Skip to main content

Gold And Diamond Brooch 1970s

to
42
748
179
900
742
620
77
34
11
7
5
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
67
63
57
49
25
Sort By
1970s Diamond Sapphire Ruby Yellow Gold Rabbit Pin Brooch
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Adorable rabbit pin fashioned in 14 karat yellow gold. The 1970's brooch features 12 diamonds
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

1970s Raymond Yard Gold Brooch
By Raymond C. Yard
Located in Hicksville, NY
1970s Vintage Raymond Yard Brooch features 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Diamonds and Peridot. It has a
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Dan Frere 1970 s Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Owl Bird Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
for 14 karat gold Fully signed for Dan Frere Circa: 1970s Measures: 1 x 2 inches Total Weight: 18.9
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Ed Weiner Vintage 1970s Azurite, Quartz and Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Brooch
By Ed Wiener
Located in Towson, MD
One 1970s 18 karat yellow gold Ed Weiner brooch set with one 25x13mm natural uncut azurite, quartz
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Erwin Pearl 1970 s Lapis Lazuli Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ladies Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
karat gold. With maker's mark for E. Pearl. Circa: 1970's. Measures: 2 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches. Total weight
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage 1970 s Van Cleef Arpels Lion Brooch in Yellow Gold in Platinum
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in London, England
A beautiful vintage Van Cleef and Arpels 1970’s lion brooch in 18k yellow gold and platinum. Known
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Platinum

1970s Peter Lindeman 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamond Pied Piper Brooch
By Peter Lindeman
Located in Birmingham, AL
This whimsical Modernist brooch, made in 18k yellow gold tells the Germanic story of the Pied Piper
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold

1970s White Gold and Marquise Diamonds brooch bouquet of flowers
Located in Milano, MI
Brooch set in 18ct white gold with marquise and round cut diamonds for circa 3.5ct total. The
Category

Vintage 1970s European Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

1970s French Turquoise Sapphire emerald Diamond Gold Pin Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Chic and colorful brooch created in France in the 1970's. Made of 18k yellow gold and set with
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Turquoise, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, ...

Diamond and Turquoise Gold Wire Brooch
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Diamond and Turquoise Gold Smooth and Twisted Wire Brooch. Twenty-seven round old brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

1970s Diamond Flower Clip Brooch Gold Platinum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Diamond flower clip/brooch mounted in 18 karat gold and platinum circa 1970. The graceful five
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

1970s Diamond Enamel Gold RAF Sweetheart Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive vintage 0.68 carat diamond and enamel, 9 carat white and 9 carat yellow gold 'RAF
Category

Vintage 1970s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

1970’s Vintage Lanvin Gold Tone Fish Pin Brooch
By Lanvin Paris
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a beautifully crafted gold tone figural fish pin brooch designed by Lanvin in 1970’s. This
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Brooches

Materials

Gold Plate

Retro Gold Ruby and Diamond Dan Brooch
Located in Princeton, NJ
This beautiful retro Gold Ruby and Diamond Dan Brooch is crafted in 14 karat yellow, white, and
Category

Vintage 1970s Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

1970 s Rosenthal 1.25 Carats Pave Diamond 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Mushroom Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
18K for 18 karat gold Maker's mark for Herbert Rosenthal Circa: 1970s Measures: 15/16 x 1 5/8
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Lapis Lazuli Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch Pin Clip, 1970s, French
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Colorful, three-dimensional brooch created in France in the 1970s. Chic and wearable, the clip is a
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

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

French 1970s Flower Brooch 18 Karat Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Offered here is a beautiful yellow gold flower brooch set with gems and diamonds. The brooch is
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

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

Lapis Coral Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch Pin Clip, 1970s, French
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Colorful, three-dimensional brooch created in France in the 1970s. Chic and wearable, the clip is a
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

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

BUCCELLATI Lapis Lazuli and Diamond Gold Brooch
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Firenze, IT
The brooch designed as a flower set in the center with a round lapis lazuli cabochon measuring
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, 18k Gold

Rosenthal 1970s Honey Bee Diamond Ruby Gold Brooch
By Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal 1970s diamond ruby and gold honey bee brooch. Mounted in 18-karat gold, the wings set
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A vintage creation of style and charm. Featuring a heptagon painted with 70 white, clean diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

1970s Herbert Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Two Color Gold Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage Herbert Rosenthal 18k yellow and white gold bee brooch designed in the 1970s featuring 19
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Rosenthal Extra Large Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch Circa 1970s
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal Extra-Large Diamond and Ruby 18k gold bee brooch, circa 1970s. The Rosenthal Extra-Large
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold Flower Brooch with Malachite and Diamonds, 1970s
Located in Braintree, GB
Vintage 18k yellow gold flower brooch with malachite and diamonds. Circa 1970's. Approx Dimensions
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Malachite, 18k Gold

Modernist 1970s French Diamond Matte 18 Carat Yellow Gold Leaf Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
, created in the 1970s. Our opinion : An elegant brooch, the matt gold confers this diamond brooch with a
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

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

A Gold, Enamel, Emerald and Diamond Frog Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold, enamel, emerald and diamond brooch. Designed as a white enamel frog with
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Enamel

1970s Kutchinsky Tiger Eye Diamond Gold Earrings Brooch Pin Clip Set
By Joseph Kutchinsky
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1970's. It is made of 18 karat yellow gold and tiger's eye and set with round brilliant cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s British Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Tiger s Eye, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18kt Yellow Gold and Diamond Brooch by Boucheron
By Boucheron
Located in Firenze, IT
BOUCHERON Yellow gold (750‰) "knot" CORSAGE CLIP entirely and finely gadrooned, studded with nine
Category

Vintage 1970s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1970 s Henry Dunay Turquoise 2.00 Carats Diamond Fancy Yellow 18 Karat Brooch
By Henry Dunay
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Substantial brooch features turquoise aggregate wrapped in gold seaweed tendrils and a fish
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yello...

1970s Diamond Baroque Pearl 14 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Bee Pin Brooch
Located in Boca Raton, FL
The 1970's Baroque Pearl Diamond Bumble Bee Brooch in 14 Karat Yellow Gold is a whimsical and
Category

Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Lapis Lazuli Turquoise Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch Pin Clip, 1970s, French
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Colorful, three-dimensional brooch created in France in the 1970s. Chic and wearable, the clip is a
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

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

DAVID WEBB Yellow Gold, Platinum and Diamond Flower Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
A David Webb 18 karat yellow gold, platinum and diamond flower brooch. Circa 1970. Signed Webb
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold

1970s Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Gold Flower Pin Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
Dress your blouse, blazer or purse with this magnificent Vintage 1970's Diamond Ruby 18K Gold
Category

Vintage 1970s American Romantic Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

French Turquoise and Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
Ornate French brooch pin crafted in 18 karat yellow gold, featuring turquoise cabochons arranged in
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

VAN CLEEF ARPELS handsome gold, emerald and diamond brooch.
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold, diamond and emerald brooch. Signed Van Cleef and Arpels, numbered 1K31-2
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Gold, Diamond, Coral and Turquoise Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
An Estate 18 karat gold brooch with coral, turquoise, enamel and diamond by Tiffany & Co. This
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Rosenthal Vintage Extra Large Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch Circa 1970s
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal Vintage Extra-Large diamond ruby gold bee brooch, circa 1970s. The Rosenthal Vintage
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

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

DAVID WEBB gold, emerald, diamond and enamel leopard brooch.
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous Dutchess of Windsor style 18 karat yellow gold, platinum-set diamond, emerald and black
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold

David Webb circa 1970s Platinum and 18k Yellow Gold Diamond and Pearl Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Centering a baroque pearl, surrounded by stylized gold leaves, set with round diamonds weighing
Category

20th Century American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Vintage Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby Tiffany Co. Bee Brooch, c.1970s
Located in London, GB
This vintage 1970s Tiffany & Co. bee brooch is a truly whimsical creation. The brooch features 0.50
Category

Vintage 1970s British Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

David Webb Rock Crystal Diamond and Gold Brooch
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
An American 18 karat gold and platinum brooch with diamonds and rock crystals by David Webb. The
Category

Vintage 1970s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels Futuristic Gold Clip Brooch 1970s
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970s Van Cleef and Arpels 18K textured yellow Gold Futuristic Clip Brooch, in a 3 sided
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage Labrador Dog Large Gold and Diamond Brooch Pendant
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970 Large and Impressive Custom made 14k Yellow Gold Labrador Brooch Pendant, measuring 2
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold

A Lapis Lazuli, Diamond and Gold Brooch.
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold, lapis lazuli and diamond brooch, Circa 1970s. The crescent shaped brooch
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Modernist Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Birmingham, AL
This beautiful, Modernist brooch is made in 18k yellow gold with a checkered gold pattern accenting
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Ruby and Diamond Arrow Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
Striking arrow brooch pin crafted in 18 karat yellow and white gold, featuring 19 square cut rubies
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co. Diamond Pearl Platinum and Gold Flower Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat gold and platinum brooch with diamonds and pearls by Tiffany & Co. The brooch has 52
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

Classic Diamond Gold Bumblebee Brooch
Located in New York, NY
diamonds. The wings are Florentine finished with a lovely crisscross motif, and the ruby eyes sparkle out
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Ruby and Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Retro Floral Brooch
Located in MIAMI, FL
Exquisite detail on this Ruby and Diamond floral brooch. Crafted in 18k yellow gold this brooch
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Italian Enamel Diamond Gold Foliage Brooch
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful 18Kt Yellow and White Gold, circa 1970s, Italian Brooch Features 66 Diamonds Enhancing an
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Hammerman Brothers 18k Yellow Gold Enamel and Diamond Lion Brooch
By Hammerman Brothers
Located in MIAMI, FL
consideration today is a 18k yellow gold brooch crafted in the theme of an lion. The lion shows details
Category

Vintage 1970s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold

Rosenthal 1970s 2.00 Carats Diamond Ruby Platinum 18 Karat Gold Bee Bug Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as an insect with round brilliant cut diamond body set in platinum Round brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage 1970 s 18KT Yellow Gold Multi-Colored Gems And Diamond Lapel Pin
Located in New York, NY
variety of gemstones including citrine, garnet, ruby, and sapphires, this vintage 18KT yellow gold brooch
Category

Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow 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

Buccellati Three Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
By Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
Buccellati 18 karat gold brooch that consists of three cultured pearls each measuring approximately
Category

Vintage 1970s European Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

TIFFANY CO. SCHLUMBERGER 18K Yellow Gold, Diamond Lapis Thistle Brooch 1970s
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany Co.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger 18K Yellow Gold, Lapis & Diamond Thistle Brooch 1970s Vintage Here is
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold, Ruby, and Diamond Elephant Brooch
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
Add a touch of whimsy to your ensemble with this 18kt yellow gold elephant brooch pin, featuring a
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 1
  • ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Gold And Diamond Brooch 1970s", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Gold And Diamond Brooch 1970s For Sale on 1stDibs

Browse a vast assortment of gold and diamond brooch 1970s for sale on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Find a collection of 420 vintage versions or 1 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 20th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 21st Century. The designs in our inventory of gold and diamond brooch 1970s bearing Retro or Modern hallmarks are very popular. Tiffany Co., David Webb and Van Cleef Arpels each produced beautiful examples of these items that are worth considering. A selection of round cut, brilliant cut and cabochon can be found today on these pages. When shopping our range of gold and diamond brooch 1970s, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men today than there are for women.

How Much are Gold And Diamond Brooch 1970s?

On average, gold and diamond brooch 1970s at 1stDibs sell for $4,980, while they’re typically $550 on the low end and $375,000 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.