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Art Deco Diamond Black Enamel Platinum Mounted Brooch
Located in London, GB
Art Deco Diamond Black Enamel Platinum Mounted Brooch, circa 1930.
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Enamel Cushion Cut Diamond Gold Oval Cluster Brooch
Located in London, GB
Enamel, cushion cut diamond and gold oval cluster brooch, c1870.
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Antique Gold, Silver, Enamel and Diamond Brooch - 19th Century
Located in London, Chelsea
Antique Gold, Silver, Enamel and Diamond Brooch. Absolutely stunning brooch featuring leaves and
Category

19th Century French Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Fine Victorian Red Enamel Pearl Diamond gold Caduceus Brooch
Located in London, GB
successful women (and men) in the pharmaceuticals industry. The Brooch is set with twenty three Old Mine
Category

1850s British Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

1870s Enamel Quartz Tiger s Eye Diamond Silver Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Enameled Bee brooch in silver & gold, diamonds, quartz Tiger's eye. With original box by AUGER
Category

19th Century French Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Tiger s Eye, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian 18 Karat Pearl, Diamond Heart and Red Enamel Bow Brooch, Circa 1880
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
red enamel bow set as a brooch, made circa 1880. Comprising a split pearl and diamond centre cluster
Category

1880s British Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Enamel, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Enamel Winged Cherub Brooch
Located in Sale, Cheshire
This cool mid Victorian brooch dates to c.1860, and features a winged cherub - with enamelled face
Category

19th Century French Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold

Late Victorian Purple Guilloche Enamel and Diamond Mourning Locket Brooch
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
This beautiful piece was crafted in the Late Victorian era. It features twenty seven diamonds set
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Carlo Giuliano Victorian Enamel Sapphire Emerald Diamond Gold Brooch
By Carlo Giuliano
Located in London, GB
Gold mounted sapphire black and white enamel and single diamond brooch signed by Carlo Giuliano
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Sapphire

Extraordinary Antique Wild Rose Enamel Diamond and Pearl Brooch Pendant
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Special 18kt. yellow gold dimensional blossom in vibrant pink enamel measuring 1 1/2 inches, larger
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Enameled Rose Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in London, GB
An enamel and diamond brooch depicting two roses with diamond centres. Mounted in yellow gold by
Category

1890s American Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Brooch Platinum Mounted Diamond Set Flaming Grenade with Enamel, English, 1920
Located in London, GB
diamonds,the yellow gold parchment with blue enamel spelling Ubique .English circa 1920
Category

1910s British Edwardian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco Enamel Diamond Yellow White and Rose Gold Yacht Brooch
Located in London, GB
enamel and rose diamond features
Category

1920s American Art Deco Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Brooch Crescent Moon with Blue Enamel and Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique jewelry object group: brooch Condition: excellent condition Do you wish for a 360? view
Category

1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

David Webb Yellow Gold Platinum Enamel Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York , NY
Authentic David Webb Platinum, 18kt Gold, Enamel, and Diamond Brooch with pavé-set with full-cut
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Nouveau Enamel Yellow Gold Flower Brooch
Located in West Hollywood, CA
14K YG Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold brooch with enameled flower. The diamond is featured in the
Category

1920s Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond Pearl Brooch in Original Box 18 Carat Gold Blue Enamel
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Antique Victorian 18ct yellow gold brooch is Circa 1880 This really is a special
Category

1880s British Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau Plique a Jour Enamel Ruby Diamond Gold Grape Cluster Brooch
Located in San Francisco, CA
diamond studded grape leaves are magnificently rendered in shaded plique a jour (translucent) enamel for a
Category

Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Enamel Tiger s Eye Silver Gold Double Bee Brooch
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare yellow gold and silver brooch "Double Bee" set with diamonds, tiger eye and enamel. The main
Category

1880s French Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Tiger s Eye, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

MELLERIO DITS MELLER. An Art Nouveau Enamel Brooch.
By Mellerio dits Meller
Located in London, GB
-jour enamel embellished with circular-cut diamonds, the eye accented with a cabochon ruby, circa 1900
Category

Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Quality Antique Enamel Mourning Brooch Mounted in Gold and Silver in Antique Box
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Enamel antique mourning brooch was hand crafted in the Victorian era. This antique brooch is gold backed
Category

1860s Unknown Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver, Enamel

Antique Gold Enamel Diamond Pansy Pin
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful antique figural "pansy" pin. Comprised of six soft iridescent pink enamel leaves with
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel

Antique Diamond and Enamel Tiger Pin
Located in San Francisco, CA
This magnificent ferocious golden tiger with blazing diamond eyes and a diamond in its mouth (held
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Gold, Enamel and Diamond Pin/ Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Antique 14k gold and enamel flower pin set with center diamond. Very dimensional. Enamel has soft
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Novelty Rose Cut Diamond Enamel Cockerel 18ct Gold Stick Tie Pin
Located in St Helens, GB
head. A cockerel head design to top, vivid red enamel and rose cut diamonds to the head. CONDITION
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

Victorian 18ct Gold Rose Cut Diamond Green and White Enamel Stick Pin
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
enamel border dating from circa 1870. The stick pin of circle form has the abstracted diamond set figures
Category

1870s European Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Antique Gold Moon Pin with Diamonds and Enamel
Located in New York, NY
Dreamy figural "quarter moon" pin. The moon face is deep blue enamel, surrounded by a crescent
Category

1910s Unknown Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

French 1800s, Victorian Enamel 1.40 Carat Diamond Pin
Located in Aliso Viejo, CA
French, Victorian Enamel Diamond Pin, 2 inches Rare 1800's oval, 3 dimensional pin with encrusted
Category

Early 18th Century French Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1900s Art Nouveau French Art Purple Enamel Diamond Gold Pin
Located in Frederick, MD
Purple Pink Enameled Old Mine Cut Diamond Pin/Brooch 22mm Yellow Gold ·Era: Turn of the century
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Carved Emerald Ruby, Diamond and Enamel Jabot Pin
Located in San Francisco, CA
emeralds outlined in dramatic black enamel. The curvaceous border glistens with old European-cut diamonds
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Enamel Pansy Pin
Located in New York, NY
Softly iridescent figural "pansy" pin. Beautiful shimmering pink enamel. Set with a faceted
Category

1890s American Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold

19th Century Opal Diamond and Pearl Pendant with Enamel Accents
Located in Santa Fe, NM
yellow gold, and embellished with multicolored enamel. The opal displays an exceptionally strong play of
Category

20th Century Unknown Belle Époque Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold

Art Nouveau Krementz Brooch
By Krementz Co
Located in London, GB
Art Nouveau enamel and diamond set brooch of a lady's face and floral surround. 14ct yellow gold
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian 18k Gold Man in the Moon Feldspar Rose Cut Diamond Brooch Circa 1850
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
with a rose cut diamond and black enamel brooch, coating from circa 1850. The fabulously quirky brooch
Category

Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau Enamel Floral Pin
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
14 karat yellow gold Art Nouveau purple enamel floral motif pin with diamond accent.
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Art Nouveau Enamel Orchid Pin
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
18 kt yellow gold and enamel Art Nouveau floral motif pin/pendant with cushion cut diamond accent
Category

Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier Art Deco Enamel King of Hearts Clip
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A finely detailed and colorful King of Hearts enamel clip on gold, the crown accented with diamonds.
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Onyx and turquoise Art Deco brooch by G. Fouquet
By Georges Fouquet
Located in London, GB
Onyx, diamond, turquoise and enamel brooch by Georges Fouquet, dating to the 1920's. Marked 'G
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Onyx, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond and Enamel Pendant/Brooch
Located in San Francisco, CA
black enamel scrollwork. A trio of matching cobalt-blue enamel and diamond pendants dance below this
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Black Enamel Gold Diamond Ruby Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Black Enamel 18kt Gold Diamond & Ruby Medieval Style Brooch.
Category

19th Century English Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Ruby

1902 King Edward VII Guilloché Enamel Royal Coronation "E" Pendant Brooch Suite
Located in Sale, Cheshire
to the centre royal cypher of King Edward VII. The brooch is round with halo of diamonds and pearls
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

White Diamond, Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian Diamond Star Pendant Brooch Original Box, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
pendant brooch that is set with the most breathtakingly beautiful old cut Diamonds and complete with it’s
Category

Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Exquisite Victorian Diamond Blue Enamel Brooch
Located in Lombard, IL
Lovely circa 1880 Victorian diamond blue enamel and yellow gold round brooch centrally set with one
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Enamel Rose-cut Diamond Antique Bird Brooch
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
enamelled with purple, turquoise, gold, green and red enamel and adorned with rose-cut diamonds. Hinged
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Black Enamel Emerald Diamond Gold Panther Brooch
Located in Naples, FL
This Panther brooch holds 7 single cut round diamonds set in 18k white gold as a collar and 2 round
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

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

Antique Agate Cameo Diamond and Enamel Gold Brooch, circa 1870
Located in Goettingen, DE
French antique Agate cameo diamond and enamel gold Brooch circa 1870 This brooch set with a finely
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Agate, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Plique-a-jour Butterfly Diamond Ruby Enamel Brooch
Located in Lakewood, NJ
A remarkable Plique-à-jour method enamel butterfly brooch with graduating color enamel in gold
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Antique Enamel Diamond Gold Shamrock/Clover Brooch
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
This pretty little brooch comprises a central shamrock leaf beautifully enameled in two shades of
Category

1910s Unknown Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

18k Gold

Gemolithos, Belle Époque Rosé-Cut Diamond and Enamel Brooch-Locket, circa 1900s
Located in Munich, DE
Gemolithos, Belle ´Epoque rosé-cut diamond and enamel brooch-locket, circa 1900s, measurements
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Belle Époque Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Enamel

Antique Diamond, Pearl and Enamel Brooch or Pendant
Located in London, GB
Cut Diamonds. The Gold reverse with a 14K mark on the catch and with a fold down bale for wearing as a
Category

1890s American Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold

Antique Guilloche Enamel and Rose Cut Diamond Portrait 18 Karat Gold Brooch Pin
Located in St. Louis Park, MN
This antique 18 karat gold French Guilloche Enamel Portrait Brooch features eight rose cut Diamonds
Category

19th Century Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

Art Nouveau Diamond Sapphire Enamel Dragonfly Gold Pin/Brooch
Located in Frederick, MD
Item: 14K Art Nouveau Diamond Sapphire Enamel Dragonfly Pin/Brooch Yellow Gold Weight: 9.5g Gem
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

Fabergé Oscar Pihl Antique Russian Guilloché Enamel Diamond Gold Brooch
By Fabergé
Located in Redmond, WA
A Fabergé gold-mounted and diamond-set guilloché enamel brooch, workmaster Oscar Pihl (1860-1897
Category

Late 19th Century Russian Belle Époque Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Fabergé August Holmström Antique Guilloche Enamel Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
By Fabergé
Located in Redmond, WA
A Fabergé diamond- and pearl-set gold and guilloché enamel brooch, workmaster August Holmström
Category

Early 20th Century Russian Edwardian Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver

1900s Art Nouveau Enameled Gold Miniature Portrait Brooch
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Art Nouveau 18k enameled yellow gold miniature portrait brooch set with diamond rose cut. Circa
Category

Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Russian Pre Revolution Egyptian Revival Enamel Sapphire Gold Scarab Brooch
Located in Toronto, Ontario
sapphire. Additionally, there is very fine enamel work on the wings of this brooch. The piece measures 2
Category

1870s Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold, Silver

Precious Gemstones 18 Karat Yellow Gold Enameled Peacock Bird Brooch, 1930s
Located in Antwerp, BE
A charming peacock bird enameled brooch in 18 karat yellow gold set with eight natural sapphires
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Retro Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch

Materials

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

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Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact antique enamel diamond brooch you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, Enamel and 18k Gold — can elevate any look. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. You’re likely to find the perfect antique enamel diamond brooch among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 18th Century as well as those 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. Finding an appealing antique enamel diamond brooch — no matter the origin — is easy, but Fabergé, A. J. Hedges Co. and Black, Starr Frost each produced a popular version that is worth a look. An antique enamel diamond brooch of any era or style can lend versatility to your look, but a version featuring Diamond, from our inventory of 100, is particularly popular. An old european cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also round cut and rose cut versions for sale. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking an antique enamel diamond brooch, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Antique Enamel Diamond Brooch?

Prices for an antique enamel diamond brooch can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $354 and can go as high as $42,188, while this accessory, on average, fetches $3,500.

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.