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Retro Italian 18 Kt Gold Bow with Diamond Cluster Knot
Located in New York, NY
A statement bow in 18 kt gold with varying finishes by an Italian designer with a cluster of
Category

Vintage 1950s British Brooches

Retro Floral Brooch and Earrings
Located in Darnestown, MD
What could be more Retro than this floral brooch with matching earrings made of 14 karat gold with
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, Ruby, 14k Gold

1860 s Victorian Enamel Diamond Pearl 14 Karat Gold Masquerade Mask Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
headband and rose cut diamonds as eyes Surrounded by a concentric frame decorated by gold circles and
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

LB Exclusive 14 Karat White Gold 1.75 Carat Diamond Antique Bouquet Brooch
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
Absolutely stunning, this LB Exclusive 14K White Gold 1.75 carat Diamond Antique Bouquet Brooch
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

E. Wolfe Contemporary Charming Platinum Diamond And Enamel Penguin Waiter Brooch
By E. Wolfe Company
Located in London, GB
textured finish to the front of the body resembling feathers, wearing a diamond-set bow tie and holding
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Diamond Witch s Heart Brooch
Located in Stamford, CT
Seventy two sparkling old mine and european cut diamonds, set in 18kt gold and silver pronged
Category

Antique 1860s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco Diamond Platinum Circle Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Deco diamond and blue stone platinum circle brooch circa 1925. Designed as a diamond circular
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum

Oscar Heyman Bros. 1940s Retro Sapphire Diamond Gold Double Clip Brooch
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
An American Retro 18 karat gold and platinum pair of detachable double clips with diamonds, yellow
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

18 Carat French Crescent Brooch with Diamonds
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18 carat gold French crescent brooch set in silver with 50 cushion and rose cut diamonds (app
Category

Antique 1890s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Italian Diamond Enamel Circus or Street Performer Brooch Statue and Stand
Located in Miami Beach, FL
black hat. His shirt is decorated with three diamond buttons and he has a blue bow at his waist. This
Category

20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Silver

Ventrella Napoli Couple Cats Enamel Diamond Brooch
Located in Napoli, NA
Unusual Cat shaped brooches hand-crafted in Italy of 18k yellow and white gold. One of the two is
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1890s Hallmarked French Natural No Heated Sapphire Diamond Gold Brooch-Pendant
Located in Napoli, NA
unusual custom cabochon polished of approx. 10 carats, it is suspended in a bow design Diamond frame, the
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Tiffany Co. Platinum 18k Gold 5.80ctw Diamond Green Enamel Frog Brooch Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Montclair, NJ
addition, a lovely green enamel covered bow adorns the frogs leg, with wonderful textured gold work showing
Category

1990s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Old oak leaves brooch-pendant with pearls and diamonds from around 1900.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Former pendant with the function of a brooch made of 14-carat gold (0.585 hallmark) in the shape of
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Sapphire and Old European Diamond Flower Bouquet Spray Brooch in Platinum
Located in London, GB
white gold. Beautiful flower bouquet motif brooch consisting of an array of stunning diamond flowers
Category

Vintage 1950s British Retro Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Artdeco Platinum Diamond Brooch, Set With 6.40ct Round &Baguette Diamonds
Located in London, GB
dazzling brooch is its enchanting bow motif. Total Gold Weight: 19.3g Total Diamond Weight: 6.40ct Diamond
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Art Deco Platinum Old European Diamond Bow Pin
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Art Deco Platinum Old European Diamond Bow Pin. This beautiful pin is crafted in
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Belle Epoch Pearl Diamond Brooch Circa 1920
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
A superbly made French bar brooch set with very fine natural pearls and mixed cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1920s French Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Platinum, Mixed Metal

1.36 Carat High Zircon Pearl 1.59 Carat Diamond 9k Yellow Gold Brooch Circa 1890
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive bow to the nadir of this antique brooch bears nine pavé set diamonds accented with a single collet
Category

Antique 1890s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Zircon, Yellow Gold, Silver

Raymond Yard Argyle Pink Diamond Rabbit Waiter Brooch
By Raymond C. Yard
Located in New Orleans, LA
in platinum with 14K and 20K rose gold details. Raymond Yard's rabbit brooch designs quickly became
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum, En...

Mauboussin Reflection Diamond Brooch Trabert Hoeffer 18 Karat
By Trabert Hoeffer Mauboussin
Located in MIAMI, FL
yellow gold and set with multiple Old Miner cut Diamonds. In 1920s when Trabert and Hoeffer combined to
Category

Vintage 1940s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Belle Epoque Diamond Brooch / Pendant Circa 1900
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Belle Epoque diamond set convertible brooch/pendant with a collapsible pendant runner and removable
Category

Early 20th Century Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Mixed Metal

14 Karat Enamel Flower Basket Brooch with Diamonds Rubies
Located in Cincinnati, OH
yellow gold Blue, red, green and yellow enamel "flowers" Five "flowers" have diamond centers Two
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

French Napoleon III Fine Pearl Diamond Agate Cameo Pendant Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Pendant in 18 carat rose gold and silver, eagle head hallmark. This is composed of a bow set
Category

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Brooches

Materials

Agate, Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Ros...

Diamond Ruby Sapphire and Emerald Rose and White Gold Circus Clown
Located in Chevy Chase, MD
clown shoes, a large white gold bow tie with diamonds, and clown pants sprinkled with ruby sapphire and
Category

Late 20th Century American Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Gem Set Baroque Pearl Yellow Gold Cat Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gem-set baroque pearl and yellow gold winking cat brooch circa 1970. * ABOUT THIS ITEM: #P5022
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

René Boivin Double Clip Diamond and Gold Bangle, 1940s
By René Boivin
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
A very versatile double clip diamond and yellow gold bangle by René Boivin, ca. 1940s. It is in 18k
Category

Vintage 1940s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Butler Wilson Signed Faux Diamond Dachshund Dog Brooch Pin
By Butler Wilson
Located in Montreal, QC
Delightful signed Butler & Wilson Dachshund with drooping ears Brooch Pin encrusted from head to
Category

1990s British Modernist Brooches

Materials

Gold Plate

Donald Claflin for Tiffany Co. Giraffe Gold Brooch Gemstones Estate Jewelry
By Donald Claflin for Tiffany Co.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A spectacular brooch by Donald Claflin, made of 18k gold, featuring colored gemstones and diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Zircon, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Diamond and Enamel Stradivarius Violin Pin
Located in Great Neck, NY
Gorgeous Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Enamel Stradivarius Violin Pin. This amazing pin is in
Category

Vintage 1950s German Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Retro Tiffany Co. 1.32 Carat Sapphire 18 Karat Tri-Colored Gold Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring three prong set sapphire flowers tied with a bow accented by single cut diamonds, all
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

Multicolored Flower Brooch in 18 Karat Oxidized White Gold
Located in Wailea, HI
Multi Colored Flower Brooch in 18k Oxidized White Gold Twenty Seven Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Garnet, 18k Gold

Raymond Yard Rabbit Waiter Brooch
By Raymond C. Yard
Located in New Orleans, LA
One of the esteemed Raymond Yard's most iconic and collectible designs, the rabbit waiter brooch
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Edwardian 3.02 Carat Pear Shape Sapphire and Diamond Silver over Gold Bouquet
Located in Chevy Chase, MD
This is a gorgeous one of a kind Edwardian era Sapphire and Diamond silver over gold floral bouquet
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Silver

Antique Edwardian 14k Yellow Gold Natural Seed Pearl Sunburst Brooch/Pendant
Located in Victoria, BC
Here is a beautiful Antique Edwardian 14k Yellow Gold Natural Seed Pearl Sunburst Brooch/Pendant
Category

Antique Early 1900s Canadian Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Yellow Gold

Adorable Mid-Century Multi Gem Hat Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An Italian 18 karat gold hat brooch that features round cut emeralds,rubies, and blue sapphires on
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold

GIA Certified Art Deco 1920 Platinum Wreath Brooch 6.94 Cts Diamond Sapphires
Located in Miami, FL
Magnificent jeweled Art Deco brooch. A very important and gorgeous piece from the early American
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Whimsical Jeweled Smoking Lady Dachshund Dog Brooch Pin
Located in Montreal, QC
Necklace, sporting a Ruby and Diamond Bow, and holding a long cigarette holder; Burnished two-tone 18k
Category

Vintage 1960s Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Belle Epoque Pearl Gemstone Bouquet Brooch Circa 1900 - French Hallmarked
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
French Belle Epoque ‘Bouquet’ brooch featuring rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and rose-cut diamonds
Category

Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

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

TIFFANY CO. 1970 Donald Claflin Giraffe Brooch 18Kt With 73.10 Ctw Sapphires
By Donald Claflin for Tiffany Co.
Located in Miami, FL
designed as two giraffe heads facing to the sides with a neck decorated with a diamond's bow. The brooch is
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, White Diamond, Green Sapphire, Spinel, Gold, Ye...

Art Deco 14 Karat White Gold Filigree Sapphire Pin Pendant
Located in Lexington, KY
This is an enchanting Art Deco pin pendant in 14k white gold with beautiful filigree work and a
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Diamond and Enamel Bow Pendant / Brooch
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Bow Pendant 15ct Gold Tested Beautiful, round Victorian pendant. Features a diamond
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel

18 Karat Gold Emerald Diamond Bow Tie Pendant/Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This vividly colored bow tie pendant/brooch of immaculate workmanship is crafted in 18 karat yellow
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Yellow Gold Diamond and Ruby Bow Brooch Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Wonderfully complex and producing compelling play of light upon its spotless 18K yellow gold
Category

Late 20th Century French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond Ruby White Gold Handcrafted in Italy Papillon Bow Chocker Brooch
By Margherita Burgener
Located in Valenza , IT
ribbon with gold and diamond clasp. The bow brooch is set with 110 diamonds for total ct 4,72 and n
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces

Materials

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

Chaumet Retro Gold and Diamond Brooch
By Chaumet
Located in New York, NY
A Retro gold and diamond clip brooch of stylized bow design, in 18k. Chaumet, Paris.
Category

Vintage 1940s French Jewelry

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

French Designer 18K Gold Diamond Brooch
By G. None
Located in Bronx, NY
This stylish stunning 18K gold French designed ladies brooch is beautifully detailed with braided
Category

Vintage 1970s French Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Stone, Gold

Certified Imperial Green Jadeite Jade Bow, Ruby, Diamond Pendant Brooch, Glows
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Please check out the HD video. This imperial green jadeite jade bow brooch and pendant is
Category

2010s Hong Kong Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Jade, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Edwardian Emerald and Diamond Bow Necklace
Located in New Orleans, LA
extraordinary stones. Dazzling colorless diamonds adorn the charming 18k yellow gold and platinum bow form
Category

20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Diamond Double Heart and Bow Luckenbooth Silver-Upon-Gold Pendant
Located in London, GB
in silver-upon-gold. Circa 1880. Luckenbooth brooches are traditional Scottish love tokens. They are
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Diamond Set Rose Gold Bow Necklace 0.18 Carat
Located in London, England
A whimsical 18ct rose gold round brilliant cut diamond set bow pendant on a round link 18ct rose
Category

2010s Unknown Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

South Sea Pearl and Diamond 18k White Gold Pendant Brooch
Located in Chevy Chase, MD
A gorgeous pendant and brooch literally dripping with Diamonds and Pearls! There are five South
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold

Boucheron Vintage Gold Bow Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A beautiful pair of vintage Boucheron 18k gold earrings designed as a whimsical bow. The earrings
Category

Vintage 1970s Dangle Earrings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Modern Design 18 Karat Yellow Gold 0.40 Carat Diamond Bow Ring
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a lovely modern design bow ring crafted in 18K yellow gold. Circa 1980. It features 27 pcs
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian French Gold Silver Rose Cut Diamonds Brooch Watch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French Victorian brooch watch set with rose-cut diamonds and mounted in 18-karat gold and silver
Category

Antique 1860s French Victorian Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold Rose Cut Diamond Pearl Bow Bangle Bracelet
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a romantic bow design bracelet from Victorian era. The piece is crafted in 18K yellow gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Bangles

Materials

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

Edwardian Aquamarine Diamond Pearl Platinum 18K Gold Antique Pendant Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
color Set with talon prongs with a decorous curling ribbon bow motif surround Platinum-topped and bead
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

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Gold And Diamond Bow Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact gold and diamond bow brooch you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. 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. Find an antique version now, or shop for 141 vintage or 13 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Finding the perfect gold and diamond bow brooch may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. A gold and diamond bow brooch from Van Cleef Arpels, Tiffany Co. and Bulgari — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. 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 old european cut and brilliant cut alternatives. Finding a gold and diamond bow brooch for sale for women should be easy, but there are 62 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a Gold And Diamond Bow Brooch?

Prices for a gold and diamond bow brooch can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $315 and can go as high as $200,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $3,925.

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.