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Guilloche Enamel Sapphire Pearl Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
A lime green guilloche enamel butterfly brooch set with a pink sapphire and pearl body and diamond
Category

2010s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Gold

18K and Diamond Vintage Butterfly Brooch, c. 1990
Located in Aspen, CO
18K yellow gold and fine brilliant cut diamond butterfly brooch. The diamonds are all well matched
Category

1990s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Large Ruby Sapphire Diamond Silver Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1915 to 1920 Large Silver Top and yellow Gold Back Butterfly Brooch, set with 128 very nice
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire

Blue Enamel Diamond Pearl and Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
An enamel butterfly brooch, with dark blue basse-taille enamel wings, set with 0.48ct of round
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold

Antique Diamond and Sapphire Butterfly Brooch circa 1890s
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Victorian diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch c.1890s, the wings of delicate openwork
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Yellow and White Gold Butterfly Brooch/Pendant
Located in Southampton, PA
18K white gold in this spectacular brooch that takes the form of a graceful butterfly. The brooch is
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Diamond Yellow and White Gold Butterfly Brooch/Pendant
Located in Southampton, PA
18K white gold in this spectacular brooch that takes the form of a graceful butterfly. The brooch is
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage Seidengang 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Brooch
By Seiden Gang
Located in New York, NY
Introducing the Seidengang Brooch: a masterpiece of elegance. Crafted from 18k yellow gold with a
Category

20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Buccellati Pearl Emerald Diamond Gold Butterfly Lapel Brooch
By Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
This Buccellati Retro inspired butterfly lapel brooch is crafted in a combination of solid 18K pink
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Great Victorian Butterfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
and unheated/untreated. With 16 old cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.50 carats and small ruby
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Butterfly Pendant Brooch Sapphires Emeralds Rubies Diamonds, 1930
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Butterfly Pendant and also a Brooch with fine Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds. The fine
Category

Vintage 1930s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

18 Karat Gold Diamond and Ruby Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Designed as butterfly, the body decorated with circular-cut rubies, the wings set with single
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Ruby Sapphire Emerald Diamond-Set Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Litchfield, CT
, this French style silhouette motif butterfly brooch is lovely. The look is wearable everyday elegance
Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage Sapphire Emerald and Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have a wonderful butterfly brooch crafted in 18ct yellow gold. It features Sapphires
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

18k Gold

Diamond and Jade White Gold Large Butterfly Brooch
Located in Southampton, PA
brooch is set with green jades that weigh 7.36 carats in total and with dazzling diamonds that amount to
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, White Gold

Stunning Sapphire Diamond Gold Tremblant Butterfly Pin Brooch
Located in Montreal, QC
Beautiful Blue Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly; micro-set with diamond-cut sapphires, body and
Category

1990s Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique Gem Set Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian sapphire, ruby, pearl and diamond butterfly brooch, the body is set with graduated
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold

Victorian Butterfly Ceylon Sapphire Pearl Ruby Diamond Brooch
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
art nouveau, these natural themes began emerging with tremendous frequency. Butterflies were always
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co Vintage Opal Diamond Emerald Butterfly Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
carats approximately Accent Stone: 11 diamonds Cut: Round brilliant Weight: 0.20 carats Color: F-G
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Butterfly and Crescent Brooch
Located in London, GB
An antique butterfly and crescent brooch, set with old-cut diamonds, rubies, emeralds and a
Category

Vintage 1910s American Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold

Ruby Sapphire Silver Butterfly Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
Silver antique brooch featuring approximately 5.20cts of sapphires and 1cts of rubies.
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Silver

Van Cleef Arpels Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18-carat gold butterfly clip brooch set with cabochon-cut turquoises in its wings and a sapphire
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Mario Buccellati 1960s Colored Diamond and Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Mario Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
An Italian 18 karat gold "Butterfly" brooch with diamonds and rubies by Mario Buccellati
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Gorgeous Invisible Set Ruby Diamond Platinum Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful and intricate butterfly brooch, set in platinum and 18k gold, featuring invisible set
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Platinum

1900s Art Nouveau Antique Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
butterfly in Art Nouveau taste embellished with numerous old rose cut diamonds. The brooch is marked on
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond

Antique Diamond Emerald Ruby Sapphire and Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An Antique 18 karat gold butterfly brooch with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The
Category

Antique Early 1900s Brooches

Materials

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

Antique 1.55 Carat Diamond and White Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive 1.55 carat diamond and 15 karat white gold butterfly brooch; part
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Gem-Set Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
: Used (Very Good) Weight: 22.7 grams Brooch Dimensions: 61mm x 41mm x 7mm Total Diamond Weight: Approx
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold

Austro Hungarian Art Nouveau Enamel Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An Austro-Hungarian Art Nouveau 18 karat gold and plique à jour enamel brooch with diamonds. The
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

A Beautiful Platinum, Diamond, Emerald and Gold Butterfly Brooch.
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold, platinum, diamond and emerald butterfly brooch, French, circa 1930
Category

Vintage 1930s French Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels 18k Gold Diamond Butterfly Clip Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage butterfly clip brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels, crafted in the early 1990s, is made from
Category

1990s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamonds Rubies Sapphire 14 Karat Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
14 karat yellow gold and 800 thousandths silver butterfly brooch. Butterfly Handmade by our
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Chopard Rose Gold Diamond, Amethyst and Morganite Butterfly Brooch
By Chopard
Located in Southampton, PA
This Chopard butterfly brooch is crafted from 18K rose gold and weighs 5.7 grams, measuring 1.25
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, White Diamond, Morganite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

French Art Nouveau Topaz, Diamond and Enamel Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional French Art Nouveau 18 karat gold and enamel brooch with topaz and diamonds. The
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, 18k Gold

Diamond Emerald Sapphire Ruby Butterfly Two-Tone Gold Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds and a single emerald along with ruby eyes. This exceptional butterfly is made of 14K white and
Category

2010s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Wh...

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

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

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

Opal Ruby Diamond Silver Gold Blue Monarch Butterfly Brooch
Located in Southampton, PA
Beautifully designed and bold as can be, this brooch is the perfect collector's item. The brooch is
Category

20th Century Modern Brooches

Materials

Opal, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold

Casbah Multi-Tone Gold Diamond and Opal Butterfly Brooch
Located in Southampton, PA
gold and is paved with 2.40ct of diamonds. Lastly, the butterfly's body and wings are made of a
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Bett Gury Diamond and Gold Butterfly Brooch, circa 1970
Located in Cincinnati, OH
Bett Gury one of a kind moth brooch. The 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 handcrafted 14k yellow gold brooch in the
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Vintage Butterfly Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Gold Pin Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
This exquisite Vintage butterfly pin celebrates the beauty and marvel of nature, with spectacularly
Category

Mid-20th Century Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold

Emeralds, Diamonds, Rose Gold and Silver Butterfly Brooch/Pendant
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
, ITEMS AT AUCTIONS ,ONGOING PROMOTIONS AND ITEMS ON SALES. Amazing butterfly brooch/pendant in 9 kt
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Retro Tiffany Co. Diamond 18 Karat Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring a sculptural butterfly with open wings Accented by a round brilliant cut diamond
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond and White Onyx Yellow and White Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Southampton, PA
18K yellow and 18K white gold, taking the form of a vivacious butterfly. The brooch is decorated with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Estate 2.26 TCW Diamond White Gold Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in New York, NY
Weight: 9.3 Grams Stone: Approx 2.26 TCW (0.0067-0.11 Ct) G/I VS-SI Diamonds Measurements: 31.4 x
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

1960s Plique a Jour Butterfly Enamel Amethyst Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1960s plique a jour enamel amethyst and diamond butterfly gold brooch. The lacy butterfly wings
Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold

Polish Antique Gem-Set Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
An antique, Polish, emerald, ruby and diamond butterfly brooch. The thorax is set with a cushion
Category

Antique 1870s Polish Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold

Turquoise Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly Brooch
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Butterfly brooch, featuring carved mother-of-pearl wings and oval-shaped cabochon turquoise body
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold

Sophia D. En Tremblant Butterfly Brooch
By Sophia D
Located in New York, NY
Introducing the SOPHIA D En Tremblant Butterfly Brooch: an intricate handcrafted masterpiece. Our
Category

2010s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels Papillon 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Papillon 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Butterfly Brooch An openwork butterfly design
Category

Vintage 1980s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pair of Ruby and Diamond Butterfly Brooches, by Suzanne Belperron
By Suzanne Belperron
Located in London, GB
A pair of ruby and diamond butterfly brooches, by Suzanne Belperron. Each designed as a butterfly
Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

AUSTRIAN 1930 Guilloche Enamel Butterfly Brooch 18Kt Gold, Sapphire Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
Austrian art-nouveau enameled butterfly brooch. This a beautiful art-nouveau brooch created in
Category

Vintage 1930s Austrian Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silv...

Pink and Blue Enamel Pearl Emerald Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
A pink and blue guilloche enamel butterfly brooch set with 0.34ct of round brilliant-cut diamonds
Category

2010s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold

Plique-à-jour Enamel Butterfly Brooch
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Plique-à-jour or "Day of Light" Enamel Butterfly set in 18k Yellow Gold. Adorned with 90 diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Wood Diamond 18K White Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Simpsonville, SC
The Van Cleef & Arpels Wood Diamond 18k White Gold Butterfly Brooch is a breathtaking testament to
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

French 1900s Butterfly Diamond 18 Karat Rose Gold Neck Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
thin chiseled gold butterfly is set on the antique brooch. The clasp is a pin with a safety hook
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

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

Jona Tsavorite White Diamond 18k White Gold Butterfly Pin Brooch
By Jona
Located in Torino, Piedmont
Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18k white gold butterfly brooch, set with 0.32carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Tsavorite, 18k Gold

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Butterfly Brooch Diamonds For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a broad range of butterfly brooch diamonds for sale on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Find a collection of 354 vintage versions or 140 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our inventory is broad and distinctive, with accessories on offer that were made as long ago as the 19th Century to those produced as recently as the 21st Century. There are many different pieces in our collection of butterfly brooch diamonds to choose from, but Victorian and Contemporary butterfly brooch diamonds are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made iterations of these items over the years, but those made by Van Cleef Arpels, Moira and Tiffany Co. are often thought to be among the most beautiful. There are many round cut, brilliant cut and mixed cut butterfly brooch diamonds for sale. If you’re browsing the variety of butterfly brooch diamonds 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 Butterfly Brooch Diamonds?

Prices for butterfly brooch diamonds start at $499 and top out at $150,000 with these brooches, on average, selling for $6,000.

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.