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CARTIER Dragon Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Coral, Emerald Pin
By Cartier
Located in Houston, TX
CARTIER 18KT yellow gold, platinum, diamond, coral, and cabochon emerald dragon pin. Signed
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Coral, Emerald, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold

Rosenthal 18KT Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Rosenthal pin is crafted in 18KT yellow gold with .72CT round diamond & .29CT round emerald
Category

Vintage 1960s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Emerald Diamond Yellow Gold Pin Brooch Clip, 1970s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds and five emerald cabochons. The diamonds are set in white gold The brooch measures 2-7/8 x 1-3/4
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Yellow Gold Cat Pin with Diamonds Rubies and Emeralds
Located in Dallas, TX
18K Yellow Gold Cat Pin with Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds.
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Impressive Handmade Enamel Emerald Diamond Gold Bee Pin
Located in Cape May, NJ
coat. The honeybee is handcrafted entirely of 18k yellow and white (wings) gold and is stamped with
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Emerald Ruby Diamond Gold Large Bird Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
This absolutely stunning estate brooch pin is handcrafted in solid 18K yellow gold. Showcasing a
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Tiffany Co. Gold, Enamel, Emerald Diamond Giraffe Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
karat yellow gold, brown enamel, green emerald set eyes, round diamonds set in the ears and baguette cut
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Vintage Buccellati Yellow Diamond Emerald Gold Flower Brooch Pin
By Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
A charming Vintage piece from Buccellati, Crafted in solid 18K Yellow Gold With its famous Rigato
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Gold

Emerald Ruby Sapphire Diamond Gold Jabot Pin Brooch
Located in Miami Beach, FL
CZ. The brooch is 14k white gold. PLEASE NOTE The owner of this fine pin replaced the kite or
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage 14K Gold Diamond and Emerald Bee Pin
Located in Henderson, NV
Vintage 14K gold insect brooch with round cut diamonds and green emerald eyes. Textured yellow gold
Category

Late 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Emerald and 14 Karat Gold Fly Design Pin. 1970s.
Located in Towson, MD
One 14 karat yellow gold fly design pin set with two round natural emeralds measuring just over an
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Elaborate Enamel, Diamond Emerald Pin
Located in New York, NY
Colorful & playful oversized Fish Pin. Top fin set with emeralds and body enameled with blue
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

1970s Diamond and Emerald Pin
Located in Towson, MD
18 karat white and yellow (stamped 18k) gold pin. The pin features 10 round cut emerald stones
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Emerald Bee Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
: H Clarity: SI1 Emerald: 20 round cut = 0.40cttw Dimensions: pin measures 18 x 16mm Weight: 2.44
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Panther Panthere Onyx Emerald Yellow Gold Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Onyx Emerald Panther Pin Brooch by Cartier. This brooch comes with an original
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold

Hammerman Diamond Emerald 18K Gold Strawberries Enameled Brooch Pin
By Hammeran Brothes
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Designer Exquisite Hammerman Brothers brooch pin from the 1970s This piece is enhanced by
Category

Vintage 1960s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Enamel

Cartier Coral Emerald Diamond Gold Dragon Jabot Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Cartier jabot pin features the shape of a dragon crafted in 18k white gold and set
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Tiffany Co. Diamond Emerald Tiger Yellow Gold Pin Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond & Emerald Tiger Brooch Pin by Tiffany & Co. With 8 round brilliant cut
Category

1990s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

1950s Colombian Emerald and 18 Karat Gold Tolima Bird Pin
Located in Hicksville, NY
1950s Retro Colombian Emerald and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Tolima Bird Pin The Tolima were a Pre
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Emerald and Diamond Spider Pin in 18K Gold
By Cartier
Located in Houston, TX
Cartier spider pin composed of 18K yellow gold with emeralds and diamonds. The pin is marked
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Cartier Turtle Diamond Moonstone Emerald Yellow Gold Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond, Moonstone and Emerald Turtle Pin Brooch by Cartier. This brooch comes with
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Moonstone, 18k Gold

Cartier Turtle Chalcedony Emerald Diamond White Gold Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold 6 carat Diamond, Chalcedony and Emerald Turtle Pin Brooch by Cartier. This brooch
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Chalcedony, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

David Webb Emerald Diamond Gold Platinum Tiger Pin Brooch
By David Webb
Located in Stamford, CT
1960 David Webb Tiger pin authenticated by David Webb. Black enamel stripes. Diamond and Emerald
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold

Vintage French Coral Gold Emerald Ruby Bird Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
Material: 18K Yellow Gold Gemstones: Coral, Ruby and Emerald  Condition: Excellent  Weight: 13.0 Grams
Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Coral, Emerald, Ruby, Gold

Vintage Brooch Pin 14k Gold Emerald Diamond Estate Jewelry
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A gorgeous vintage 14 karat gold lily of the valley brooch, featuring emerald and diamond. The
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Enamel Emerald 18 Karat Yellow Gold Fish Brooch Pin
Located in Boca Raton, FL
This colorful estate fish pin is crafted in 18 karat yellow gold. The three fish feature colorful
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Emerald Ruby Gold Turtle Pin
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
14k Yellow Gold Turtle Diamond, Emerald, and Ruby Brooch Pin by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 18 round
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold

Cartier Coral Moonstone Emerald Diamond Gold Platinum Duck Pin
By Cartier
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
Cartier Paris Duck Pin, gold and platinum, cabochon moonstone belly, emerald, coral and diamonds
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Moonstone, 18k Gold, Platinum

Mikimoto Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold Pearl and Emerald Pin
By Mikimoto
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: Mikimoto Material: 18K yellow gold Diamonds: 5 round cut = .20cttw Pearl: 7-8mm round
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown More Jewelry

Materials

Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Buccellati Vintage Emerald diamond 18k Gold Flower Brooch Pin
By Gianmaria Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
This Vintage Stunning Buccellati Brooch pin is designed as a flower blossom. Centering with a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald

1970s French Turquoise Sapphire emerald Diamond Gold Pin Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds, turquoise, emeralds and sapphires. The diamonds are set in white gold which accentuates whiteness
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Turquoise, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, ...

Gold Cabochon Emerald Diamond and Ruby Frog Pin Brooch
Located in Dallas, TX
18k Beaded Yellow Gold Frog Pin/Brooch has 24 diamonds ranging from 4.5-5mm. There are 18 emeralds
Category

Vintage 1960s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Cartier Panther Panthere Onyx Emerald Yellow Gold Large Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Onyx Emerald Large Panther Pin Brooch by Cartier. This brooch comes with an
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold

Hammerman Brothers Emerald Ruby Diamond Gold Lion Pendant Pin Brooch
By Hammerman Brothers
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald Ruby Large Pendant Pin Brooch by Hammerman Brothers. With 33 round
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Cartier Panther Panthere Onyx Emerald Yellow Gold Large Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Onyx Emerald Large Panther Pin Brooch by Cartier. This brooch comes with an
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Emerald Diamond Bar Pins
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Square cut vibrant Emerald & Round - full cut - clean & white Diamonds. Each pin has 10
Category

1990s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Lizard Brooch Pin
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
yellow gold. A professional, yet lighthearted artisan treasure, this animal pin is a versatile accessory
Category

Antique 1890s Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Cartier Panther Panthere Diamond Emerald Yellow Gold Tie Lapel Pin
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond, Emerald Black Onyx nose Panther Tie Lapel Pin by Cartier. With Round
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold

Emerald Rose-cut Diamonds Brooch Pin Pendant Silver Gold, 1890.
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Emerald Rose-cut Diamonds Brooch Pin Pendant Silver Gold. Created around 1890. Finely detailed High
Category

Antique 1890s Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Silver

Magnificent Emerald Amethyst Diamond Gold Extra Large Cross Pin Pendant
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Forged of 22k satin finished- and 18k high polished gold and created with ingenious and masterful
Category

20th Century Drop Necklaces

Materials

Emerald, Amethyst, Diamond, 22k Gold

Cartier Panther Panthere Diamond Onyx Emerald White Gold Pin Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond, Black Onyx nose and Emerald Panther Pin Brooch by Cartier. With 222 Round
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Emerald Flower Yellow Gold Pin Brooch
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Flower Diamond Emerald Brooch Pin by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 16 diamond VVS1
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K White Gold Circle Pin Encrusted w/ Diamonds Emerald Drops
Located in North Hollywood, CA
I think this necklace is super special. This started as a pin but I changed it to be a necklace
Category

Vintage 1960s American Contemporary Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, White Gold

David Webb Ruby Emerald Sapphire Diamond Gold Dragon Pin
By David Webb
Located in Bal Harbour, FL
it all. The fantastical dragon features cabochon rubies, emeralds and sapphires and is further
Category

1990s American Brooches

Materials

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

18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Emerald and Diamond Butterfly Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom design Material: 18K yellow gold Diamond: 24 round brilliant cut = 0.24cttw Color
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gubelin Emerald Yellow Gold Watch Brooch Pin Clip, circa 1940s
By Gubelin
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
gold and accented with three round faceted emeralds (total weight 0.18 carat). The brooch measures 1-5
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Pocket Watches

Materials

Emerald, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Vintage Retro Era 14KT Yellow Gold Emerald Bee Lapel Pin
Located in New York, NY
yellow gold and featuring a dazzling 2.00CT-tw round cut emeralds, it's a timeless piece that will
Category

Vintage 1950s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Yellow Gold

Emerald Pearl Diamond Lapis Jabot Pin
Located in New York, NY
An unusual and bejeweled jabot pin with carved emeralds, diamonds, lapis, rubies and dangling pearl
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

David Webb Emerald Cabochon Diamond Gold and Platinum Brooch Pin
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb 18k yellow gold and platinum brooch, decorated with pear shaped emerald cabochons (17
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Platinum

Krypell Emerald Diamond Gold Heart Pendant Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
heart pendant insert with a gold chain or pearl necklace and the bar pin can be worn on its own
Category

Late 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 18k Gold Emerald Detailed Textured Matte Alligator Crocodile Brooch Pin
Located in Montclair, NJ
This wonderful vintage brooch/pin is crafted in solid 18k yellow gold and features a perfectly
Category

1990s Brooches

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1980s Diamond Ruby Sapphire Emerald 18K Gold Floral Pin Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
1960s Diamond Ruby Sapphire Emerald 18K Gold Floral Pin Brooch See life in Vivid colors with these
Category

Vintage 1980s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

1980s Diamond Ruby Sapphire Emerald Gold Butterfly Pin Brooch Clip
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
18 karat (stamped) yellow and white gold, set with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. The
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yello...

14 Karat White Gold Vintage Emerald and Diamond Cameo Pin/Pendant
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom designed Material: 14k white gold Emeralds: 4 pear cut emeralds Diamond: 1 round
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold

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

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Diamond and Emerald Textured Flower Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom made Material: 18k yellow gold Gemstones: 7 round emeralds = 0.25cttw Diamonds: 6
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18k Gold Platinum GIA 47.37ctw Sapphire Diamond Emerald Ruby Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
) Natural Genuine Emeralds - Oval Cabochon Cut - Prong Set - Vivid Clean Green Color - Natural Inclusions
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Pl...

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Gold Emerald Pin For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact gold emerald pin you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. You can easily find a 543 antique edition and 80 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect gold emerald pin 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. For this particular piece, 1 Carat and 1.5 Carat are consistently popular carat weights. Finding an appealing gold emerald pin — no matter the origin — is easy, but Cartier, Tiffany Co. and Van Cleef Arpels each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes emerald cut and cabochon alternatives. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking a gold emerald pin, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Gold Emerald Pin?

Prices for a gold emerald pin can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $303 and can go as high as $238,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $4,607.

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 Emerald in Jewelry Design

No one liked emeralds and emerald jewelry more than Elizabeth Taylor (or her alter ego, Cleopatra). Emeralds were first discovered in Egypt around 330 BC. The stone’s name originated from the ancient Greek word for green, “smaragdus.” According to the Gemological Institute of America, “Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when 16th-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spaniards, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.”

There are numerous myths attributed to the emerald’s spiritual powers, like placing an emerald under your tongue will allow you to see the future. But be careful not to swallow the birthstone for May, or that future won’t be so bright!

There are many important (read: large) emeralds in museum collections around the world. The Patricia Emerald, named after the miner’s daughter, is a 632-carat dihexagonal (or 12-sided) crystal that was discovered in Colombia in 1920 and now resides at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington has in its possession the Hooker Emerald, a 75.47-carat Colombian stone. That emerald had been acquired in the 16th or 17th century by Spanish conquistadores and shipped to Europe. It later belonged to Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1876–1909), who wore it on his belt buckle. Purchased at auction by Tiffany Co. in 1911, the Hooker Emerald was set into a tiara and featured in the New York World’s Fair “House of Jewels” exhibit in 1940. Today, it is part of a brooch, also designed by the jewelry house.

On 1stDibs, find a range of antique and vintage emerald jewelry and watches that includes emerald rings, emerald necklaces and other accessories.

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.