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Plique -a- jour Blue Enamel Ruby and Diamond En-Tremblant Brooch
Located in Bethesda, MD
French Plique a jour blue enamel ruby and diamond En-Tremblant Brooch. The hinged enamel petals
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel

French 19th Century Sapphire Fine Pearl Enamel Silver Pendant Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Pendant-Brooch in silver, ram's head hallmark. Refined, this antique brooch features an arabesque
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Silver, Enamel

Van Cleef Arpels Enamel Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980 Butterfly Brooch by Van Cleef and Arpels, 18K Yellow Gold, Blue Guilloche Enamel and set
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

French Gold Enamel and Gem Set Large Owl Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Red Enamel Nose and Opaline Enamel around the Eyes. Set with Diamonds totaling 1 carat and having
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Georges Braque Enamel Diamond Gold Tithonos Pin Brooch
By Georges Braque
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Unique collectable brooch created in 1962 by the famous French artist, painter and sculptor Georges
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Lion Ebouriffé brooch in gold, diamonds, emeralds and enamel
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in PARIS, FR
Clip "Lion Ébouriffé", enameled muzzle paved with brilliant-cut diamonds and faceted emerald eyes
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Enamel

Antique Enamelled Fairies Brooch, 18k Gold Filigree and Diamond, Art Nouveau
Located in NEWARK, GB
A beautiful antique, French Art Nouveau era enamelled fairy brooch. This is such an unusual piece
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Art Nouveau Enamel Diamond Gold Brooch Attributed to Vever
By Vever
Located in New York, NY
An Art Nouveau 18 karat gold and enamel brooch with diamonds, attributed to Vever. The three
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

1950s Mauboussin Enamel Diamond Yellow Gold Stork Pin Brooch
By Mauboussin
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
stork bird. Made of 18k yellow gold, decorated with beautiful enamel and accented with diamonds. It
Category

Vintage 1940s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Louis Aucoc Art Nouveau Enamel Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau 18 karat gold and enamel brooch with pearl and diamond by Louis Aucoc. The
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian 14K Gold Cobalt Blue Enamel 0.23ct Diamond Knot Bar Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
It is a beautiful antique bar brooch in 14K yellow gold. It features 0.23ct old cut diamond, which
Category

Early 20th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel

Cartier Green Tourmaline, Diamond, Enamel Gold Panther Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Fabulous and Gracious Panther Brooch by Cartier with cabochon Emerald eyes made of Yellow gold and
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Art Nouveau Diamond, Ruby, Enamel and Gold Flower Pendant/Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau 18 karat gold pendant/brooch with diamonds, rubies and enamel. The brooch
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

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

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier Diamond and Yellow Sapphire Enameled Gold Pendant or Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
yellow and white gold, the brooch is embellished with enamel and a lavish blend of 4.50 carats of yellow
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

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

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

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

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

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Art Nouveau 14 Karat Gold Old Cut Diamond Enamel Floral Miniature Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
old cut diamond (0.09ct, RW, SI2) in the centre and is adorned with amazing green enamel which is in
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel

Boucheron Art Nouveau Diamond, Sapphire, Plique-à-Jour Enamel Cicada Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau 18 karat gold and plique-à-jour enamel brooch with diamonds and sapphires by
Category

Antique 1880s French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Enamel Bee Pin Brooch c. 1990s
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
-set diamond adds a sparkling touch of luxury. This brooch comes complete with its original Cartier box
Category

1990s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Paris 1960s Diamond Emerald Enamel and Gold Lion Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A French 18 karat gold and enamel brooch with diamonds and emeralds by Van Cleef & Arpels. The
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Gold and Enamel "Lion" Brooch with Diamonds and Emeralds
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A French 18 karat gold and enamel brooch with diamonds and emeralds by Van Cleef & Arpels. The
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Mid Century 18 Karat Gold Two Birds On A Branch Green Enamel Diamond Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
features green guilloche enamel (perfect condition) and round cut diamonds. Weight: 12.28g Size: 3.5x3cm
Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Boucheron Yellow Red Enamel and Diamond Butterfly Brooch Prov. Earl Mountbatten
By Boucheron
Located in London, GB
Description A beautiful vintage enamel and diamond butterfly brooch by Boucheron c.1960s, of three
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

18k Gold

Mellerio dits Meller Paris Enameled Gold Pheasant Brooch
By Mellerio dits Meller
Located in Chevy Chase, MD
A greatly detailed pheasant brooch by Mellerio dits Meller. It is 18k yellow gold with an enamel
Category

Mid-20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

French Victorian Diamond Enamel 18 Karat Gold Fleur-De-Lis Antique Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
. Featuring glossy transparent blue enamel - exhibiting minimal loss. Tested with French hallmarks for silver
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Ruby Enamel Tree Branch Art Deco Brooch by Boucheron
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
A stunning Boucheron, an Art Deco Ruby & Enamel Tree Branch Brooch, accented with three round ruby
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 1890s French Bulldog Enamel Diamond Gold Stick Pin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian 1890s French Bulldog stick pin enamel diamond and gold. The dimensional, full-front face
Category

Antique 1890s American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Edwardian 1.35 Total Carat Diamond, Enamel + Pearl Pin
Located in Narberth, PA
, lustrous pearls and soft enameling. Old Rose Cut diamonds gently glint within the pin's leaves and delicate
Category

Vintage 1910s French Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel

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

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Gaston Laffitte Art Nouveau Plique a Jour Enamel Opal Gold Pendant/Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau 18 karat gold pendant/brooch with 3 heart shape white opals accented by a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Opal, 18k 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...

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Enamel Butterfly Necklace-Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Bethesda, MD
From Van Cleef & Arpels, a stunning enamel and diamond butterfly brooch. The 18 karat yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1950s French Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

FRENCH 1890 Art Nouveau Limoges Enameled Pendant Brooch In 18Kt Yellow Gold
Located in Miami, FL
French art Nouveau enameled pendant brooch. This is an exceptional pendant-brooch, created in
Category

Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

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

Italian 18K Gold, Enamel, And Diamond Mandolin Pendant Watch Brooch, G. Ferrero
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Italian 18K Gold, Enamel, And Diamond Mandolin Pendant Watch Brooch Box, by G. Ferrero
Category

20th Century French Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, Enamel

French Art Nouveau 1890 Plique à Jour Enameled Pendant Brooch 18Kt Gold Pearl
Located in Miami, FL
period, back in the 1890. Surely It was crafted in Paris France with the difficult enameling technique of
Category

Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Diamonds Onyx 14K Gold Locket Pendant Brooch
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Magnificent antique onyx locket pendant brooch featuring many gorgeous diamonds. This locket
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, Enamel, Gold

French Enamel Ruby Diamond Gold Flower Brooch
Located in New York City, NY
Whimsical ruby, diamond, blue enamel and 18K yellow gold brooch of French origin. It features high
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

French Art Deco Black Enamel Diamond Platinum Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco French platinum, diamond, and black enamel brooch, circa 1930
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco French Azurite Malachite Diamond Enamel Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1925 This remarkable vintage French Art Deco brooch / pin features an oval cabochon cut
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Brooches

Mellerio Sapphire Diamond Enamel Gold Flying Duck Brooch
By Mellerio
Located in New York, NY
Adorable flying duck brooch by Mellerio, adorned with diamond eyes, blue sapphires and enamel
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Enamel

Art Nouveau Enamel Gold Pin Brooch Clip Diamond Emerald, French
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Gorgeous Art Nouveau brooch created in France. Soft curved lines, perfect proportions, play of
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels French Diamond Enamel Platinum-Topped 18 Karat Yellow Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a stylized butterfly with enamel glossed wings accented by pavè set diamonds. Featuring
Category

Vintage 1970s French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Enamel and Diamond Camel Brooch and Pendant Set
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Unique enamel and diamond camel brooch and pendant set. These pieces can be worn as a pin or
Category

Mid-20th Century French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

French 20th Century Enamel Natural Pearl Diamond 18 Karat Gold Lemon Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
base is set with a rose- cut diamond and its fruit, a magnificent yellow enamelled lemon. The clasp is
Category

Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Cartier Enamel Emerald Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Butterfly Brooch Pin by Cartier. With 13 round brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald

French Antique Gold, Blue Enamel, and Diamond Flying Swallow Brooch or Pendant
Located in New York, NY
An antique brooch designed as a winging blue enamel swallow with rose diamond embellishment on the
Category

Antique 1830s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

SPRITZER FUHRMANN 1960 France Enameled Scarab Brooch In 18Kt Yellow Gold
Located in Miami, FL
. The brooch is mounted with eleven natural earth mined gemstones such: white colorless diamonds and
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels Emerald Diamond Enamel Lion Ébouriffe Brooch NEW STYLE
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in MIAMI, FL
& platinum. With diamonds and emeralds adorning the design. The lion shows a black enamel nose as well as
Category

2010s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Enamel, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels Enamel Sapphire Diamond Gold Ram Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
diamonds and sapphires and further accented in black enamel. Having a double pin-clip back, signed
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Boucheron Enamel Sapphire Diamond Gold Flower Pin Brooch
Located in New York, NY
sparkling round cut diamond accents. The pin measures 59mm by 37mm and weighs 13.2 grams. It is signed
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Chaumet Clown Brooch Diamonds Enamel Green Onyx Sapphire Gold
By Chaumet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chaumet 1970s diamond green onyx sapphire and enamel clown brooch. The whimsical design depicts a
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modern Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Onyx, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

French 1960s Enamel and Gem-set Sea Unicorn Brooch, Jean Thierry Bondt
Located in New York, NY
, and Mauboussin, among others, this 18K gold and enamel unicorn clip brooch is set with diamonds and
Category

Mid-20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...

Cartier 1992 Rare 18 Karat Yellow Gold Brooch Depicting Enameled Diamond Duck
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
gold brooch boasts a stunning enameled diamond duck design that will captivate admirers and make a
Category

Late 20th Century French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Cartier circa 1960s Charming Gold Diamond and Enamel Dog Brooch
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
viewed face on, wearing a red enamel collar from which hangs a single brilliant cut diamond, the eyes set
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Emerald Enamel Yellow Gold Lion Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
diamonds of an estimated 0.15 carats. Made in France circa 1980s. Measurements: 0.94" (24mm) width, 1.29
Category

Vintage 1980s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Fred of Paris 1970 Enamel Sauvage Cat Brooch 18k Gold with Diamonds Emeralds
Located in Miami, FL
Brooch designed by Fred of Paris. This brooch is one of the most iconic designs by the jewelry
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

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French Diamond Enamel Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the french diamond enamel brooch you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Enamel — can elevate any look. You’re likely to find the perfect french diamond enamel brooch among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 18th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Finding an appealing french diamond enamel brooch — no matter the origin — is easy, but Van Cleef Arpels each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for a rose cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut and french cut alternatives. Finding a french diamond enamel brooch for sale for women should be easy, but there are 22 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a French Diamond Enamel Brooch?

On average, a french diamond enamel brooch at 1stDibs sells for $7,058, while they’re typically $795 on the low end and $45,000 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.