Skip to main content

Gold Brooch With Pearls And Diamonds

to
293
2,098
1,392
1,884
995
822
754
674
408
395
329
234
195
151
140
136
103
101
87
87
77
76
65
61
50
41
39
35
27
20
16
10
9
9
8
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
76
60
40
26
22
Sort By
Kurt Wayne 18K Yellow Gold Diamond And Pearl Flower Brooch
By Kurt Wayne
Located in New York, NY
Gold Diamond and Pearl Flower Brooch is not just a piece of jewelry; it is a wearable testament to the
Category

20th Century American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl Diamond Gold Round Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A round brooch or pendant set with a large natural pearl (app. 5 carats) around with a border of
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Natural Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique 0.62 Carat Sapphire Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
diamond and 18 karat yellow gold brooch; part of our diverse antique jewellery collections. This
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Victorian Pearl and Diamond Oyster Brooch Pendant
Located in London, GB
lustrous oval shaped white pearl, elegantly hanging freely atop a dazzling array of old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Pearl Ruby Diamond Gold Bird Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
salt water pearl from its talons. Hand crafted in 18k gold.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold

French Victorian Gold and Silver, Diamonds, Pearl and Ruby Pendant and Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Product details: Early Victorian 18K yellow gold and silver, rose cut diamonds, natural pearls and
Category

Antique 1850s Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Victorian Diamond Pearl and Moonstone Heart Brooch
Located in Lewisburg, PA
in very good condition. Materials: Pearl, Diamond, Moonstone, 14k gold, Silver.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver

Art Deco Diamond and Pearl 14k Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Art Deco Diamond and Pearl 14k Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch. Featuring 12 old European cut
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Mikimoto 18K Gold Akoya Pearl and Diamond Angel Pin Brooch
By Mikimoto
Located in Henderson, NV
Crafted in 18K yellow gold, the brooch features a stylized angel design with flowing lines. The
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 2.23 Carat Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine antique Victorian 2.23 carat diamond and pearl, 15 karat yellow gold, silver set bar brooch
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Platinum Diamond and Pearl Brooch
Located in Great Neck, NY
Gorgeous Victorian flower brooch with a Natural Pearl that is surrounded by Old Mine Cut diamonds
Category

Early 2000s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

Floral Brooch with Sapphires, Diamonds Pearls in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Lucerne, CH
Indulge in the allure of elegance with this exquisite 18 Karat yellow gold brooch, delicately
Category

20th Century European Artist Brooches

Materials

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

Edwardian Platinum, Diamond and Pearl Bow Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A large platinum and yellow gold Edwardian bow brooch set with diamonds in the shape of a curly
Category

Vintage 1910s French Edwardian Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

Edwardian Diamond, Pearl and Ruby Bug Brooch
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This sweet bug perched on this fine brooch and is encrusted with a total of 15pts worth of diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Pearl and Diamond Platinum on Gold Brooch, Circa 1910
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian natural pearl and diamond brooch, with a central natural freshwater pearl, weighing
Category

Vintage 1910s British Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Platinum

18K White Gold, Pearl, Ruby and Diamond Mouse Brooch, Naturally Realistic
Located in Hong Kong, HK
white gold set with one freshwater pearl, 17 white diamonds 0.20cts and one ruby eye. The pearl has nice
Category

2010s Hong Kong Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, W...

18k Yellow Gold Vintage Diamond and Pearl Koi Fish Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An embellished koi fish pin brooch features a cultured pearl, accented with round diamonds, a ruby
Category

20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Natural Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1900 Silver Topped and Gold Back Lilly of the Valley Brooch set with Mine cut Diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold

Edwardian Diamond Pearl Brooch Pendant with Hair Comb
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian diamond and pearl brooch-cum-pendant, with hair comb fitting, set with old-cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver

Pearl Diamond Onyx Turquoise Gold Toucan Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
head and turquoise tail along with a diamond and pearl studded body. Made in 14k white gold and ready
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

18K White/Yellow Gold Diamonds, Pearl And Ruby Insect Brooch
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an 18K White and Yellow Gold Diamonds, Pearl and Rubies Insect Brooch. A very well done
Category

20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Antique 0.05 Carat Diamond and Seed Pearl, Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive 0.05 carat diamond, seed pearl and 15 carat yellow gold crescent and star
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold

Vintage Estate 14 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Seed Pearl Brooch
Located in Great Neck, NY
Dazzling yellow gold diamond brooch set with seed pearls. Metal: 14K Yellow Gold Weight: 8.9
Category

Vintage 1970s Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Art Deco Natural Pearl Diamonds Gold Platinium Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 karats yellow gold, owl hallmark, and platinum, mascaron hallmark. Lovely baroque art
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Natural Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...

Magnificent Pair of Pearl and Diamond set Gold Flower Brooches
Located in Litchfield, CT
picture). Each bloom features a 16mm gorgeously lustrous pearl and 3.50 carats of brilliant white diamonds
Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Brooches

Materials

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

Victorian Ruby Diamond Pearl Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian ruby, diamond and pearl bar brooch, with a central cluster of rubies, rose cut diamonds
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold

Snowflake Diamonds Pearls Brooch 18K White Gold, 1940
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Superb Diamonds and Pearls brooch, 18 Karat White Gold. Tiny Pearls of Grey and White colours with
Category

Vintage 1940s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, White Gold

Enamel, Pearl Diamond Fish Brooch
Located in London, GB
An enamel, pearl and diamond, fish on a pond brooch, set with two pink plique a jour enamel fish
Category

Early 2000s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Black Pearl, Gold

Victorian Crescent Sapphire Pearl Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds. Crafted in 18k yellow gold.
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

South Sea Pearl Diamond Gold Flower Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
gold. Showcasing a beautifully structured diamond encrusted blooming floral design with some 310
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Antique Silver Gold Diamond Pearl Bow Brooch Pin
Located in New York, NY
Antique ilver and 14k gold bow brooch, set with 7.2mm pearls and approx. 2.60ctw in diamonds
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver

Vintage 14 Karat Gold Shield Brooch with Very Tiny Pearls and Diamond 0.08 Carat
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a 14k yellow gold shield brooch with very tiny pearls and round diamond 0.08ct. Looks
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Pair of 1910s Diamond Ruby Pearl Platinum and Gold Butterfly Brooches
Located in New York, NY
An Early-20th Century pair of 18 karat yellow gold/platinum top butterfly brooches with diamonds
Category

Vintage 1910s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Tahitian Pearl Ruby Emerald Diamond Gold Bird Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
a pair of perfectly rounded lustrous Tahitian pearls will melt your heart. Set in 14K white gold and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique Ruby Diamond Brooch 14ct Gold with Pearl Accents - c.1900
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer this splendid antique 14ct gold ruby & diamond bar brooch made c.1900
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Silver

18K Yellow Gold, Mother of Pearl Inlay and Diamond Fish Brooch
Located in Hong Kong, HK
down. The tropical fish brooch pendant is made of 18k yellow gold with mother of pearl inlay and a
Category

2010s Hong Kong Brooches

Materials

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

Pearl and 2.05 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Plique-a-Jour Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning vintage 1950s 2.05 carat diamond and pearl plique a jour brooch in 14k yellow gold; part
Category

Vintage 1950s Spanish Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pearl Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
This enchanting brooch pin with a Baroque pearl, diamonds and rubies is crafted in 18 K yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Elegant Pearl Yellow Sapphire Diamond gold Brooch
Located in Atlanta, GA
The classic elegance of pearls are framed by baguette, pear shaped, marquise and brilliant cut
Category

Late 20th Century American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Snowflake Brooch Set in Gold and Silver
Located in London, GB
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Snowflake brooch set in gold and silver. Resembling an ever so
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl

14 Karat Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Crowned Heart Brooch/Pin #22927
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14 Karat Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Crowned Heart Brooch/Pin- This stunning crowned heart pearl
Category

20th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pearl and 2.63 Carat Diamond 14k Yellow Gold Crown Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique 2.63 carat diamond and pearl, 14 karat yellow gold and
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Pearl, 14k Gold, Platinum

Pearl Diamonds and Emeralds Platinum and Gold Brooch Pin Fine Estate Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Beautiful and Finely detailed Pear Brooch. Featuring a Tear Drop freshwater pearl 11mm long x 8.5mm
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Mellerio 19th Century Gold, Pearl, Diamond and Black Enamel Brooch/Pendant
By Mellerio
Located in New York, NY
An antique gold brooch/pendant in the form of a pavé pearl planet bisected with an arrow in a black
Category

Antique 1870s Spanish Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian 1.36 Carat Diamond Pearl and Turquoise Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional Victorian 1.36 carat diamond, pearl and turquoise 18k yellow gold brooch; part of
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pearl Diamond gold Brooch or Pendant
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A round brooch or pendant set with a large natural pearl (app. 5 carats) around with a border of
Category

Antique 19th Century Dutch Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Old European Cut Diamond and Natural Pearl Brooch
Located in Princeton, NJ
Vintage silver topped with gold back( tests 15K) pendant/brooch with retractable bail, the pin
Category

Antique Early 1900s Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold

Fantastic Blue Enamel Pearl Diamond Gold Flower Brooch
Located in Miami Beach, FL
enamel flower with a cultured pearl and diamond mounted in 18k yellow gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold

2.81Ct Diamond and Pearl, 14k White Gold Brooch - Antique Circa 1900
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive pearl and 2.81 carat diamond, 14 karat white gold brooch; part of
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold

Guilloche Enamel Sapphire Pearl Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
A lime green guilloche enamel butterfly brooch set with a pink sapphire and pearl body and diamond
Category

2010s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Gold

Cartier Pearl Gemstone Diamond Rose Gold Floral Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
garner much attention. The brooch is made of 14K rose gold formed to look like a delicate flower. The
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Pearl, Ruby, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

VICTORIAN 1850 GIA Bar Brooch In 15Kt Gold With Natural Pearls Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
An antique early Victorian brooch with natural pearls This is a beautiful corsage brooch created
Category

Antique 1850s English High Victorian Brooches

Materials

Natural Pearl, White Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver, Yellow G...

18 Karat Yellow Gold Bee Brooch with Ruby, Diamond, Amethyst and South Sea Pearl
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully detailed 18 karat yellow gold bee brooch. The brooch is intricately set with square cut
Category

1990s Retro Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Double Stork Ruby Pearl and Diamond Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have a wonderfully detailed brooch dating back to the Victorian era. This antique piece has
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Elegant 18K White Gold Octopus Pearl Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Dive into a world of oceanic glamour with our exquisite 18K White Gold Octopus Pearl Diamond Brooch
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Elizabeth Gage Gold, Aquamarine, Mother of Pearl and Diamond Starfish Brooch
By Elizabeth Gage
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat yellow gold, aquamarine, mother of pearl and diamond brooch, Elizabeth Gage. Designed
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Pearl Diamond Gold and Silver Flower Brooch Set
Located in New York, NY
Set of two gold and silver Victorian flower brooches, each set with 6-6.5mm pearl in the center
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, Silver

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

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.