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Victorian era 14k gold diamond ruby shamrock brooch
Located in Versailles, FR
For sale a Victorian era 14K gold brooch, featuring a delicate three-leaf shamrock. At the heart
Category

Antique 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

RAYMOND YARD Gold and Ruby Double Leaf Pin
By Raymond C. Yard
Located in Southampton, NY
A pierced double gold leaf pin edged with cabochon rubies and set with diamonds by Raymond Yard
Category

Vintage 1950s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Signed Cartier 1.10 Carat Diamond and 18 Karat Rose Gold Floral Brooch, 1950s
By Cartier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Imagine this festive Estate brooch in 18K red gold by Cartier with every of its twilled threads
Category

Mid-20th Century French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Two-Tone 18 Karat Gold Sapphire and Diamond Leaf Pendant 21 Gram
Located in Overland Park, KS
Vintage Two Tone with 7 Sapphires 1.05ctw and Daimonds .5ctw. Piece was marked but it has been scratched off. Piece is
Category

Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

M. Buccellati Gold and Silver Leaf Pin
By Mario Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
. Alice Kwartler has sold the finest antique gold and diamond jewelry and silver for over forty years.
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Brooches

Materials

18k Gold, Sterling Silver

OSCAR HEYMAN Diamond Brooch
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Southampton, NY
This stunning Oscar Heyman brooch was designed in the 1980’s and features a graceful 18K gold
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Nouveau 1.2ct Diamond 18K Gold Brooch circa 1900
Located in Goettingen, DE
Art Nouveau 1.2ct Diamond 18K Gold Brooch circa 1900 Magnificent Art Nouveau brooch made of high
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

19th Century French Diamond Silver Gold Tremblant Flower Brooch
Located in Madrid, ES
19th Century Tremblant brooch in silver and yellow gold 18 Kts. in their original case. It has a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique 2.5 Carat Diamond Gold Pendant Brooch Moscow circa 1910
Located in Goettingen, DE
Antique 2.5 carat diamond Gold Pendant Brooch “Devant de Corsage” Moscow circa 1910 This
Category

Antique Early 1900s Russian Russian Empire Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver

Admiration Comes Naturally with Contemporary Yellow Rose Cut Diamond Gold Brooch
By ROHIT JAIN
Located in NEW DELHI, IN
of the sheet contrasted in white gold. This One-of-a-kind Leaf shaped White Gold Brooch is a work of
Category

2010s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Eye-Catching 1940 Blossoming Flower Diamond Spray Brooch 18 Karat Gold
Located in Napoli, IT
solid 18 KT gold Diamonds set on part of the leaf work and as spots of light all around the main flower
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Natural Pearl Diamond Flower Brooch in 18K Gold circa 1890
Located in Goettingen, DE
Antique Natural Pearl Diamond Flower Brooch in 18K Gold circa 1890 Enchanting antique pearl and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century German Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage 10k Yellow Gold 0.02 Carat Diamond Solitaire Floral Lattice Brooch
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
METAL: 10KT Yellow Gold SIZE: 1 3/8" L x 1/2" W GENDER: Ladies FEATURES: The brooch features a
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Fabergé Hibiscus 18K Gold Silver Diamond Brooch With Fire Opals Moonstones
By Fabergé
Located in London, GB
diamonds, softened by the addition of misty moonstones. Additional Information: Details: 18kt Gold and
Category

2010s British Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Gold

Antique Brooch 1.15 Carat Diamond Platinum
Located in Tampa, FL
clarity (100% eye clean) and E-H color. A highly decorative center 3 stone diamond brooch with a leaf
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold

Fabergé Hibiscus 18K Gold Silver Diamond Brooch W/ Moonstones, US Clients
By Fabergé
Located in London, GB
. Additional Information: Details: 18kt Gold and Sterling Silver = 13.10 grams Round White and Pink Diamonds
Category

2010s British Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Matsuzaki Cabochon Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye Green Garnet Diamond Cat Gold Brooch
By Tsutomu Matsuzaki
Located in Tokyo, JP
for details. Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye : 0.54ct Garnets : 0.07ct / Diamonds : 0.04ct Approximate Size of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Brooches

Materials

Chrysoberyl, Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold

Retro Cornucopia Turquoise Lapis Diamond Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
solid 18 KT gold Made as clip brooch, statement brooch but could also arranged as central with a chain
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold

7.50 Carat Diamond Victorian Floral Spray Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
Diamonds between old mine cut set onto flowers and rose cut Diamonds set on the leaf work. Crafted in 15 KT
Category

Antique 1840s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

1950s Austrian Nephrite jade 14K Gold Diamonds Pearls Lily of the Valley Brooch
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
This amazing brooch is finely modeled as a beautiful Lily of the Valley. The green leaf is
Category

Vintage 1950s Austrian Artist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold

18K "It s All Carbon to Me" Trilobite and Diamond 3.75 CTW Brooch / Pendent
By HCL METAL WORKS
Located in Gorham, ME
18KY, Trilobite Fossil w/ 24K Gold Leaf, and Diamond (3.75 CTW) one-of-a-kind Brooch/Pendant is a
Category

2010s American Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Brooch with Diamond Cluster on Blue Enamel in 18 Carat Gold, English circa 1880
Located in London, GB
diamond leaf shoulders. The face of the brooch is in blue enamel with a white enamel border. Measures 38mm
Category

Antique 1880s British High Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Laura Munder Pink Sapphire Diamond Wood Pin Brooch
By Laura Munder
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
18 karat blackened rose and white gold brooch. Dark wood circle (6) Pink Sapphire leaf cut 6.05
Category

Early 2000s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold

Diamond And Pearl Gold pin
Located in New York, NY
A charming leaf form gold pin with a diamond and pearl flower.
Category

American Brooches

Materials

Diamond

Balanche Monte Carlo Gem Set Gold Poodle Brooch
Located in London, GB
holding a ruby and diamond leaf. It is 18ct yellow and white gold and was retailed by Balanche in Monte
Category

Mid-20th Century French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Remarkable Midcentury Persian Turquoise Diamond Sapphire Flower Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
Diamonds rated G/H VVS/VS The brooch measures 65 mm. x 38 mm. weighing 24.8 grams 18 Kt solid gold white
Category

Vintage 1950s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold

RENE BOIVIN. A Diamond Emerald Ruby "Feuille" Brooch.
By René Boivin
Located in London, GB
Designed as a leaf, the surmount set with brilliant-cut diamonds, to a graduated articulated series
Category

French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum

Boucheron Paris Black Pearl Grape Cluster Leaf with Diamonds Fur Clip
By Boucheron
Located in Bellmore, NY
clip) is crafted in 14 karat white gold. The cluster of black pearl "grapes" has a diamond encrusted
Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold

Tiffany Co. Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 18kt gold leaf brooch is a beautiful example of a Tiffany & Co. from years past. Gorgeous and
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Vienna Carved Amethyst Nephrite Diamond Bunch Violet Brooch Earrings Suite
Located in Napoli, IT
Nature Inspired An Amethyst Nephrite and Diamond brooch and clip earrings suite in 18 KT yellow
Category

Vintage 1950s Austrian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold

CARTIER PARIS Gem Set Gold Leaf Pin
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Designed as a stylised leaf of twisted yellow gold wire, set with a cushion-shaped ruby, round
Category

French Brooches

Art Deco unique early onyx black enamel diamond platinum circle brooch
Located in Kortrijk, BE
A unique early Art Deco onyx, black enamel and diamond circle brooch, designed as an onyx circle
Category

Vintage 1910s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Gold, Platinum

18 Karat White Gold Branch Brooch with Apple Blossom, Austria, 1960
Located in Heerlen, NL
- 18K. white gold branch brooch, Quartz leaf with saphirres and diamonds - Wenen 1960 with
Category

Vintage 1960s Austrian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Quartz, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Emerald, Tsavorite, Peridot and Diamonds Mounted in Silver and 18 Karat Gold
Located in Geneva, Geneva
garnets, peridots and diamonds Mounted in silver and 18K white gold - 307 round emeralds: 7.02 ct total
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Peridot, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Silver, White Gold

Edwardian Large 35.0 Ct Natural Aquamarine 1.50 Ct Diamond Rare Brooch Pendant
Located in Napoli, IT
Heirloom An impressive Edwardian era , classy flowery design , large sized brooch pendant, 1900
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Edwardian Opal Flower Brooch
Located in New York, NY
, mounted in 18K gold with a ruby in the center, is placed upon a naturalistic diamond and white gold leaf
Category

20th Century Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Opal, Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold

French Victorian Four Leaf Gem Clover Spray Pin
Located in London, GB
diamonds, late 19th Century, French assay marks for gold.
Category

French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Swarovski Crystal Vintage Signed Gold Brooch With Multi Colored Stones
By Swarovski
Located in Portland, OR
This is a vintage Swarovski gold brooch shaped like a leaf with different sized crystals in clear
Category

1990s European Brooches

VAN CLEEF ARPELS Gold Diamond Feuille Pin
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, NY
carats of glittering diamonds set in 18K white gold. Numbered ML413.
Category

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Large Tahitian Pearl Brown Diamond Gold Acorn Pin/Pendant
By Helen Ringus
Located in TRYON, NC
Spectacular larger then life size 18kt rose and yellow gold acorn. The center oak leaf is rose gold
Category

1990s American Brooches

Materials

Brown Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

"Bird on A Tree" RealJade Co. Signature Old Mine Jadeite Jade Brooch Necklace
Located in Portland, OR
. Seamless bezel set in 18k gold. This elegant neckpiece can also be fashioned into a classic brooch
Category

2010s North American Artist Brooches

Materials

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

1950 s diamond brooche
Located in Amsterdam, NL
example of that. The brooche is made of 18K gold and over 2 carat brilliant cut diamonds makes this a
Category

Late 20th Century Romantic Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

12.75 Carat Diamond Oscar Heyman Circle Pin
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
Platinum and 18 karat yellow gold open work leaf motif circle pin with approximately 12.75 carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian Sapphire Diamond Pin 18 Carat Shamrock, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Rose cut Diamond and Sapphire set lucky Shamrock is set in 18ct Yellow Gold and
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold

French Songbird Pin
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant and personable Bird Pin features diamonds, a carved ruby leaf, emerald eye and
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

A MELLERIO Retro Pin
By Mellerio dits Meller
Located in Southampton, NY
A retro saphire and diamond floral pin in 18K gold, by the French Jeweler, Mellerio. The pin
Category

French Brooches

Retro Cartier Ivy Leaf Diamond Gold Brooch and Ear Clips Set
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This whimsical set of four beautiful ivy leafs (2 brooches and ear clips) features leaf details
Category

Vintage 1950s American Retro Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Rainbow Sapphires and Diamonds Gold Leaf Pendant Made in Italy
By Gilberto Cassola
Located in Valenza, AL
18Kt White Gold Leaf Pendant with Oval Shaped Natural Rainbow Sapphires, Round and Baguette
Category

2010s Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapp...

Aesthetic Victorian Gold Brooch Pendant with Angels Head and Diamond
Located in Antwerp, BE
Let this 18K yellow gold French Victorian brooch flood your senses with its harmonious neo-Rococo
Category

Antique 1890s French Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

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

Antique Natural Pearl Diamond Gold and Silver Pendant Brooch, circa 1890
Located in Goettingen, DE
Antique Natural Pearl Diamond Gold and Silver Pendant Brooch circa 1890 Magnificent, antique heart
Category

Antique Late 19th Century German Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

White Gold Edwardian Style Diamond Spray Pendant Brooch
Located in Pikesville, MD
Circa 1950's, an elegant and flowing diamond spray brooch that doubles as a slide pendant, made
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Edwardian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Ladies yellow Gold Diamond Enamel Shamrock Brooch Watch
By C.H. Meylan
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful ladies Victorian style Shamrock blue enamel, eighteen karat yellow gold and diamond
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Pocket Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Manpriya B Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Thistle Leaf Hoop Earrings
By Manpriya B
Located in London, GB
The total diamond weight in the pair of earrings is 0.81 carats. Gross weight is 12.830 grams Gold
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

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

Manpriya B Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Arabesque Leaf Ear Climber Earrings
By Manpriya B
Located in London, GB
The total diamond weight in the pair of earrings is 0.91 carats. Gross weight is 6.44 grams Gold
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Stud Earrings

Materials

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

Mauboussin Gold Earclips Brooches Suite
By Mauboussin
Located in Miami, FL
Mauboussin 18k Yellow Gold Suite, Earclips and Pair of Brooches in Leaf Form with Diamond Accents.
Category

French Clip-on Earrings

Victorian 1.20 Diamond 1.20 Natural Sapphire Clover Brooch Pendant Necklace
Located in Napoli, IT
were the lucky horseshoe & clover leaf also designated as virtue and fertility or as token of affection
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Art Deco Leaf Diamonds Gold Platinum 1940s Brooch
Located in Viana do Castelo, PT
This elegantly crafted antique diamond brooch dates back to the turn of the 20th century and evokes
Category

Mid-20th Century Portuguese Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold

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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.