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Cellini 18KT Yellow Gold Enamel Diamond Penguin Brooch
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
This 18 karat yellow gold penguin brooch has the cutest expression. His body is crafted in black
Category

1990s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier circa 1960s Charming Gold Diamond and Enamel Dog Brooch
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
viewed face on, wearing a red enamel collar from which hangs a single brilliant cut diamond, the eyes set
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

Diamond Enamel Opal Gold Platinum Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
diamonds total 1.60 carats and are G-H color and VS clarity. Its body enameled with golden and black enamel
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum

Beautiful "Mother Penguin with Child" Black Enamel Brooch with Faux Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
inlay with black enamel as well as faux diamonds along the bodice and feet. The height measures 2 inches
Category

Vintage 1980s American Baroque Brooches

18 Karat Yellow Gold Bumble Bee Glass Enamel Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
, black enamel strips and a beautiful deep blue glass wings.
Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Van Cleef Arpels Emerald Diamond Enamel Lion Ébouriffe Brooch NEW STYLE
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in MIAMI, FL
& platinum. With diamonds and emeralds adorning the design. The lion shows a black enamel nose as well as
Category

2010s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Enamel, Platinum

Beautiful Enamel Diamond Gold Bee Fly Brooch Pin Fine Estate Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Delightful Bumble Bee Insect pin, blue enamel wings and black enamel torso, pave set diamond body
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Gold, Enamel

1930s Cartier Rare Art Deco Diamond Enamel Platinum Horse and Jockey Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
dressed in red, white and black enamel. Made in France circa 1930s. Measurements: 1.29" (33mm) width, 0.86
Category

Vintage 1930s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels Paris Diamond, Emerald, Coral, Enamel and Gold Tiger Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A French Mid-20th Century 18 karat gold and platinum brooch with emeralds, diamonds, black enamel
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

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

Eighteen Karat Gold Vintage Enamel Caterpillar Diamond Eyes 1.5 Inch Brooch
Located in New York, NY
attention to detail, this delightful brooch features an intricately designed caterpillar, expertly enameled
Category

Mid-20th Century American Post-War Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels Enamel Sapphire Diamond Gold Ram Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
diamonds and sapphires and further accented in black enamel. Having a double pin-clip back, signed
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Fred Paris Vintage 18k Gold Enamel Leopard Brooch
By Fred Paris
Located in New York, NY
Fred Paris Vintage 18k Gold Enamel Leopard Brooch Details: 102 round diamonds approx 2.10 cts
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Enamel

Martine Enamel Gold Harlequin Brooch
By Martine
Located in Palm Beach, FL
One 14K yellow gold brooch featuring black and white enamel to create this whimsical character
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Gold Topaz Pearl Turquoise Black Enamel Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
is topaz (tested by the Assay Office). The piece is adorned with black enamel. The edges are
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Topaz, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Art Nouveau Enamel Pearl Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Gold Empress Pendant Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
round cut ruby alternating with old European cut diamonds Her face incredibly detailed with enamel
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Art Deco French Azurite Malachite Diamond Enamel Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
with bright white old cut diamonds (F-G color, SI clarity) and green, red, and black enamels. The
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Brooches

Large Scale British Tuxedo Lapel Pin in Gold, Onyx, Black Enamel, and Diamonds
Located in Palm Beach, FL
. Fashioned in 18K Yellow Gold with the jacket in black enamel, the bow tie in onyx, and the dress shirt
Category

Late 20th Century British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Art Nouveau Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Butterfly Clip Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
eyes and face - transparent layered black, red, and blue Wings feature old European cut diamonds set in
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

1960s Frascarolo Enameled Dog Diamond 18 Karat Gold Brooch Pin
By FRASCOROLO
Located in Miami, FL
cabochon black onyx, surrounded by pave diamonds the nose, while the popular animal’s tongue, the hair and
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

David Webb Enamel Emerald Diamond 18K Gold Platinum Zebra Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb. Designed as a zebra, feature black and white enamel stripes, set with two pear-shaped
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Nouveau Edwardian 1905 Black Flower Enameled Pendant Brooch 10Kt Gold Pearl
Located in Miami, FL
Edwardian enameled black Orchid pin. Beautiful three-dimensional piece, created in America during
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Emerald Enamel Yellow Gold Lion Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
and accented with faceted emerald eyes, black enamel nose and brilliant-cut round E-F VVS2-VS1
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

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

Fred of Paris 1970 Enamel Sauvage Cat Brooch 18k Gold with Diamonds Emeralds
Located in Miami, FL
Brooch designed by Fred of Paris. This brooch is one of the most iconic designs by the jewelry
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

McTeigue Diamond Sapphire Enamel 18 Karat Yellow Gold Swan Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a swan with brushed gold head and polished gold beak Accented with black enamel and
Category

Mid-20th Century Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Magic Rabbit Hat-Trick Diamond and Gold Brooch
Located in Geneva, CH
This Magic Rabbit Hat-Trick Diamond and Gold Brooch is the perfect jewel for a gentleman. Imaging
Category

Vintage 1960s French Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel

Cartier Diamond Enamel Yellow Gold Pin Brooch Pendant Clip, 1970s
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
yellow gold, black and yellow enamel and accented with a row of round brilliant cut diamonds (F-G color
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1930s Enamel Yellow Gold Royal Navy Reserve Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Navy Reserve cap badge. This impressive military sweetheart brooch has a central black enamel panel
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Georgian 9 Karat Gold Red Garnet Seed Pearl Black Enamel Rectangle Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
with black enamel. Has a C clasp. The verso is engraved with a personal inscription. Weight: 4.21g
Category

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Brooches

Materials

Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Enamel

Art Deco 1930 British Schnauzer Dog Brooch with Enamel 18Kt Gold Diamonds Rubies
Located in Miami, FL
Art deco enameled Schnauzer dog brooch by Ramsden & Roed Beautiful brooch of a miniature Schnauzer
Category

Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Art Deco Platinum 18K Gold Rose Cut Diamond Black Enamel Jabot Pin
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An Art Deco platinum, black enamel, and diamond jabot pin, comprising two enamel spheres, set with
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

SPRITZER FUHRMANN 1960 France Enameled Scarab Brooch In 18Kt Yellow Gold
Located in Miami, FL
high polished finish and embellished with applications of green, black and white hard glass enamels
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

KJL Kenneth Jay Lane Jeweled Enamel Salamander Lizard Brooch Pin Estate Find
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Montreal, QC
; rich green enamel body set with a row of pave set sparkling Faux Diamonds and large Faux Green Emerald
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modernist Brooches

Materials

Gold Plate, Enamel

Elizabeth Gage 1990 London Enameled Pendant Brooch In 18Kt Gold With Tourmalines
By Elizabeth Gage
Located in Miami, FL
black enamel. It is fitted at the reverse with a hinged vertical pin and a trombone security lock to
Category

1990s English Egyptian Revival Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, E...

Ruser Platinum and Diamond Exquisite 1940s Dalmatian Dog Brooch
By William Ruser
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1940s Ruser Custom Ordered Dalmatian Platinum Diamond and Enamel Brooch, measuring 1 3/4
Category

Vintage 1940s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels Lion Brooch, Emeralds and Diamonds
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Paris, FR
Van Cleef and Arpels Lion clip in 18 carats yellow gold, platinum, brilliant-cut diamonds, black
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

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

Eighteen Karat Yellow Gold Diamonds Horse Brooch
Located in New York, NY
tail Highly sculpted with satin finish Sixteen diamonds, one black hoof Brooch measures 47.00 x 25.00
Category

Late 20th Century American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

David Webb Diamond and Emerald 18K Gold Vintage Tiger Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
The prowling tiger brooch with black enameled stripes is grave texture finished and set with pear
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Kenneth Jay Lane Large Whimsical Faux Pearl Enamel "Penguin" Brooch
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in New York, NY
hardware with black enamel and highlighted with a large faux pearl and faux diamonds. This wonderful brooch
Category

Vintage 1980s American Baroque Revival Brooches

Estate 0.57Cts Diamond Coral 18K Gold Stylish Lion Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
This exquisitely detailed diamond brooch pin is crafted in solid 18K yellow gold , depicting the
Category

1990s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold

Ruby and Diamond Rooster Brooch Set in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in London, England
A rather unique looking ruby and diamond rooster brooch set in 18k yellow gold. The brooch depicts
Category

2010s British Modern Brooches

Materials

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

French Diamond Emerald Gold Owl Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
brooch features 0.10 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds, two round emeralds as eyes and a black
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Iconic Cartier Plique A Jour Sapphire and Diamond BEE Vintage Brooch Pin
By Cartier
Located in Montreal, QC
Bee is adorned with 1.5 Carats of Sapphires for its wings, Emeralds for its eyes, and Black Enamel for
Category

Late 20th Century French Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Yellow Gold Dog Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Feasterville, PA
A fabulous Van Cleef & Arpels brooch / pendant set with diamonds and rubies. The nose is set with
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Frascarolo Milano Enameled Panther Money Clip in 18Kt Yellow Gold With Diamonds
By Frascarolo
Located in Miami, FL
panther is decorated with applications of black and red enamels. Fitted with a tension clip to hold any
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

18 Karat Yellow Gold, Diamond and Enamel Lady Bug Pin or Crutch
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Diamond and Enamel Ladybug Pin/Brooch This stunning pin features a
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Yellow Gold

David Webb Leopard Gold Platinum Emerald Diamond Brooch Pin
By David Webb
Located in Austin, TX
with black enamel spots, a diamond collar and snout, with emerald eyes. The leopard lounges languidly
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Poppy Head Flower Brooch
By Moira Fine Jewellery
Located in London, GB
A Moira Design enamel and diamond poppy flower brooch, with blue to green to yellow plique à jour
Category

Early 2000s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Gold Diamond Emerald Lion Brooch with Original Box
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
decorated with a Black enamel nose. This is the larger of the lion clip Brooches and a very fine example of
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Lion Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
decorated with a Black enamel nose. This is the larger of the lion clip Brooches and a very fine example of
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gold French Leopard Brooch
Located in Palm Beach, FL
An 18K yellow gold brooch measuring 1 7/8 inches long, and 3/4 of an inch wide, detailed with black
Category

Mid-20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Paris Vintage Diamond Emerald Gold Platinum Lion Cub Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Greenwich, CT
diamond emerald gold and platinum brooch. With its black enamel nose, emerald eyes, and diamond face, this
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Brooch Palladium Rose Gold Sapphire Diamond Double Clip Antique
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An elegant Art Deco brooch made of palladium and featuring star sapphires and diamonds. The brooch
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Star Sapphire, White Gold, Rose Gold, Palladium

1950s Sterling Silver David Andersen Enamel Whale Pin
By David Andersen
Located in Lexington, KY
This is a wonderful vintage pin crafted in sterling silver and vivid blue, white, and black enamel
Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Opal and Multi Gemstone Antique Style Wing Brooch in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
with French cut blue sapphire, vibrant green hue emerald and shimmering diamonds, trimmed by black
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

David Webb Yellow Gold Crouching Tiger Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
18KYG Crouching Tiger with black enamel stripes with two pear-shaped emerald eyes approximately
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. 18k White Gold Chalcedony Polar Bear Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
Tiffany White Chalcedony Polar Bear and Diamond Cubs with Sapphire and Black Enamel in 18K White
Category

20th Century American Modern Brooches

Materials

Chalcedony, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

1970s Van Cleef Arpels Gem Set Gold Lion Clip Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Chicago, IL
further decorated with a Black enamel nose, this is the larger of the Lion Clip Brooches produced by VCA
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

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Brooch Black Enamel And Diamonds For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of brooch black enamel and diamonds. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Enamel, these items were constructed with great care. Our selection of items includes 25 vintage examples as well as 3 contemporary versions. Our collection, which features older pieces for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century, has proven very popular over the years. The designs in our inventory of brooch black enamel and diamonds bearing Modern or Victorian hallmarks are very popular. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but David Webb, Black, Starr Frost and Birks produced popular versions that are worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for round cut brooch black enamel and diamonds and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes old european cut and brilliant cut alternatives. There aren’t many items for men in our collection of brooch black enamel and diamonds, as most of the options available are for women.

How Much are Brooch Black Enamel And Diamonds?

On average, brooch black enamel and diamonds at 1stDibs sell for $6,950, while they’re typically $1,350 on the low end and $34,200 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 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.