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4 Carat Diamond Drop Earrings

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Ruby Horse Stirrup Dangle Earrings
Located in Montgomery, AL
Pinkish Red Colored Ruby Gemstones; Stamped Weight 1.5 Carats 4 - 1mm Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds Item
Category

20th Century Contemporary Dangle Earrings

Materials

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

Lagos 1990s Vintage Diamond 18 Karat Gold Fleur-De-Lis Earrings
By Lagos
Located in Philadelphia, PA
channel set round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.30 carat total, G/H color and VS clarity
Category

1990s Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Folie des Pres Earrings
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
carats total weight. 64 round brilliant cut diamonds, 14 round brilliant cut pink sapphires, 4 marquise
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire

1980 Retro Certified Diamonds D-F 19.0ct Clip-On Big Statement Earrings/Pendant
Located in London, GB
Clarity 3. 1 X Pear Shape Diamond, weight 1.15 carats, E Colour, VS1 Clarity 4. 1 x Pear Shape Diamond
Category

Vintage 1980s British Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Marina B Milano Pneus Earrings in 18Kt Gold with 82.11 Cts Diamonds Tourmaline
By Marina B
Located in Miami, FL
Pneus drop earrings designed by Marina B. This pieces are one of the most iconic designs from
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modernist Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Multicolored Sapphire Tassel Earrings in 18 Karat
Located in North Hollywood, CA
gorgeous multi colored Sapphire Earrings are long tassel drop earrings. They weight 19.01 grams they are 2
Category

Early 2000s American Aesthetic Movement Dangle Earrings

Materials

Sapphire, 18k Gold

1960s Chaumet Diamond and Gold Fringe Earclips
By Chaumet
Located in Miami, FL
cascade of gold fringe supporting pendants set with round diamonds weighing approximately 2.20 carats
Category

Vintage 1960s French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Platinum and 14 Karat Gold Drop Diamond Earrings with 2.36 Total Diamond Weight
Located in Palm Desert, CA
carats, G color, VS Clarity. Diamonds consist of 4 Marquise, 2 Baguettes, and 52 round brilliant cuts
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown More Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold

Vintage 125 Carat Russian Emeralds and Diamonds Necklace and Earring Circa 1960
Located in Miami, FL
makers mark 89779 750 W 84.30ct. Earrings drop 1.50 inches down. oval on top by itself is about 3/4
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Choker Necklaces

Materials

18k Gold

Art Deco GIA 2.31 Carats Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
ring with elegant evening attire and classic diamond drop earrings for an evening gala or a night on
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Mother of Pearl and Diamond Necklace and Earring Set
Located in Miami, FL
brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 7.19 carats total, G-H color, VS-SI clarity. The necklace
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern More Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold

Black Starr Frost Edwardian Diamond Platinum-Topped 18 Karat Gold Earring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
articulated laurel foliate surround with drop. Accented throughout by old European cut diamonds. Weighing in
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian More Jewelry

Materials

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

Antique French 8.65 Carat No Heat Sapphire Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
it with your favorite diamond drop earrings and an elegant outfit to create a timeless aesthetic
Category

Vintage 1910s French Belle Époque Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Mid Century 0.50 Carat Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
. Pair this ring with a pair of radiant diamond drop earrings and your favorite outfit for an eye
Category

Vintage 1950s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Inspired 0.53 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Ruby Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamond of 0.53 carat, graded H color, SI clarity. Accented by 18 French cut rubies with a total weight of
Category

2010s Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Late Victorian 4.30 Carats Old Mine Cut Diamonds 18K Gold Navette Dinner Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Late Victorian 4.30 Carats Old Mine Cut Diamonds 18K Gold Navette Dinner Ring. Featuring 21 old
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Contemporary Black Pearl and Diamond Gold Jewelry Set
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
modern brilliant round cut diamonds, and the earrings are channel set with a total of sixteen modern
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cabochon Crystalline Rhodochrosite 18 Carat Yellow Gold Suite
Located in London, GB
day drop earrings, fitted with three oval graduated cabochon crystalline rhodochrosites rubover set in
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Retro Retro Bracelets

Materials

Rhodocrosite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

French Art Deco GIA Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
accentuates the luminosity of the diamonds. Pair this masterpiece with gorgeous diamond drop earrings and your
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Retro French Old European Cut Diamond Platinum Bombé Dome Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
flowing patterns create a visual spectacle. Pair this stunning ring with dazzling diamond drop earrings to
Category

Vintage 1940s French Retro Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Yellow Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
show without distraction. Pair this ring with a pair of radiant diamond drop earrings and your favorite
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Belle Èpoque Diamond Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
sapphire of approximately 0.80 carat, and two rose cut diamonds with a total weight of approximately 0.40
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque More Rings

Materials

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

Ancient Carthage Punic Gold Electrum Stater Coin 320 BC 18Kt Gold Diamonds Ruby
Located in Miami, FL
facing to the left, wearing a triple long drop earring and beaded necklace, her hair is tied up, with a
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold

Blue Topaz Sapphire Diamond Pendant and Ring Jewelry Set in 9K Yellow Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
and drop earrings for a complete look. Perfect for formal events, special occasions, or evening wear
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Blue Topaz, Topaz, Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold

Vintage David Webb Ring 18k Gold Gemstone Estate Jewelry
By David Webb
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
round brilliant cut diamonds (G-H color, VS clarity, approximately 0.30 carat total weight). The
Category

Vintage 1980s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Emerald Two-Tone Drop Earrings
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
14K Yellow and White Gold Oval Emerald measuring each 6 x 4 mm 0.82 Carats Diamonds: 0.32 Cts
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Emerald, 14k Gold

Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold Flame Motif Earrings 4 Carats G-H VS2-SI1
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
18 Karat yellow gold 'flame' motif earrings featuring 94 round brilliants weighing approximately 4
Category

1990s Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

4.0-Carat Aquamarine and Diamond Drop Earrings 14k
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 2000s, 14k, American. These elegant drop earrings are set with 4.0 carats of brilliant blue
Category

Early 2000s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Platinum 4.00 Carat Total Carat Emerald and Diamond Onyx Drop Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
A stunning pair of emerald and diamond compilation earrings from the late Art Deco (ca1930) era
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Platinum

Nina Zhou Turquoise Diamond Drop Earrings
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
The Nina Zhou Turquoise Diamond Drop Earrings are a stunning testament to timeless elegance and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold

Ruby and Baguette Diamond Drop Gold Earrings Weighing 2.30 Carat
By OGI Ltd
Located in New York, NY
Fourteen karat yellow gold drop earrings 1" long Baguette diamonds weighing 0.40 carats Four round
Category

2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Tiffany Co. Diamond Gold Platinum Drop Earrings
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Miami, FL
18 Karat Yellow Gold and Platinum Diamond Drop Earrings Set with One Pear Brilliant Cut Diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Nina Zhou Aquamarine Diamond Drop Earrings
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
Elevate your elegance with the Nina Zhou Aquamarine and Diamond Drop Earrings, a sophisticated
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Aquamarine, 14k Gold

Ruby Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 2000, 18k. These electric ruby and diamond earrings are an au-courant classic. Each earring
Category

Early 2000s Drop Earrings

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold

0.70 Carat Diamond "Shadow Box" Leverback Drop Earrings in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Eytan Brandes
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
his "used diamonds" pile to make these marvelous little drop earrings in satiny 18 karat yellow gold
Category

2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

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

Nina Zhou Turquoise Diamond Chandlier Drop Earrings
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
The Nina Zhou Turquoise Diamond Chandlier Drop Earrings are a stunning testament to timeless
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold

Victorian 10.36 Carat Tourmaline Diamond 14 Karat Gold Floral Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings designed as highly rendered flowers centering a disk studded with gold beading; featuring
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Blue Topaz, Peridot and Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Derby, NY
The color combination of blue topaz and peridot is stunning. These beautifully crafted earrings
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Peridot, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Russian Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Chicago, IL
total diamond weight 3 carats. Marked with 56 zolotnik Imperial Russian gold standard and maker’s
Category

Early 20th Century Russian Edwardian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond

Memoire Diamond Drop Earrings 18k, C2000s
By Memoire
Located in Litchfield, CT
Victorian diamond drops. Set with .96 carats of sparkly white diamonds (G color VS clarity), they are finely
Category

Early 2000s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Nina Zhou Aquamarine Diamond Double Blossom Drop Earrings
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
The Aquamarine Diamond Double Blossom Drop Earrings radiate a serene elegance, with sky-blue
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Nina Zhou Turquoise Diamond Double Blossom Drop Earrings
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
Unveil the enchanting allure of Nina Zhou's Turquoise Diamond Cherry Blossom Earrings, meticulously
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold

Red Garnet and Diamond Drop Earrings in 18k Yellow Gold, 7.90 Carats Total
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large, round burgundy color garnets are bezel set in these pretty drop earrings... grown-up girl
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Drop Earrings

Materials

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

Green Beryl Diamond White Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
Flirty drop earrings of fourteen carat white gold with diamond accented floral stems display vivid
Category

Early 2000s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Beryl, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

GRS Certified 18K Gold Green Zambian Emerald 5/8 Carat Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Stunning in their simplicity, these sleek drop earrings are masterfully handmade from 18-karat
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

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

1.5 Carat Total Columbian Emerald, Diamond and 14 Karat White Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Hicksville, NY
1980s Emerald Drop Earrings - 14 Karat White Gold, Columbian Emeralds, Diamonds Features: 1.5
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold

Gemistry 2.99 Carat T.W. Cushion Pear Morganite Leverback Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
. round brilliant cut diamonds. Morganite and diamond drop earrings. Please follow the Luxury Jewels
Category

2010s Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Morganite, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Tiffany Co. Sapphire and Diamond Drop Earrings
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Bethesda, MD
From Tiffany & Co., a pair of pink, yellow and blue sapphire drop earrings. ♦ Designer
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Platinum

18k White Gold Drop Diamond Earrings with Four Burma Ruby Weighing 2.90 Carat
By OGI Ltd
Located in New York, NY
Featuring 18k white gold drop halo earrings 1" long Diamonds weighing 0.90 carats Four round
Category

2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique Belle Époque / Edwardian Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in OVIEDO, AS
BELLE ÉPOQUE / Edwardian (1890-1915) Belle Époque diamond drop earrings. A matching pair, each
Category

Early 20th Century European Belle Époque Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Nina Zhou 5.92ctw Natural Turquoise Diamond Chandlier Drop Earrings
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
The Nina Zhou 5.92ctw Natural Turquoise Diamond Chandlier Drop Earrings are a stunning testament to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold

Art Nouveau Diamond Sapphire Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Napoli, NA
These beautiful hand made Art Nouveau diamond 18k white gold earrings, feature two sparkling large
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

Diamond 1.10 Carat Three-Stone Round Cut 18 Karat Yellow Gold Drop Stud Earrings
Located in London, GB
earrings, featuring a total of over 1 carat diamond (1.10 carat) diamond colour white G/H clarity SI eye
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...

Nina Zhou 5.72ctw Moonstone Diamond Double Blossom Drop Earrings
By Nina Zhou
Located in Rowland Heights, CA
The Nina Zhou Moonstone Diamond Flower Blossom Earrings in 14k Gold epitomize elegance and natural
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, 14k Gold

14K Gold Natural Blue Sapphire Gemstone and 1/5 Carat Diamond Drop Stud Earrings
Located in New York, NY
These unique earrings are sure to turn heads. Each earring features two ribbons of diamond accented
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Dalben Australian Opal Rose Cut Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
By Laura Dalben
Located in Como, IT
Dalben design Opal drop earrings with 10 blue-green Australian Opals and 4 rose cut Diamonds weight
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold

18 Karat Gold 2.92 Carat Ruby and Diamond Cluster Drop Art Deco Style Earrings
By Gems Paradise
Located in Jaipur, IN
18 Karat White Gold 2.92 Carat Ruby and Diamond Cluster Drop Art Deco Style Earrings This
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

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4 Carat Diamond Drop Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of 4 carat diamond drop earrings. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and White Gold, these items were constructed with great care. Find a collection of 904 vintage versions or 2638 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 18th Century while others were produced as recently as the 21st Century. There are many different pieces in our collection of 4 carat diamond drop earrings to choose from, but Contemporary and Modern 4 carat diamond drop earrings are of considerable interest. Versions of these items have been a part of the life’s work for many jewelers, but those produced by Harbor Diamonds, Meghna Jewels and Luigi Ferrara are consistently popular. There are many round cut, pear cut and oval cut 4 carat diamond drop earrings for sale. If you’re browsing the variety of 4 carat diamond drop earrings for sale, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men.

How Much are 4 Carat Diamond Drop Earrings?

On average, 4 carat diamond drop earrings at 1stDibs sell for $5,957, while they’re typically $150 on the low end and $56,490,512 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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 Earrings for You

In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.

Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.

Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.

While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.