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Cartier Art Deco Enamel Diamond Gold Rose in Hand Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Deco 18 karat gold hand brooch with enamel and diamonds, by Cartier. The brooch
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Gold and Silver Gloved Black Enamel Hand Stickpin Holding a Rose Cut Diamond
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare neo-Renaissance stickpin or ‘ear iron’ featuring a gloved hand decorated with black enamel
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Renaissance Revival Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver, Enamel

Diamond, Jade, and Platinum Brooch
Located in New York, NY
With a nice black enamel trim, this art deco brooch is set in platinum and consists of 0.20 carat
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Platinum

Garavelli 4.80 Carat Yellow Sapphire Diamond Enamel 18 Karat Gold Ladybug Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
carats total, very saturated in color Accented by black enamel spots, with no loss, consistent for age
Category

Vintage 1980s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier 1940 Deco Enameled Racing Horse Jockey Brooch in 18kt Gold with Diamonds
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
, there is no damage to the gold. All diamonds and enamel are secured in the settings. This piece has been
Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Fei Liu South Sea Pearl Diamond Sapphire Enamel 18 Karat White Gold Bird Brooch
By Fei Liu
Located in Birmingham, GB
pearl, glistening with sapphires, black and white diamonds. Its red enamel beak gleefully chirping away
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Black Diamond, S...

Alling Co Art Nouveau Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Tiger Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a highly rendered tiger head with dimensional features and painted with enamel Basse
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

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

Fox Brooch Pin 18k Yellow Gold Italy Diamond Eyes Enamel Head 2" Long Heavy 19.6
Located in Northbrook, IL
18K Italy Gold Fox Brooch with Diamond Accents, 19.6g. Presenting a stunning fox brooch crafted in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

VAN CLEEF ARPELS Owl Diamond Emerald Enamel Yellow Gold Brooch Pin
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Owl Diamond, Emerald, and Enamel Brooch Pin by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 19 round
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Gem-Set and Diamond Brooch
Located in Firenze, IT
carved jade, round rubies, marquise-shaped emeralds and black enamel Lenght : 5cm
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Moonstone, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Gold and Diamond Dog Brooch
Located in London, GB
A vintage dog brooch, with textured gold, to represent the hair, diamond set whiskers, a black onyx
Category

Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Enamel Bee Pin Brooch c. 1990s
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
features a black enamel striped abdomen and elegantly sculpted wings. At the head, a brilliant-cut bezel
Category

1990s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Victorian Diamond and Pearl Pendant/Brooch
Located in San Antonio, TX
18k gold pendant/brooch with black enamel in a greek key design motif, flanked by old-cut diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

1897 E. Wolfe Co. Enamel Pave Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Horse Jockey Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
accents Jockey is glossed with red, black, and white enamel that exhibits some loss - consistent with age
Category

Antique 1890s Edwardian Brooches

Materials

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

18 Karat Gold Panther Enamel Brooch Pendant
By Carrera y Carrera
Located in London, England
An exquisitely detailed Carrera y Carrera 18ct satin yellow gold with black enamel panther from the
Category

Early 2000s Spanish Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Cameo Suite Enamel Pearl Diamond and Gold, circa 1850
Located in London, GB
black enamel bordered, gold, rub over settings. The brooch has a surrounding frame with pairs of pearls
Category

Antique 1850s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Agate, Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Enamel

Vintage Cartier Aldo Cipullo 18k Gold Multi Gem Enamel Toucan Clip Brooch
By Aldo Cipullo for Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
design. Made of 18k gold, it depicts a toucan bird adorned with black enamel accents that create striking
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel

1900 s Sapphire, Diamond and Enamel Jabot
Located in Bay Harbor Islands, FL
enamel and old miner cut diamonds.
Category

20th Century Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Vintage 18k Gold Fred Paris Enamel Gold Leopard Brooch Fur Clip
By Fred Paris
Located in New York, NY
Vintage 18k Gold Fred Paris Enamel Gold Leopard Brooch 102 round diamonds 2.10 cts diamonds and
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

18k Gold, Enamel

Italian Leopard Diamond and Emerald Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
black and brown enamel spots, and a diamond encrusted tail featuring 14 round brilliant cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

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

A.J. Hedges Art Nouveau Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Gold Dragonfly Pendant Brooch
By A. J. Hedges Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
approximately 0.01 carats total Bright blue enamel body and wings with black enamel eyes in lush 14k gold Just
Category

Mid-20th Century American Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Art Deco Emerald Sapphire and Diamond Bar Brooch
Located in London, GB
and an estimated 2.50cts of old-cut and single-cut diamonds, in a scroll design, with enamelled detail
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Sapphire, Platinum

David Webb Diamond Emerald Gold Tiger Brooch
By David Webb
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
” textured with masterful skill and his glossy black enamel stripes a dramatic contrast to his brilliant
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

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

Chanel Black and Gold Tone Embellished CC Brooch
By Chanel
Located in Paris, FR
, faux-pearls and diamond-shaped black enamel, signature interlocking CC logo, a bar-pin fastening and a
Category

2010s French Brooches

1960 s Gold, Diamond and Enamel "Cool Cat" Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
A real Hep Cat brooch! 18K yellow gold, with Black and White Enamel, Emerald Eyes and a Diamond
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Magnificent and Larger Scale Victorian Pearl Diamond Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
approximately 6.75 carats and black enamel. The articulated fringe section is connected via a system of hooks
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Natural Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold

1960s Van Cleef and Arpels Diamond Gold and Platinum Lion Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Geneva, CH
Largest size "Lion ébouriffé" gold 750 and platinum brooch. Nose in black enamel and paved with
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Edwardian Art Nouveau 1900 Scarab Brooch Gold Silver Diamonds And Gemstones
Located in Miami, FL
applications of blue, red, black and green enamels and is mounted with a great selection of sixty-one earth
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Ye...

Vintage 14K Yellow Gold Leopard Cub Brooch-Pendant with Diamond and Emerald Eyes
Located in New York, NY
feline is accented with striking black enamel detailing, adding depth and expression to its poised stance
Category

20th Century American Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Emerald Ruby Diamond Bee Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
Moira large bee brooch, with black enamel stripes, set with rose-cut round, brilliant-cut and old
Category

Early 2000s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Silver

David Webb Diamond Tiger Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Designed as a crouching tiger with black enamel and round brilliant-cut diamonds and pear-shaped
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

David Webb Diamond Tiger Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Designed as a crouching tiger with black enamel and round brilliant-cut diamonds and pear-shaped
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Raymond Yard Argyle Pink Diamond Rabbit Waiter Brooch
By Raymond C. Yard
Located in New Orleans, LA
cabochon rubies. Black enamel detailing creating a slick shine on his bow tie, trousers, shoes and nose. A
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum, En...

Cartier Vintage Brooch 18k Gold Gems Enamel Pin Clip Estate Jewelry
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
embellished with diamonds. The lower eyelid is underlined with black enamel. The eye accented with a cabochon
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Art Deco Revival Pin Brooch in 18 Kt Gold with Diamonds, Sapphires and Coral
Located in Miami, FL
Very handsome Art-Deco pin brooch. An art deco revival piece, crafted in 18 karats white gold and
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel

Art Nouveau Diamond Gemstone Enamel 14 Karat Gold Bedouin Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
garnets and diamonds With black, orange, brown and red enamel detail Tested as 14 karat gold Head
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel

Butterfly Portrait Brooch
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary butterfly brooch, crafted of gold, enamel and diamonds, hides a secret within
Category

Antique 19th Century European Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Piaget Diamond Gold Ladybird Brooch
By Piaget
Located in Mayfair, London, London
0.03ct, complimented by black enamel sections for the head and body. There are 6 round cut rubies set to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Paris Diamond, Ruby and Mother-of-Pearl Penguin Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A French Mid-20th Century 18 karat gold brooch with diamonds, ruby, black enamel and mother of
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique Art Nouveau Diamond Gold Enamel Egyptian Revival Lady Scarab Pin
Located in Miami, FL
enamel accents. This Art Nouveau antique piece has a textured finish and is enhanced on every end by two
Category

Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian Diamond and Ruby Yellow Gold Double Jockey Brooch Circa 1900
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
independent diamond and gemstone grading report card. Condition This antique 1900s brooch is excellent
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Cartier Enameled Diamond Gold Lady Bug Pin
By Cartier
Located in Narberth, PA
made of 14kt yellow gold and portrays a charming ladybug with a vibrant black and red enameled body
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k 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

18 Karat Yellow Gold, Diamond and Ruby Tiger Pin/Brooch
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
black and gold enamel. Two marquise cut rubies are set as the tiger’s eyes. In addition, the tiger’s
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches

Sapphire and Diamond Papillon Dog Pin Brooch Set in 18 Karat White Gold
By E. Wolfe Company
Located in London, England
A beautiful sapphire and diamond Papillon dog pin brooch set in 18k white gold. The brooch depicts
Category

2010s British Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Ruby Diamond Pearl Gold Bee Brooch Pin
Located in Toronto, ON
Antique 18K Ruby Diamond and Pearl Bee Brooch Pin, C.1880. The brooch with a baroque pearl body
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage David Webb Pin Brooch Clip 18k Gold Enamel Tiger Estate Jewelry
By David Webb
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A cute vintage David Webb brooch in 18 karat yellow gold, featuring enamel and gemstones. Nature
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

1880s Tiger s Eye Diamond Yellow Gold Bee Brooch
Located in London, England
A striking Victorian tiger's eye, diamond and black enamel bee brooch set in silver on gold.The
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Tiger s Eye, 9k Gold

Flower Brooch with Changeable Piece
Located in New York, NY
second piece is finely crafted in 18k yellow gold and black enamel.
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

1960s Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Gold Cat Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
emerald eyes of an estimated 0.10 carats, and a black enamel nose. Made in France circa 1960s
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau Pearl Diamond Ruby Enamel 14 Karat Gold Egyptian Princess Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
enamel features of black eyeliner, pink lips, and rosy skin Surrounded by eight round pearls, white in
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

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

Marcus Co. Opal Diamond Gold Platinum Brooch Pendant
By Marcus Co.
Located in New York, NY
An American Art Nouveau 18 karat gold and platinum brooch/pendant with black opal, diamonds and
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Nouveau Old European Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Yellow Gold Poppy Antique Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pendant brooch is designed as a poppy flower with frilled painted enamel petals and anthers. Opaque
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

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

Georgian 1810 Antique Convertible Brooch 18Kt Gold 6.48 Ctw in Emeralds Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
carefully crafted in solid yellow gold of 18 karats and accented with application of black enamel
Category

Antique 1810s English Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Art Deco Tiffany Co. Platinum Enamel Old European Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Art Deco Tiffany and Co Platinum Enamel Old European Diamond Stick Pin. This
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Impressive Handmade Enamel Emerald Diamond Gold Bee Pin
Located in Cape May, NJ
a 750 mark. Its two emerald eyes add even more vibrancy to its colorful yellow and black enameled
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Georgian 1820 Antique Convertible Brooch 18kt Gold 5.54 Ctw in Diamonds Emerald
Located in Miami, FL
18 karats and accented with applications of black enamel. Embelished with fine selection of gemstones
Category

Antique 1820s English George IV Brooches

Materials

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

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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.