Gold Beads
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Persian Beaded Necklaces
Chalcedony, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
Amber, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, 22k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Opal, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement More Necklaces
Amber, Coral, Gold Plate
2010s Indonesian Drop Necklaces
Crystal, Quartz, Gold
2010s Indonesian Drop Necklaces
Crystal, Quartz, Gold
2010s American Modern Band Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Beaded Necklaces
Jade, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Garnet, Quartz, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Art Deco Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Cuff Bracelets
Jade, Gold, Steel, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Bangles
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Band Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Brooches
Onyx, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Beaded Necklaces
Amber, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Larimar, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Beaded Necklaces
Garnet, Yellow Gold
20th Century Beaded Bracelets
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Agate, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Hoop Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Dutch Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Gold
20th Century Beaded Necklaces
Jade, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Emerald, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Beaded Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Mixed Metal
2010s North American Beaded Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Beaded Necklaces
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Beaded Necklaces
Gilt Metal
2010s Italian Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Retro Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Modern Beaded Bracelets
Agate, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Band Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Hoop Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Artisan More Necklaces
Amber, Coral, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Beaded Necklaces
Moonstone, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Band Rings
Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Gold Beads For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Gold Beads?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024To tell if beads are real gold, you can try placing a magnet near them. If you observe an attraction, your beads are either gold-plated or crafted out of base metal, as solid gold alloys used to produce jewelry aren't usually magnetic. Hallmarks on a clasp may also help you identify real gold. Some makers will use the abbreviation “K” preceded by a number, such as “14K” or “18K,” to signify real gold. Others use a three-digit number representing the gold percentage in the alloy. For example, “585” indicates that a piece is 14-karat gold, while “750” indicates 18-karat gold. If you need further assistance identifying the material, a certified appraiser or experienced jeweler can help. Shop a wide range of gold jewelry on 1stDibs.