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Tahiti Pearl and Diamond Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Geneva, Geneva
Centering a natural champagne pearl from Tahiti the brooch represents a castor with a body fully
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Ark Design, Diamond Eyes, Yellow Gold and Pearls Pendant Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Renaissance inspired intricately assembled brooch representing a sheep in 18k. gold with diamond
Category

2010s American Baroque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Chaumet Victorian Enamel Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
By Chaumet
Located in Milano, IT
A very rare yellow gold, old-cut diamond and natural pearl brooch. Of knot design, with light blue
Category

Antique 1870s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Antique Gold, Silver, Pearl and Diamond Brooch, Early 20th Century
Located in Bologna, IT
and rose cut diamonds. The brooch is modelled in gold and silver throughout. MATERIALS Gold, silver
Category

Early 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver

19th Century Gold and Silver Diamond and Pearl Queen Bee Brooch
Located in Barcelona, ES
Gold and silver brooch with diamonds, pearls and cabochon ruby. Circa end of 19th century.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver

Ruser Pearl Diamond Gold Platinum Squirrel Brooch
By William Ruser
Located in Santa Fe, NM
A very sweet squirrel brooch by William Ruser set with twenty-five diamonds and two pearls mounted
Category

Late 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

Freshwater Pearl Black and Green Agate Diamond Gold Mother-of-Pearl Brooch
By Kai-Yin Lo
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Brooch with carved light grey mother of pearl flower, inlay black agate, oval cabochon green agate
Category

2010s Hong Kong Modern Brooches

Materials

Agate, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Vermeil

Beautiful Victorian Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold Starburst Brooch/Pendant
Located in Lombard, IL
Beautiful Victorian diamond and pearl and 10k yellow gold starburst brooch set with numerous
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat White Gold Fly Brooch with Golden Pearl, Yellow Sapphires and Diamonds
Located in SEVILLA, ES
18 Karats White Gold Fly Brooch with a pear shape Golden Pearl with 10 milimeters. It has its eyes
Category

Early 2000s Spanish Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Picchiotti White and Yellow Gold Brooch, with Diamonds and Mother of Pearl
By Picchiotti
Located in Valenza, IT
elements of mother-of-pearl gently shading from white to green, while the rest of the body is encrusted
Category

2010s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Pearl, Chrome Diopside and Diamond Brooch Pendant in 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Vienna, VA
consideration is a previously owned pearl, chrome diopside and diamond brooch pendant in 14K yellow gold
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Edwardian Antique Diamond and Saltwater Pearl Brooch
Located in London, GB
saltwater cultured pearl brooch in gold and silver top. Understated grandeur is clearly apparent in its
Category

Early 20th Century Russian Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver

Noble Collection Natural Pearl and Diamond Brooch
Located in Greenwich, CT
Estate Jewelry Curated by Parulina- Noble Collection Brooch with a 9.6mm and 8.7mm Natural Pearls
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Antique Arts and Crafts Tourmaline Natural Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Exceptional condition brooch dating from the Arts and Crafts period circa 1900 measuring 2 inches
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Tourmaline, 14k Gold

Victorian Diamond and Natural Pearl Moon Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An elegant brooch in the shape of a crescent moon with round cut diamonds and a beautiful natural
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl

Pretty Victorian Diamond Pearl and Yellow Gold Sunburst Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lombard, IL
Pretty Victorian Circa 1900 diamond pearl and yellow gold Sunburst brooch/pendant set with one
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold

Liberty, Art Nouveau Brooch Late 1800s with Pearls and Rosette Diamonds
Located in Roma, IT
handmade 18k white gold liberty - art nouveau brooch, made in the late 1800's, with 3 natural
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl and Rose Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in Essex, GB
An exceptional Victorian pearl brooch. Crafted in yellow gold and silver, this Royal brooch
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Brooches

Materials

Black Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Diamonds and South Sea Pearl Gold Floral Brooch Made in Italy
By Gilberto Cassola
Located in Valenza, AL
Gilberto Cassola 18Kt Gold Floral Brooch with Diamonds and South Sea Pearl. South Sea Pearl with a
Category

2010s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold

Contemporary 18 Karat Rose Gold, Pearl, Real Orchid and Diamond Brooch Pendant
By FANCS V by Simona Elia
Located in Palermo, Italy PA
cultured pearl, upon which a lively rose gold frog, with white diamonds for eyes, has lept. The orchid
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater...

Vintage Art Deco Diamond Onyx and Pearl Brooch
Located in Antwerp, BE
and backed with 18K red gold. Diamond(s): 84 rose cut diamonds and senailles. A senaille is a
Category

Vintage 1920s Belgian Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose...

Art Deco Onyx Pearl Diamond Gold Platinum Brooch
Located in Lisbon, PT
A circular brooch in gold, onyx and pearls, with geometrical detail in platinum and diamonds and
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Onyx, Diamond, Pearl, Gold

Brooch Yellow Gold Pearl
Located in PARIS, FR
Pearl knot and diamonds brooch. in yellow gold 750 thousandths (18 carats). openwork pattern of
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau 18K Gold Diamond and Oriental Pearl Brooch circa 1905
Located in Goettingen, DE
Art Nouveau 18K Gold Diamond and Oriental Pearl Brooch, circa 1905 This elegant gold brooch is
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Oriental Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18k Gold and Platinum Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, Enamel Swan Family Brooch
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Full-Cut Diamonds Totaling Appx 4 cts Freshwater Cultured Pearl Measures 26.00 x 12.35 mm Cultured
Category

20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Tiffany Co. Cultured Pearl Diamond Gold Ballerina Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gold, Cultured Pearl and Diamond Ballerina Brooch, Tiffany & Co. 14 kt., pearls ap. 6.6 to 3.9
Category

2010s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold

Brooch of Gold, Blue Enamel and Diamonds and Natural Pearl possibly Masriera
By Masriera
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
scrolls of pale blue Enamel, Gold and a central panel of Diamonds topped with Natural Pearl. The brooch
Category

Vintage 1930s Spanish Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Enamel

Catalan Art Deco: Gold, Blue Spinel, Diamond, Pearl and Enamel Brooch
Located in Barcelona, ES
center surrounded by old mine cut diamonds and pearls. Layered and textured matte gold leaves which fan
Category

Vintage 1930s Spanish Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Spinel, 18k Gold

Art Déco Diamonds and Natural Pearls Barrette Brooch
Located in PARIS, FR
18K gold, platinum, rose-cut diamonds and Natural pearls Art Déco barrette brooch Natural pearls
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Natural Pearl Emerald Ruby Diamond Gold Crown Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Sporting nine natural pearls with excellent nacre, this pin also boasts three kite-shaped emeralds
Category

Antique 19th Century French Brooches

Materials

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

Coral, Diamond and Mother of Pearl 18 Karat Gold Parrot Brooch
Located in Bloxham, GB
iridescent mother of pearl. The heads and bodies are yellow gold set with brilliant cut diamonds. This is
Category

2010s British Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat White Gold Natural Conch Pearl and Yellow Diamond Flower Brooch
Located in Birmingham, GB
A modern 18 Karat white gold gem-set brooch. Design as a flower, set with a central conch pearl
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Mother-of-Pearl and Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Large Rose Brooch
Located in Pikesville, MD
rose and leaf design. Mother of pearl is set perfectly in 18 karat white gold with approximately 4
Category

1990s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Victorian Pearl Diamond Crescent Moon and Star Brooch in 18 Carat Gold
Located in Kendal, GB
Gold (Stamped) Stone: Seed Pearls, Diamond (approx. 0.05ct) Dimensions: H 28 x W 28 x D 6 mm Age
Category

Antique 19th Century European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold

Edwardian diamond pearl arrow brooch in 18 karats rose gold and silver
Located in PARIS, FR
Edwardian diamond pearl arrow brooch in 18 karats rose gold and silver. Brooch featuring an arrow
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Naomi Sarna Freshwater Pearl Sapphire Diamond Gold Brooch
By Naomi Sarna
Located in New York, NY
diamonds, sapphires, and amethysts which reflect the fabulous colors of the pearl. It is finished with a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Katy Briscoe Turquoise Maltese Cross Design Brooch-Pin with Diamonds and Pearls
By Katy Briscoe
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Katy Briscoe Turquoise Maltese Cross Design Brooch-Pin with Diamonds and Pearls is beautifully
Category

2010s American Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Handmade 18ct White and Yellow Gold South Sea Pearl and Diamond Splash Brooch
Located in SYDNEY, AU
Australian South Sea pearl set on top of a splash of 18ct white gold pave set with 163 diamonds =1.65cts D-F
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

6.00 Carat 18 Karat White Gold Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Flower Brooch
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
with 220 round cut diamonds, at the center of the flower an 11mm Tahitian pearl. Signed 2243 AL
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl And Diamond Spray Brooch, Circa 1860
Located in London, GB
A natural pearl and diamond spray brooch, circa 1860 Of floral and foliate design, set with two
Category

Antique 1860s Unknown Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Pendant Brooch, 18 Carat Gold with Natural Pearls Diamonds, English circa 1870
Located in London, GB
pearls (oriental) and 13 fine old cut brilliant diamonds. The brooch fitting is detachable so can be also
Category

Antique 1870s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Green Semi Precious Gemstone, Diamonds and Pearl Brooch Pin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Majestic brooch with a semi-precious green gemstone, set in 10 karat yellow gold frame. Set on the
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 10k Gold

Natural River Pearl and Diamond Dove of Peace Brooch
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Custom made 18kt. white gold dove brooch mounted with pearl inspired design in the wings and head
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Victorian, 18 Karat White Gold Diamond Pin Brooch with Two White Pearls
Located in Aliso Viejo, CA
Victorian, 18 Karat White Gold Diamond Pin or brooch features two 5.75 mm White Pearls, surrounded
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Elegant Art Deco 18K White Gold Diamond Pearl Brooch
Located in Versailles, FR
very elegant French Art Deco era brooch, featuring 5 white pearls decorated with rose cut diamonds. The
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, White Gold

Conch Pearl Diamond Tsavorite Brooch Pendant
Located in Bloxham, GB
colour with wonderful lustre. Weight: 10.65g Length: 48mm Width: 18mm 18K White Gold Conch pearl : 2.7ct
Category

2010s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, White Gold

Exceptional Diamond Sapphire Ruby and Pearl Set 18 Karat Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in London, London
saltwater pearl, gold unmarked (tested 18k gold), sapphires (approx 4cts), rubies (approx 4cts), diamonds
Category

20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Tahitian Pearl Ruby Diamond Gold Whimsical Snail Brooch
By Helen Ringus Jewels
Located in TRYON, NC
The champagne diamonds and rubies are pave set in silver. The 18Kt gold antennae sport round blue
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Brown Diamond, Black Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Turquoise , Pearl, and Gold Swan Brooch
Located in Madison area, WI
- Victorian Turquoise and Pearl Swan Brooch - c. 1880-1900 - Persian turquoise, uncultured split
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Natural Pearl, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Early 20th Century Blue Enamel Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Lisbon, PT
In gold with diamonds, pearls and blue enamel this brooch bears the maker’s marks of Leitão & Irmão
Category

Vintage 1930s Portuguese Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold

French Belle Epoque Pin Brooch with Natural Pearls and Diamonds, circa 1905
Located in Paris, FR
18kt gold and platinium Belle Epoque pin brooch (quality mark: rhinoceros, owl, Mascaron ) set with
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Pearl Ruby Diamond Drop Brooch
Located in London, GB
A brooch set with rubies, diamonds, and a natural pearl drop. The double loop of diamonds
Category

Antique 1890s Austrian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Oriental Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold

Plique-à-jour Pearl Diamond Gold Bumble Bee Brooch
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
18 karat yellow gold bumble bee pin with plique a jour wings, pearl torso with enamel and diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Diamond and Pearl Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Designed as a flowerhead within a navette-shaped frame, the center set with a pearl of
Category

Unknown Brooches

Pin with Diamonds and Pearls
Located in Berlin, DE
Pin with diamonds and pearls in 585 gold (unstamped) with 3 beads of approx. 4 and 3.5 mm each set
Category

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum

Art Nouveau Diamond, Ruby and Natural Pearl Brooch, circa 1890
Located in Essex, GB
A breathtaking Art Nouveau brooch. The striking piece features a pear rose cut diamond at the top
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

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

Birks Cultured Pearl and Rose Cut Diamond Wreath Brooch 14 Karat Gold
By Birks
Located in Aurora, Ontario
round cultured pearls and has six rose cut diamonds set into it, which weigh: 0.12ctw and are Si2
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

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Gold Brooch With Pearls And Diamonds For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a broad range of gold brooch with pearls and diamonds for sale on 1stDibs. All of the items for sale were constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. Our selection of items includes 119 vintage examples as well as 29 contemporary versions. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 18th Century while others were produced as recently as the 21st Century. Our collection of gold brooch with pearls and diamonds includes designs that are universally popular, but Contemporary and Victorian styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Cellini, Robert Guyon and David Webb produced popular versions that are worth a look. There are many round cut, brilliant cut and rose cut gold brooch with pearls and diamonds for sale. When shopping our range of gold brooch with pearls and diamonds, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men today than there are for women.

How Much are Gold Brooch With Pearls And Diamonds?

Prices for gold brooch with pearls and diamonds start at $232 and top out at $86,500 with these brooches, on average, selling for $4,065.

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.