Skip to main content

Gold And Diamond Leaf Brooch

to
66
940
581
401
162
157
900
140
127
124
110
5
141
661
166
56
24
18
23
41
94
69
46
37
29
5
523
470
1
284
80
64
43
42
to
52
38
27
13
10
103
102
98
68
42
40
39
16
4
4
2
1
986
8
594
355
Sort By
Vintage 0.85 Carat Total Round Diamond Yellowish Orange Enamel Leaf Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A lovely brooch, showcasing a leaf motif made of a mix of yellowish and orange enamel. Accented by
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Diamond Gold Floral Wreath Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
leafs of colorless diamonds. Featuring 35 diamonds weighing approximately 1.75 carats. 3 diamonds
Category

1990s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Enamel and Diamond Flower Brooch 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in MIAMI, FL
Gorgeous design crafted in 18k yellow gold. This floral brooch shows detail throughout. The
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Dutch Diamond Brooch Gold and Silver Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in London, GB
An exquisite late 19th-century Dutch brooch, intricately set with over 100 rose-cut diamonds. The
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Pink Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Pink sapphire & diamond leaf design brooch in 18k yellow gold. Set with 32 oval and pear shape pink
Category

1990s British Artist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold

1920s Antique Diamond and White Gold Flower Brooch by Hennell
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique 0.68 Ct diamond and 18k white gold, platinum set flower brooch by Hennell
Category

Vintage 1920s English Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gold and Enamel, Amethyst and Diamond forget-me-not flowers Brooch
Located in Firenze, IT
leaf and circular- and single-cut diamonds. Mounted in yellow 18kt gold. Weight: 9.9 gr Size: 4
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold

Gubelin Diamond Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold
By Gubelin
Located in Lucerne, CH
This beautifully handcrafted flower brooch by Gubelin in 18 karat yellow and white gold is prong
Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Paloma Picasso for Tiffany Co. Gold and Diamond Pendant/Brooch
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany Co.
Located in Darnestown, MD
Stylish brooch/ pendant by Paloma Picasso for Tiffany in 18 karat hammered gold. It forms an
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

2.01Ct Diamond and 9k White Gold Brooch - Antique Circa 1880
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique 2.01 carat diamond and 9 karat white gold, silver set flower brooch
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, White Gold

1900s 2.52 Carat Diamond and 9k Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
antique diamond crescent brooch has been crafted in 9k yellow gold with a silver setting in the form of a
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

26.22 Carat Turquoise and 1.15 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive 26.22 carat turquoise and 1.15 carat diamond, 18 karat yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond and Plique a Jour Enamel Yellow Gold Flower Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
vintage jewellery is further ornamented with a white gold leaf, embellished with nine pavé set diamonds
Category

Vintage 1950s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

1880s Antique 4.08Ct Diamond and Yellow Gold, Silver Set Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive Victorian diamond brooch has been crafted in 9k yellow gold with silver settings in the form of a
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Vintage French Diamond and Gold Abstract Feather Brooch, Circa 1960
Located in London, GB
A vintage, French, diamond and gold abstract feather or palm leaf and fruit brooch, set with two
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1970s Citrine Diamond Gold Lapel Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
This bold 1070's dual pin lapel brooch is crafted in solid 18K yellow gold, weighing approx. 44.4
Category

Vintage 1970s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 14 Karat Gold Diamond and Emerald 4-Leaf Clover Pin
Located in Towson, MD
14kt yellow gold 4-Leaf Clover Pin. This pin contains 3.90 carats of H-I color, SI1-SI2 clarity
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold

Antique Sapphire and 1.82 Carat Diamond Yellow and White Gold Spray Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
and white gold spray brooch; part of the antique jewelry collections. The pierced decorated frame of
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Pearl Diamond Gold Retro Brooch
Located in Darnestown, MD
Retro fourteen karat gold leaf brooch with a great deal of dimensionality both from the reeded
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Pearl, 14k Gold

Vintage 18 Karat Gold Ruby Floral Design Leaf Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
It is a vintage floral design pin brooch crafted in 18K yellow gold. It features 10 round rubies
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique 1.02ct Ruby and Diamond White Gold Spray Brooch Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
to two leaf designs incorporating pavé set eight-cut diamonds. The antique ruby and diamond brooch
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold, White Gold

Toliro Diamond Enamel Floral Bouquet Gold Brooch
By Toliro
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An admirable brooch by Italian designer Toliro. Each leaf of the 18K yellow gold bouquet is hand
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

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

French 1850s Antique Diamonds Brooch and Pendant
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch - pendant in 18 carats rose gold, eagle's head hallmark and silver. This elegant antique
Category

Antique 19th Century French Romantic Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

6.66 Carat Turquoise and 1.48 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Flower Brooch
By Ben Rosenfeld
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
graded diamonds. The brooch is an exceptional gauge of gold and is in excellent condition with clear
Category

Vintage 1960s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 18K Yellow Gold 2.40ct Diamond Brooch
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
, or lapel. Opulent 18K yellow gold leaf motifs are perfectly paired with 2.40 carats of sparkling
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 0.59ct Diamond and 18ct White Gold Rose Brooch Circa 1910
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive antique diamond brooch has been crafted in 18k white gold with platinum settings. The brooch has
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian Diamond Natural Pearl and Enamel 18K Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
yellow gold brooch; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This fine and
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

26.32 Carat Amethyst 1.02 Carat Diamond and Seed Pearl and Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
gold and platinum. This impressive Victorian brooch is supplied with an independent diamond grading
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Sapphire Diamond and Seed Pearl Yellow Gold Swallow Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
karat yellow gold bar brooch in the form of a swallow; part of our antique jewelry / estate jewelry
Category

Antique 1890s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mississippi Pearl Enamel Diamond Gold Floral Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
Mississippi pearl, diamond and enamel floral brooch, three rose cut diamond set anthers
Category

Early 2000s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold

Mauboussin Turquoise and Diamond Bird Brooch, 1960s
By Mauboussin
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
and leaf are made out of yellow gold wires and the flower is centred by a diamond. It is a cute brooch
Category

Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Retro Diamond 3 colors Gold Cornucopia Brooch
Located in Napoli, NA
stunning brooch featuring a leaf motif in yellow gold between 2 cornucopia in rose gold, all surrounded by
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1960s Vintage Diamond Sapphire Ruby Emerald and Yellow Gold Spray Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
and 18 karat gold spray brooch; part of our diverse gemstone jewelry collections This fine and
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Hammerman Brothers Gold Diamond V Shaped Brooch
By Hammerman Brothers
Located in Darnestown, MD
leaf or a feather. It is 18 karat gold with 19 diamonds weighing a total of one carat. The spines are
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Deco Diamond Gemstone Gold Flower Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Deco design Leaf carved pin Fruit basket decorated with natural round cut Diamonds
Category

Vintage 1980s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Diamond, Pearl and Green Enamel Floral Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, pearl, enamel, and yellow gold brooch, the leaf set with one old European cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Vintage 55Ct Amethyst and 3.02Ct Diamond 18k White Gold Brooch Circa 1950
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
white gold. The brooch is supplied with an IDGL diamond and gemstone grading report card. Images do
Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, White 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

French 19th Century Diamond Rose Gold Tree Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 karats rose gold, horse's head hallmark and silver. Lovely antique brooch, it is in
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Fascinating Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Lapel Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
This hand crafted brooch with pear-shaped blue sapphires and round-faceted diamonds is
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Brooch set with opal and diamonds up to 1.30ct 14k yellow gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold brooch in the shape of a leaf with opal and old mine cut and rose cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1980s Dutch Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gübelin Retro Brooch in 18 Karat Gold with Emeralds, Diamonds, and Ruby
By Gubelin Lucerne
Located in Lucerne, CH
This one of a kind retro brooch in 18 karat yellow and white gold from Swiss jeweller Gübelin
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Hand Carved Jasper Leaf Pin 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamond Pin/Pendant
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
yellow gold with tiny diamonds (.22 carats total) that form a stem. This piece is truly a work of art and
Category

2010s American Artisan Brooches

Materials

Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Cosmos Large Diamond Gold Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Van Cleef and Arpels create timeless pieces of elegance, and this four leaf clover brooch is a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

1940s Cartier Diamond Gold Brooch with Citrine Pendant
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A Retro gold brooch in the form of a stylized leaf, adorned with graduated diamonds and suspending
Category

Vintage 1940s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Rare Tiffany Co. Diamond and Ruby Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
This rare foliate brooch by Tiffany and Co. features 15 old mine cut diamonds weighing
Category

Antique 19th Century Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Diamond 18 Carat White and Yellow Gold Detachable Brooch, circa 1960 s
Located in London, GB
shaped diamonds and 40 round brilliant cut diamonds, all meticulously claw set on an 18 carat white gold
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

14K White Gold Diamond Pearl Clover Pin Brooch
Located in New York, NY
14K white gold diamond pearl 3 leaf clover pin brooch set with 63 old mine cut diamonds approximate
Category

Vintage 1910s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Emerald and Diamond Garland Brooch/Pendant, 1880s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
An impressive Victorian corsage brooch/pendant with diamonds and emeralds, 1880s. It is set with a
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

Exquisite 14k Yellow Gold Enamel Leaf with Diamond Pin
Located in New York, NY
Adorn yourself with the exquisite beauty of this 14k yellow gold enamel leaf with diamond pin. This
Category

Vintage 1980s Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

0.22 Carat Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Leaf Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom made Material: 18k yellow gold Diamonds: 0.22 carat total weight Color: G Clarity
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond and Sapphire Brooch Signed Van Cleef Arpels
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Princeton, NJ
18kt Yellow Gold Maple Leaf Brooch signed Van Cleef & Arpels. Circa: 1970s. 6 Round Brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1970s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Tiffany Co. Jade Tourmaline Ruby Diamond Gold Leaf Pin
Located in Stamford, CT
1950s Tiffany & Co Jade leaf pin in 2 colors of Nephrite Jade, pink Tourmaline, fine Ruby and
Category

Vintage 1940s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Ruby, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

CARTIER 1950 circa. Diamonds and Sapphires on 18 Karat Gold Lucky Clover Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Crema, Cremona
This four-leaf clover brooch by Cartier has become a classic design developed in many different
Category

Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Brooches

Materials

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

Mitsuo Kaji Multi-Color Gem Diamond Gold Brooch Pendant
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
yellow gold leaf form features an array of colors from multi-color gemstones and diamonds which are set
Category

2010s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique 8.58 Carat Amethyst Pearl and 0.11 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Bar Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
platinum set paired leaf design, each pavé set with two Dutch cut diamonds. The organic-shaped yellow gold
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold

Bvlgari Yellow White Gold Enamel Diamond Brooch 1.38ct TDW
By Bulgari
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A unique bi-colour gold enamel and diamond brooch by Bvlgari. The brooch features four yellow gold
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

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

Gold And Diamond Leaf Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate gold and diamond leaf brooch for your needs in our varied inventory. 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. Our collection of these items for sale includes 97 vintage editions and 15 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect gold and diamond leaf brooch among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but 1.5 Carat and 2 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. A gold and diamond leaf brooch from Cellini, Tiffany Co. and Boucheron — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also old mine cut cut and rose cut cut versions available here, too. Most of our gold and diamond leaf brooch for sale are for women, but there are 42 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a Gold And Diamond Leaf Brooch?

Prices for a gold and diamond leaf brooch can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $550 and can go as high as $368,500, while this accessory, on average, fetches $6,000.

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.