
Exquisite, elegant butterfly brooch by Hammerman Brothers. The brooch consists of 282 diamonds
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold

David Webb White Enamel Gold Dragon Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
White enamel dragon brooch finely crafted in 18 k yellow gold accented with round brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

VCA Gold and Onyx Winking Cat Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
An 18k gold, black onyx, black enamel, cabochon emerald and diamond winking cat brooch. Signed Van
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Emerald, 18k Gold

1960s CARTIER Yellow Gold Bird Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
. made of 18k yellow gold; the bird's eye is accented by a diamond. Measures 1-1/8" x 1-1/8". Has a
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1960s Biomorphic Opal Set Gold Brooch
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 14k, American. This brooch has an inspired organic movement motif. Its visual
Category

Vintage 1960s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

1963 Georges Braque Turquoise Diamond Platinum Aegle Brooch
By Georges Braque
Located in Paris, FR
brooch by Georges Braque (1882-1963), inventor of cubism. The attach is in gold. The Brooch is Signed
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Vintage Ruby and Diamond Thistle Brooch, circa 1960s
Located in London, GB
colour and VS in clarity. The diamonds sit within 18 carat white gold collets. The brooch also comes with
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Fantastic Emerald and Diamond Brooch in Platinum and 18 Karat Gold by Meister
Located in Lucerne, CH
18 karat gold, this flower brooch is three-dimensional in design, as if it were in full bloom, and
Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Artist Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier Paris Large Gemstone Gold Bird Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1960s Cartier Paris 18K yellow Gold Bird Clip Brooch. Measuring 3 3/4 inch in length
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold

ITALIAN Retro Doggy Brooch In 18Kt Yellow Gold With Carved Blue Turquoises
Located in Miami, FL
: Stamped with the mark for the assay of the 18kt gold as follows, ".750". Collateral: This doggy brooch is
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

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

VCA Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Emerald Leaf Brooch Pin Yellow Gold 1960s-1970s
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Lisbon, PT
Van Cleef & Arpels diamond and emerald leaf brooch pin in 18 karat yellow gold and platinum, French
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Whimsical Enamel Owl Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A very fine 1960's diamond enamel owl brooch featuring polychrome enamel body framed with 42 round
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Cartier Lapis Lazuli, Diamond and Sapphire Turtle Brooch Set in 18k Yellow Gold
By Cartier
Located in London, England
A beautiful Cartier lapis lazuli, diamond and sapphire turtle brooch set in 18k yellow gold and
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, G...

Frascarolo Black Enamel Cat Brooch
By Frascarolo
Located in New York, NY
Cat brooch, finely crafted in 18k yellow gold with black enamel, diamonds and 2 emerald eyes
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Lion Ébouriffe Brooch 18k Estate Diamond Emerald Onyx Gems
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in MIAMI, FL
crafted since the early 1960's and still sold annually in store today. This brooch is an early design from
Category

Vintage 1960s Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold

Vendorafa Lombardi 1960 s Diamond Amethyst 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Flower Vintage
Located in Philadelphia, PA
brilliant cut diamonds prong set in white gold Weighing approximately 0.24 carat total - eye clean and
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Boxer Dog Gold Clip Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
estate gold boxer dog brooch circa 1960.
Category

Vintage 1960s American Modern Brooches

Tipsy Bird Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
him. Made of excellent coral and turquoise. With diamonds and in 18k gold.
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Whimsical 18K Gold and Gem set Poodle Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
18K White gold front and yellow gold Back Poodle Brooch set with Gray pearls, Daimond Collar
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold

Hermes Paris 18 Karat Yellow Gold Estate Pin Brooch
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Hermes Paris 18kt Yellow Gold Estate Pin-- a timeless and rare piece from Hermes Paris Circa 1960's
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 1
  • ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "1960 Diamond Gold Brooch", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

1960 Diamond Gold Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact 1960 diamond gold brooch you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. Find an antique version now, or shop for 1759 vintage or 1 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. If you’re looking for a 1960 diamond gold 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 19th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but .5 Carat and 1 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. Creating a 1960 diamond gold brooch has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Van Cleef Arpels, Tiffany Co. and Cartier are consistently popular. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also brilliant cut cut and cabochon cut versions available here, too. If you’re browsing our inventory for a 1960 diamond gold brooch, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a 1960 Diamond Gold Brooch?

Prices for a 1960 diamond gold brooch can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $361 and can go as high as $375,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $5,721.

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.