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Boucheron Paris Diamond Emerald Coral Boar Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A Boucheron Paris conversation starter, a diamond emerald coral boar brooch. With 5 single cut
Category

Vintage 1950s French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Chrysophrase, Diamond, Coral, 18k Gold

Retro Emerald Diamond Coral Enamel Bird Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
18-karat yellow gold retro emerald, diamond, coral, and enamel brooch from the 1960's- 1970's
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Fantastic Coral Seashell gold Brooch
Located in San Francisco, CA
brooch adorned with approximately 0.44 carat total weight of round brilliant cut diamonds. The coral
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Coral Diamond Gold Beetle Lapel Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Miami, FL
& Company and the purity mark '18 K'. This naturalistic inspired vintage pin brooch remains in pristine
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Coral Lapis and Diamond Bird Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
Delightful bird brooch pin crafted in 18 karat yellow gold, depicting an enchanting pair of
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels 18K Yellow Gold Coral Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
coral inlaid wings. The wings, a rich opaque medium reddish-orange hue, captivate the eye with their
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Coral Diamond Gold "Cosmos" Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold, coral and diamond “Cosmos” brooch, Van Cleef & Arpels. Circa 1960
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vacheron Constantin 18K Yellow Gold 1970 s Coral, Diamond And Onyx Pendant Brooch
By Vacheron Constantin
Located in New York, NY
1970's jewelry: bold, impressive and colorful. You will love this brooch if you like the 70's, coral
Category

20th Century Swiss Modern Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Coral Diamond Gold Flower Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
A rare example of a beautifully carved coral tulip, by Van Cleef and Arpels, set with diamonds in
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Coral, 18k Gold

18k Yellow Gold Vintage Diamond Turquoise Coral Sea Turtle Brooch Pin 0.78cttw
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
A unique Vintage Turquoise, Coral and Diamond turtle brooch by David Webb. The carved malachite
Category

Antique 1890s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold

1930s Diamond Pink Coral Gold Brooch
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Eloquently beautiful this 1930's brooch with pink coral and diamonds has a center diamond stone
Category

Vintage 1930s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Happy Buddha Coral Sapphire Emerald Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
18k yellow gold brooch featuring a carved coral happy Buddha, accented by 9 oval cut sapphires
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Coral, Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow ...

Sapphire Ruby Emerald Diamond Coral Gold Parrot Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful 18k yellow gold bird brooch featuring cabochon 45 sapphire, 19 rubies, 8 emerald, 16
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

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

Carved Coral with Diamond Emerald Ruby Exotic Bird Brooch in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
elegance addition to your fine jewelry collection. Brooch Information Metal: 18K White Gold Width: 37 mm
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Coral Diamond Yellow Gold Pin Brooch Clip, 1970s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
brooch features a gorgeous chrysanthemum ably carved of beautiful Mediterranean coral and accented with
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Peau D ange Coral Diamond Gold Flower Shape Brooch
Located in Napoli, NA
A gorgeous floral design brooch set with five exceptional Bokè (Peau D' Ange) Coral beads
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

LB Exclusive 18K White Gold 1.65 Ct Diamond, Onyx, and Coral Duck Brooch
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
array of opulent gemstones, which include black onyx, coral, and glittering diamonds totaling 1.65
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Coral, Onyx, White Gold

Vintage Diamond Coral 18 Karat Poinsettia Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
This Vintage 1960's Diamond and Coral Brooch was inspired with the holidays in mind. This
Category

Vintage 1950s Retro Brooches

Materials

Coral, 18k Gold

Cartier Paris 1939 Diamond Ruby Coral Gold Falconry Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York City, NY
, round diamond, and a round ruby. With with black enamel and mounted in 18 k gold and silver. Hallmarks
Category

Vintage 1940s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

Retro Red Coral Diamond Gold Chinese Motif Lapel Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
crafted in solid, artfully textured 18K yellow gold, with a touch of 18K white gold applied to diamond
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Angel Skin Coral Turquoise Maltese Cross Pin Brooch 18k Yellow Gold
Located in La Jolla, CA
Angel Skin Coral, Turquoise and Diamond Maltese Cross Pin Brooch in 18k Yellow gold Maltese Cross
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond, Emerald, Coral and Enamel Parrot Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
Delightful parrot brooch pin, crafted in 18k yellow gold, featuring approximately 8 carats of round
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Coral Ruby Emerald Diamond Gold Floral Lapel Brooch/Pendant
Located in Miami, FL
This authentic Retro lapel brooch and pendant of artistic design and meticulous craftsmanship is
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Coral Emerald Ruby and Diamond Art Deco Style Bird Brooch in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
Art Deco-style bird brooch featuring a diamond-studded bird perched on a coral cloud. Emeralds form
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Tiffany Co. Coral Diamond Gold Crab Lapel Brooch Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Miami, FL
This authentic Tiffany & Co. lapel brooch from the vintage Retro era is crafted in solid 18K
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Interchangeable Diamond, Coral, Turquoise, Mabe Pearl Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Chevy Chase, MD
allows you to choose between coral, turquoise, or two different color mabe pearls. The 18K yellow gold
Category

20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold

1936 Cartier Paris Black Lacquer Coral Diamond Ladybird Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Geneva, CH
Significant coral, diamond and black lacquer ladybird brooch, signed Cartier Paris, French marks
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Boucheron 18 Karat White Gold Coral and Diamond Flower Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Braintree, GB
Boucheron 18kt white gold flower shaped brooch with a central coral stone of approx 7 carats, and
Category

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Carved Red Italian Coral and Diamond Bacchus Brooch-Pendant
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful red Italian coral brooch pendant depicting Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. Embellished
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1980s Coral Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant Pin Brooch Clip
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
statement. The brooch is made of 18 karat yellow gold, angel skin coral and encrusted with single cut
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Antique French Coral Jade Diamond Gold Strawberry Branch Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 carat yellow gold, owl hallmark. This antique brooch represents a branch of a
Category

Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Jade, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier France Coral Diamond Gold Seashell with Starfish Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Darnestown, MD
Stunning and unusual gold seashell from which a coral starfish emerges. The starfish is centered
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Coral Diamond Gold Rose de Noel Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
Iconic Van Cleef & Arpels featuring the most beautiful vibrant, orange coral. Due to the scarcity
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Magnificent Oxblood Tomato Red Coral Pendant Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Target Brooch with Diamond Accents. Can be worn as a pendant Delicate 18kt Filigree Gold Wirework
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Coral, 18k Gold

1960s Chaumet Paris Red Coral Diamond Bee Yellow Gold Pin Brooch
By Chaumet
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Red Coral Bee Pin Brooch by Chaumet Paris. With Red Coral: 26mm x 11mm and
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Michael Kneebone Branch Coral Tahitian Pearl Carved Shell Diamond Brooch
By Michael Kneebone
Located in Austin, TX
mounted in 18k gold. This one-of-kind brooch is a modern interpretation yet reminiscent of the
Category

2010s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Vhernier Diamond Quartz Coral Mother-of-Pearl 18K Gold Balloon Palloncino Brooch
By Vhernier
Located in Philadelphia, PA
-shaped crystal quartz cabochon measuring 20.0 x 17.0 mm Transparent colorless - backed by layered coral
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Onyx, Coral and Rose Cut Diamonds Ski Brooch
Located in Paris, FR
cut diamonds, and highlighted by two coral strips. 18k Gold (marked) Mounted. Excellent original
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Coral, White Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

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

Van Cleef Arpels Coral Diamonds Brooch, Clématite Collection, France, circa
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in London, GB
brilliant cut diamonds. The brooch is signed VCA and numbered. We can see the French eagle’s head and the
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage VCA Van Cleef and Arpels Coral and Diamond Bow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Product details: The brooch is made out of Mediterranean coral and 0.19 carats of round brilliant
Category

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

1970s Spritzer Fuhrmann Coral Onyx Diamond Gold Stork Bird Brooch
Located in New York, NY
diamonds, coral and onyx. Mounted on 18kt white and yellow gold. Circa 1970.
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Coral, White Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

Handcraft Cameo Coral 18 Karat White Gold Ruby Diamonds Brooch
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
coral,diamonds and rubies Brooch total weight 39.10 grams Diamonds weight 2.35 karat Rubies weight 1.12
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Vintage French 1960 Coral and Diamond Clip Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
invoice. Made in solid 18 karat yellow gold with white gold accents, weighing 44.70 grams. Large brooch is
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Rose de Noël Coral Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
brooch offers a delightfully feminine appearance. The brooch is expertly crafted from luxurious 18K
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

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

Coral, Emeralds, Diamonds, Turquoise, Enamel, 18Kt Gold and Platinum Brooch.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
studded with diamonds, corals, emeralds, turquoise paste and enamel. This brooch was totally handmade by
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Lapis Coral Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch Pin Clip, 1970s, French
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
great addition to your jewelry collection. Made of 18 karat yellow gold, carved lapis lazuli, coral and
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Rose de Noël Coral Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
brooch offers a delightfully feminine appearance. The brooch is expertly crafted from luxurious 18K
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Coral, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Trianon Scallop Shell Diamond Coral Keshi Pearl Biwa Pearl Gold Brooches
By Trianon
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
brooch measures 2 1/2 inches tall by 2 1/4 inches wide. Handmade 18k yellow gold frames outline and
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

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

Seaman Schepps Coral Yellow Gold Clip Brooch Pin with Diamond 1960s
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
beautiful carved coral fish accented with single and old mine cut diamonds. The clip measures1-5/8 x 1-7/8
Category

Vintage 1950s American Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

LB Exclusive 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Coral Ball Openwork Brooch
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
splendid brooch. The brooch is decorated with a lovely coral and with glistening diamonds that weigh 0.50
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

1950s Van Cleef Arpels Coral Diamond Gold Clover Clip Pin Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
addition to your jewelry collection. It is made of 18 karat (stamped) yellow gold, Mediterranean coral
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Rose de Noel Diamond Coral Medium Flower Yellow Gold Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Rose de Noel Diamond Coral Flower Medium Size Brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 6
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

18 Karat Gold Coral and Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Metal: 18k Gold Gemstone: Diamond Hallmark: N/A Dimensions: W 2 in. x D 2.5 in. W 50.8 mm x D 63.5
Category

Late 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Rose de Noel Diamond Angel Skin Coral Yellow Gold Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Rose de Noel Diamond Angel Skin Coral Flower Brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 6
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique 18 Karat Carved Coral "Huge" Putti Cherub Angel Diamond Brooch
Located in North Hollywood, CA
in excellent condition. I have collected many coral angel brooches but never one this size, this
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Romantic Brooches

Materials

Coral, 18k Gold

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Coral Diamond 18k Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact coral diamond 18k brooch you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. You can easily find a 413 antique edition and 56 modern creations to choose from as well. Making the right choice when shopping for a coral diamond 18k brooch may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. For this particular piece, .5 Carat and 1 Carat are consistently popular carat weights. Creating a coral diamond 18k brooch has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Van Cleef Arpels, Cartier and David Webb are consistently popular. A round cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also brilliant cut and mixed cut versions for sale. When shopping for a coral diamond 18k brooch, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Coral Diamond 18k Brooch?

The price for a coral diamond 18k brooch starts at $620 and tops out at $325,000 with these brooches, on average, selling for $8,691.

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.