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Cartier Panthere Diamond Emerald Black Onyx Jabot Pin Brooch Clip
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Chic Panthere jabot pin created by Cartier in France. It is made of 18 karat White Gold, encrusted
Category

Early 2000s French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Menotte Jabot Diamond and Onyx White Gold Pin
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
is made of elegant 18K white gold and embellished with scintillating diamond stones and eye-catching
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Emerald and Diamond Spider Pin in 18K Gold
By Cartier
Located in Houston, TX
Cartier spider pin composed of 18K yellow gold with emeralds and diamonds. The pin is marked
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Ruby Diamond gold Heart Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A sweet little 18 carat gold brooch in the shape of a heart, set with 28 brilliant cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Cartier Diamond Gold Menotte Jabot Pin
By Cartier
Located in Feasterville, PA
A fabulous authentic Cartier jabot featuring bold onyx set into sleek 18k white gold and enhanced
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Coral Ruby Lapis Malachite 18 Karat Gold Bird Brooch Clip
By Cartier
Located in New York City, NY
allure of vintage luxury with the Cartier Coral Ruby Lapis Malachite 18 Karat Gold Bird Brooch Clip, an
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Cartier Vintage Brooch 18k Gold Gems Enamel Pin Clip Estate Jewelry
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A rare vintage brooch by Cartier made of 18 karat yellow and white gold with gemstones and enamel
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

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

1940s Cartier 2.10 Carat Diamond Ruby Emerald Platinum Military Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive Cartier military brooch has been crafted in platinum and 12 ct yellow gold. The brooch has been
Category

Vintage 1940s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum

Vintage Cartier Brooch 18k Gold Flower Heart Design Estate Jewelry
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A lavish vintage Cartier brooch of a flower design, made of 18k gold. This exuberant flower was
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Exceptional Large Cartier "Tutti Frutti" Flower Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A one of a kind large "Tutti Frutti" cardoon flower brooch by Cartier flower brooch in yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier Art Deco Carnelian, Diamond and Bi-Colored Gold Clip
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier New York Art Deco Carnelian, Diamond, Sapphire, Enamel, Platinum, and Bi-Colored Gold Clip
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Carnelian, Diamond, Gold

Aldo Cipullo Cartier Octopus Diamond Brooch 18k Gold Gemstones Estate Jewelry
By Aldo Cipullo for Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An Aldo Cipullo for Cartier Octopus diamond brooch, made of 18k gold and featuring gemstones. This
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold

Cartier Enameled Diamond Gold Lady Bug Pin
By Cartier
Located in Narberth, PA
A simply wonderful pin by legendary maker Cartier! From the 1970's, this beautiful vintage piece is
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Cartier Key to My Heart Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A Cartier Key to My Heart Brooch A beautiful gold and diamond pin made by Cartier depicting three
Category

Vintage 1980s Art Deco Brooches

Cartier Paris 1905 Edwardian Arrow Jabot 18Kt Gold Platinum Diamonds And Rubies
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
Arrow jabot designed by Cartier. Stupendous and virtually in mint condition arrow jabot pin from
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier 18K White Gold Diamond Panthere Jabot Pin
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
The Cartier 18K White Gold Diamond Panthere Jabot Brooch is the epitome of elegance and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Cartier Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Sapphire Flower Safety Pin
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
This vintage Cartier safety pin is made of 18K yellow gold and boasts a flower motif embellished
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

CARTIER Dragon Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Coral, Emerald Pin
By Cartier
Located in Houston, TX
CARTIER 18KT yellow gold, platinum, diamond, coral, and cabochon emerald dragon pin. Signed
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Coral, Emerald, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold

Cartier 1960s Amethyst Diamond Turquoise Gold Sparrow Pin
By Cartier
Located in Aspen, CO
Iconic piece from the great house of Cartier, this piece is signed and numbered on the verso. This
Category

Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Cartier Panther Panthere Diamond Yellow Gold Tie Lapel Pin
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Panther Tie Lapel Pin by Cartier. With Round brilliant cut diamonds VVS1
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Aldo Cipullo for Cartier Seahorse Brooch Gold Enamel Gemstones
By Aldo Cipullo for Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A vintage Aldo Cipullo for Cartier Seahorse brooch, made of 18k gold, featuring enamel and
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier 18 Karat Gold Round Cut Diamond, Coral and Emerald Dragon Jabot Pin
By Cartier
Located in Bishop s Stortford, Hertfordshire
This Jabot Pin by Cartier features 52 round brilliant cut Diamonds of 1.75ct total colour E-F
Category

Early 2000s Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier 1930 Art Deco Enameled Clip In 18Kt Gold Platinum With Gems And Diamonds
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
Enameled clip brooch designed by Cartier. An exceptional and very rare clip brooch, created during
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold...

Cartier Coral Moonstone Emerald Diamond Gold Platinum Duck Pin
By Cartier
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
Cartier Paris Duck Pin, gold and platinum, cabochon moonstone belly, emerald, coral and diamonds
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier Ruby Diamond Bee Pin
By Cartier
Located in Litchfield, CT
18 karat gold Bee by Cartier is set with 1.0 carat of superb rubies and .25 carats of brilliant white
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Cartier circa 1989 Foliage Vintage with Carved Emeralds Onyx Diamonds Brooch/Pin
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This is a listing for 2 exquisite brooches from Cartier's celebrated Les Indes Galantes collection
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Cartier Terrier Dog in 18K Yellow Gold Ruby Diamond Eye
By Cartier
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Cartier Yorkshire Dog Pendant in 18K Yellow Gold. The terrier has one Ruby eye & one Diamond eye
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Cartier, London 1970s Egyptian Revival Brooch in the Form of "Horus"
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A gold and diamond Egyptian Revival brooch in the form of "Horus," depicted as a falcon in profile
Category

Vintage 1970s British Egyptian Revival Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier Panther Panthere Diamond Emerald Yellow Gold Tie Lapel Pin
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond, Emerald Black Onyx nose Panther Tie Lapel Pin by Cartier. With Round
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold

Cartier Paris Antique Rose Diamond Set Gold Platinum Jabot Pin
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
Antique rose diamond set jabot pin by Cartier Paris. Arrow set with twenty-eight rose cut diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold

Cartier Le Baiser Du Dragon White Gold Diamond Ruby White Gold Pin Clip
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Le Baiser Du Dragon Diamond Ruby Pin Clip by Cartier. With 52 Round brilliant cut
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Cartier Paris 1905 Edwardian Arrow Jabot In 18Kt Gold Platinum Diamonds Rubies
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
Arrow jabot designed by Cartier. Stupendous and very rare long arrow jabot pin, created during the
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Brooches

Materials

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

1940 Cartier Yellow Gold Leaf Clip
By Cartier
Located in Rome, IT
18 kt. yellow and white gold clip with 2 old-cut diamonds, carved nephrite and black enamel. This
Category

Vintage 1940s British Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Mid Century Cartier Diamond 18k Yellow Gold 25 Years Service Shell Pin
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Mid Century Cartier Diamond 18k Yellow Gold 25 Years Service Shell Pin. Featuring one single
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Bow Brooch
Located in San Antonio, TX
Two color gold brooch set with diamonds and sapphires.Signed CARTIER #3351.
Materials

Diamond, Sapphire

Cartier Diamond Bright Green Enamel Flower Pin
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier Pin with Bright Green Enamel & center Diamond made in the late 70's Petals are highlighted
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Cartier Aldo Cipullo 18k Gold Multi Gem Enamel Toucan Clip Brooch
By Aldo Cipullo for Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage brooch clip by Aldo Cipullo for Cartier exemplifies exceptional craftsmanship and bold
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel

CARTIER PARIS Platinum, Gold, Ruby Diamond Arrow Jabot Pin Art Deco 1920s Rare
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Cartier Paris Platinum, Gold, Ruby & Diamond Arrow Jabot Pin Art Deco 1920s Here is your chance to
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Platinum

1940s Cartier Garnet Gold Platinum Tree Motif Clip
By Cartier
Located in Aspen, CO
Circa 1945, this double prong clip, is signed and numbered (2387) on the verso by Cartier (probably
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold, Platinum

Hermes Charming 18ct Gold and Gem Set Elephant Brooch Circa 1960s French
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
A charming gold elephant brooch by Hermès c.1960s, the three-dimensional brooch finely modelled in
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Cartier 1910 Front of Bodice
By Cartier
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
Brooch in yellow gold, platinum, white enamel, diamonds and amethysts. Signed Cartier. Made in
Category

Early 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Vintage French Cartier Paris Owl With 5ctw Columbian Emerald in 18 Karat Gold
By Cartier
Located in Fairfield, CT
This Cartier owl brooch is a one of a kind piece of art. The piece is a finely detailed owl perched
Category

Vintage 1960s French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier Brooch by Aldo Cipullo Yellow Sapphire Unicorn Design Estate Jewelry
By Aldo Cipullo for Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A striking Cartier brooch by Aldo Cipullo, made of 18k gold, featuring yellow sapphire. This Aldo
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier manner flower gold brooch, jabot pin, circa 1910-1930.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Old gold pin for a jabot in the Cartier style. A beautiful decoration in the form of a bouquet of
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Quartz, Ruby, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, 9k Gold

Cartier manner flower gold brooch, jabot pin, circa 1910-1930.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Old gold pin for a jabot in the Cartier style. A beautiful decoration in the form of a bouquet of
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Quartz, Ruby, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, 9k Gold

Cartier Coral Flower in Hand Pin
By Cartier
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
In difficult times even a small dose of glitz and glamour goes a long way, and Cartier has been
Category

Vintage 1940s British Retro Brooches

Materials

Coral, White Diamond, 18k Gold

French Coral and Diamond White Gold Ladybird Clip Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A coral and diamond ladybird clip brooch, the coral abdomen with brilliant-cut diamond spots, the
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, 18k Gold

David Webb Platinum, Gold, Turquoise, Diamond Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Stunning turquoise and diamond clip created by David Webb in the 1980s. It can also be worn as a
Category

20th Century American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, Platinum

CHAISE Oval pendant-brooch in gold, silver, diamonds and natural pearls
Located in PARIS, FR
Oval pendant-brooch in 18k (750°/°°) gold, silver and natural pearls featuring a shell. The
Category

Antique 1870s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Silver

Fantastic 1960s Cartier New York Chinese Lion Dog Coral Gem Set Pin
By Cartier
Located in Bay Harbor Islands, FL
, lapis lazuli, emerald and sapphires cabochons. The brooch is 18K gold and is signed Cartier and is
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Oscar Heyman Gold and Platinum Pave Double Cat Brooch
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York City, NY
Oscar Heyman 18kt yellow gold and platinum double cat brooch contains a 189 round diamonds weighing
Category

2010s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Platinum

CHAUMET Paris 1960 Turtle Brooch 18Kt Yellow Gold With Diamonds Rhodochrosite
By Chaumet
Located in Miami, FL
condition of this Chaumet brooch is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the gold
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

Oscar Heyman Holiday Wreath Brooch with Rubies, Emeralds and Diamonds
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York City, NY
Oscar Heyman 18k yellow gold and platinum holiday wreath brooch contains baguette rubies (2.02cts
Category

2010s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold Starburst Cross Pendant Brooch 36 Diamonds
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This Brooch Pendant is set with 36 Diamonds, six of those have an average diameter 3.20mm and the
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

E. Wolfe Contemporary Charming Platinum Diamond And Enamel Penguin Waiter Brooch
By E. Wolfe Company
Located in London, GB
A charming penguin brooch by E. Wolfe & Co, the finely modelled three-dimensional penguin standing
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Marguerite Stix Shell Pin or Pendant Ruby Diamonds and Gold
By Marguerite Stix
Located in New Hope, PA
Elegant and versatile this four shell pin designed by Marguerite Stix has two diamonds in the
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Victorian 1837 Mughal Tutti Frutti Brooch In 17Kt Gold With Carved Gemstones
Located in Miami, FL
Mughal tutti frutti jardiniere brooch with carved gemstones. A beautiful colorful piece, created
Category

Antique 1820s British Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

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Cartier Gold And Diamond Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact cartier gold and diamond brooch you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. Finding the perfect cartier gold and diamond brooch may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 20th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but 1.5 Carat and 2 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes square cut and cushion cut alternatives. Most of our cartier gold and diamond brooch for sale are for women, but there are 49 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a Cartier Gold And Diamond Brooch?

On average, a cartier gold and diamond brooch at 1stDibs sells for $12,232, while they’re typically $2,350 on the low end and $118,000 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.