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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

Platinum and 18 Karat Diamond and Gemstone Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Baltimore, MD
Platinum & 18K Diamond & Gemstone Butterfly Brooch Pin Metal: Platinum & 18k yellow gold Weight
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

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

2.62Ct Diamond 0.04Ct Ruby, 15k Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch - Antique
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive 15 karat yellow gold, silver set antique butterfly brooch with old
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Austrian Art Nouveau Jeweled Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An Austrian Art Nouveau 18 karat gold brooch with diamond, sapphires, rubies, emerald, garnet and
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

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

1950s Designer Butterfly Diamond Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Pin Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
This beautiful designer vintage butterfly pin brooch is crafted in solid 18-karat yellow gold, It
Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Bespoke Multi Stone Butterfly Brooch / Pendant
Located in SYDNEY, NSW
shaped diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and tourmaline stones all bezel set in an 18ct yellow gold butterfly
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, Rhodium

Brooch Butterfly Gold Diamonds 2.0 Carat Brahmfeld Gutruf Hamburg, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
butterfly, having the function of brooch: It is is abundantly covered with diamonds, rubies and emeralds
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold

Vintage Fred Paris Butterfly Brooch Pin 18k Gold Coral Diamond
By Fred Paris
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage Fred Paris butterfly brooch from the 1970s is crafted from 18k gold and features a
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold

Jean Vitau Gemstone Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Jean Vitau
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
favorite flower brooch! This sweet butterfly is decorated with 24 yellow sapphires, 39 diamonds, 15 blue
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Tsavorite, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold

Pink Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly Gold Brooch Pin Simply Wonderful
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Beautiful! Finely Detailed Pink Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly Brooch. Encrusted with Hand
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Set of 6 Gemstone Diamond and 18k Gold Butterfly Brooches
Located in New York City, NY
Fine set of diamond and gemstone set brooches in 18k yellow gold. The brooches are designed in the
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, Peridot, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sap...

Antique 18k Gold Butterfly Brooch with Gemstones: Sapphire Diamonds Emerald
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage: Yes Diamond Clarity Grade: SI1-I1 Brand: Unbranded Type: Brooch Metal Purity: 18K (AU 72.91-75
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Brooches

Materials

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

18K and Silver Opal, Ruby, Pearl And Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A true one-of-a-kind treasure, this exquisite butterfly brooch is masterfully handcrafted in 18K
Category

20th Century American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Demantoid Garnet Tsavorite and Diamond Tremblant Butterfly Statement Brooch Pin
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Beautiful! Diamond and Demantoid Garnet Tsavorite Gold Butterfly Mid Century Modern
Category

Mid-20th Century Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium

VAN CLEEF ARPELS Coral, Diamond Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Chic and feminine Butterfly brooch created by Van Cleef & Arpels in France in the 1960's. Angel
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Marlene Stowe Diamond Butterfly Brooch 18 Karat Yellow Gold Platinum
By Marlene Stowe
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Beautiful diamond butterfly pin by designer Marlene Stowe. The butterfly is crafted in 18 karat
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Tiffany Co. Vintage Yellow Gold Diamond Sapphire Butterfly Brooch Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Circa 1960s Tiffany & Co. Butterfly pin made of 14k yellow gold features diamond and sapphire
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

1980s Diamond Ruby Sapphire Emerald Gold Butterfly Pin Brooch Clip
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Lovely colorful butterfly pin created in Italy in the 1980's. Its gracious lines, rich colors and
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

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

Antique 18K Butterfly Brooch with Diamonds, Sapphires, Emeralds and Rubies
Located in Aspen, CO
Charming antique butterfly brooch set with an oval sapphire, 10 emeralds, 30 rose cut diamonds and
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Diamond Emerald Sapphire and Ruby Butterflies and Flowers Gold Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and unique piece of jewelry featuring diamond butterflies and flowers accented with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels Large Mother of Pearl Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2010 Van Cleef & Arpels Butterfly Brooch, 18K yellow gold and White Mother of pearl, set with
Category

2010s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
brooch form Van Cleef & Arpels boasts the marvelous form of a butterfly presented in a tasteful blend of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

18k Vintage Plique-à-jour Diamond Butterfly Brooch with Moveable Wings
Located in Kingston, NY
An elegant 18k plique-à-jour diamond butterfly brooch with hinged wings. A single diamond at the
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Pair of 1910s Diamond Ruby Pearl Platinum and Gold Butterfly Brooches
Located in New York, NY
An Early-20th Century pair of 18 karat yellow gold/platinum top butterfly brooches with diamonds
Category

Vintage 1910s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

18 Karat Yellow Gold Natural Diamond Colored Enamel Butterfly Pin Brooch
Located in Baltimore, MD
18 Karat Yellow Gold Natural Diamond & Colored Enamel Butterfly Pin Brooch Metal: 18k yellow gold
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Van Cleef Arpels Yellow Gold Diamond Wooden Butterfly Brooch Clip
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
three brilliant cut diamonds, total weight is about 0.30 ct. Stamped with the VCA maker's mark, a
Category

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Multi Colored Natural Diamond Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Baltimore, MD
18 Karat Yellow Gold Multi-Colored Natural Diamond Butterfly Brooch Pin Metal: 18k yellow gold
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Asprey Butterfly Diamond Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow Gold, circa 1997
By Asprey
Located in London, England
A breathtaking diamond butterfly brooch set in 18k yellow gold, signed Asprey, circa 1997. This
Category

1990s British Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Van Cleef Arpels mother of pearl diamond gold papillon butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
gleam of diamonds that make up the butterfly's precious body. Its bold and whimsical presence combines
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Opal Diamond Ruby Demantoid Garnet 14 Karat Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a butterfly with an old mine cut brown diamond center, weighing approximately 0.50
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Brown Diamond, Garnet, Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold

Vintage Butterfly Brooch with Moving Wings Tourmaline Ruby Diamond 18k Gold
Located in McLeansville, NC
This beautiful statement brooch has a butterfly design with wings that articulate. Gemstone
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Tourmaline, 18k Gold

19th Century Antique Jeweled Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1890 The brooch is crafted in 14K gold and silver. A large pear shape pearl forms the body
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Mappin Webb London Diamond Feather Enamel and Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Mappin Webb
Located in New York, NY
An English Antique 18 karat gold, enamel, feather and crystal brooch with diamonds. The brooch has
Category

Antique 1880s English Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamonds, Sapphires, Tsavorite, 14 Kt White Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch Pendant
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Beautiful vintage butterfly brooch/pendant in 14 kt white and yellow gold totally studded with
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire and Pearl Butterfly Brooch Pendant, C.1875
Located in Toronto, ON
Antique Victorian Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire and Pearl butterfly brooch and pendant C.1875. The Brooch
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Silver And Gold Butterfly Brooch, Circa 1880
Located in London, GB
An antique butterfly brooch, with old-cut diamond pavé set thorax and wings, with a faceted emerald
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, Silver

Victorian Gold Butterfly Brooch with Rock Crystal, Ruby, Emerald and Diamond
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A 14 carat gold butterfly brooch with a large, round cabochon cut rock crystal set with a gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Brooches

Materials

Crystal, Diamond, Emerald, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, 9k Gold

Late Victorian Gold Butterfly Pin Brooch Clip with Diamond and Sapphire
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
collection. The brooch is made of 18 karat (tested) yellow gold and platinum and set with diamonds and
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels Vintage Diamond and Coral Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
This vintage Van Cleef & Arpels brooch is made out of 18K yellow gold, diamond and coral. The
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Coral, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Sapphires Pearls Rubies and Diamonds Silver on Gold Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Montreal, QC
A Wonderful Sapphire Ruby Pearl and Diamond Butterfly Brooch set with 28 Rose cut Diamonds approx
Category

Mid-20th Century Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Diamond Pearl Sapphire Ruby Emerald Silver and Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, GB
An antique diamond, pearl, sapphire, ruby, emerald, silver and gold butterfly brooch, with wings
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Silver

18 Karat Yellow and White Gold Diamonds and White Onyx 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

18K Gold Agate Hand Carved Butterfly Diamond Pearl Contemporary Pendant Brooch
By Vaibhav Dhadda
Located in Jaipur, Rajasthan
18 karat gold agate butterfly carving diamond pearl contemporary pendant brooch. The process of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Agate, Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Brown Agatha Butterfly Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamonds
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
0.36ct and 0.20ct of pavé diamonds around the brooch (VS, G-H) ◘ Fair trade, cut white diamond MATERIAL
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold

LB Exclusive 18K Gold 1.00 Carat Diamond and Sapphire Italian Butterfly Brooch
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
This LB Exclusive Italian butterfly brooch is made of 18K white gold and embellished with diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Rhodochrosite Ruby Diamond White and Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch Pin Pendant
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Stunning 2.5" by 1.76" 18K white and yellow gold butterfly with rhodochrosite wings, ruby eyes and
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

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

Antique 3.88Ct Diamond and Emerald 9k Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch, Circa 1910
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
gold and silver set butterfly brooch; part of our antique jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau Antique Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a stylized butterfly with pierced foliate motif wings with milgrain detail Centering a
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

0.26ctw Diamond Butterfly Brooch 14k Yellow Gold Insect Bug Jewelry Pin
Located in McLeansville, NC
Gemstone Information: - Natural Diamonds - Total Carats - 0.26ctw Cut - Round Brilliant Color - VS2
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

A Round Brilliant Diamond And Three Colour Gold Butterfly Brooch Circa 1960s
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and unusual diamond and gold butterfly brooch c.1960s, the body in white gold pavé set
Category

Vintage 1960s English Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels/Junichi Hakos Estate Diamond Enamel and Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat gold and enamel butterfly brooch with diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels and Junichi Hakose
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Estate 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Garnet and Ruby Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Birmingham, AL
Beautiful Estate Butterfly Brooch! Made in 18k yellow Gold the butterfly has Ruby Eyes, Diamond
Category

20th Century Unknown Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, 18k Gold

1940 s Diamond Sapphire Ruby Emerald Rose Gold Vintage Butterfly Pin Brooch
Located in Boca Raton, FL
butterfly features rose cut diamonds (.10 CTW), sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. The brooch measures 1.00 x
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, Rose Gold

Tiffany Co Diamond Butterfly Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Fairfield, CT
Tiffany & Co Diamond Butterfly Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold This Tiffany & Co
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Estate 18k Gold Large Colorful Plique Jour Enamel Diamond Butterfly Brooch Pin
Located in Montclair, NJ
This stunning vintage brooch features a large butterfly design crafted in solid 18k yellow and
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel

14k Yellow Gold Sapphire Diamond Milgrain Butterfly Slide Pendant Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
–Stone(s)– (8) Natural Genuine Diamond - Round Brilliant Cut - Burnish Flush & Bezel Set - 0.10ctw
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Wood Diamond Yellow Gold Butterfly Pin Brooch Clip VCA
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Signature Van Cleef & Arpels butterfly clip. Gracious and feminine, the brooch is a great addition
Category

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow 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.