High Karat Jewelry
Early 20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1990s Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Ruby, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, 22k Gold
Vintage 1970s Greek Greek Revival Clip-on Earrings
Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
Vintage 1970s Greek Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Link Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Link Bracelets
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary More Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary More Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary More Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Turkish Artisan Dangle Earrings
Amethyst, Emerald, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Topaz
Vintage 1980s Unknown Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Etruscan Revival Drop Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Drop Earrings
22k Gold
Vintage 1970s Modern Tennis Bracelets
Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Anglo-Indian Dangle Earrings
Garnet, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Signet Rings
14k Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Greek Revival Signet Rings
Agate, Gold
Vintage 1980s British Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
2010s Artisan Engagement Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Beaded Bracelets
South Sea Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Artisan Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s Swiss Contemporary Fashion Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Swiss Contemporary Fashion Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Artisan Engagement Rings
Coral, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Artisan Engagement Rings
Diamond, Coral, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Dome Rings
Diamond, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 17th Century Dutch Baroque Engagement Rings
Garnet, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Dome Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Contemporary Dome Rings
Ruby, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Stud Earrings
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Stud Earrings
Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold, White Gold
Antique 1890s French High Victorian Cufflinks
18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s French High Victorian Cufflinks
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown High Victorian Brooches
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian High Victorian Cufflinks
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s High Victorian More Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown High Victorian Dangle Earrings
Coral, 14k Gold
Vintage 1970s Swiss High Victorian Cufflinks
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown High Victorian Cufflinks
Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American High Victorian Dome Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s French High Victorian Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown High Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French High Victorian Retro Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
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High Karat Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a High Karat Jewelry?
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.
- What is high jewelry?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024High jewelry is the term for luxury jewelry made with the highest quality of materials and with the highest level of craftsmanship. Often, the phrase implies that the jewelry maker produces bespoke or one-of-a-kind pieces. Generally, high jewelry features only the finest metals and rarest precious gemstones and is usually made by hand. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of high jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022How you define high jewelry versus fine jewelry is largely a matter of personal opinion because the terms do not have formal definitions. Generally, fine jewelry is any piece of jewelry carefully crafted out of precious materials like metal and gemstones. High jewelry is a term used by collectors to describe jewelry of significant value. Exceptional craftsmanship, one-of-a-kind signs and highly sought pieces may fall under the category. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of antique and vintage jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024Quality and rarity define the difference between fine jewelry and high jewelry. Any jewelry that features fine materials, like precious metals and gemstones, may be considered fine jewelry. The term high jewelry usually refers to one-of-a-kind jewelry that is often crafted entirely or partially by hand. Shop a diverse assortment of jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 202221 karats refers to the amount of pure gold in your piece, out of a maximum of 24 karats. 21 karats is 87.5% pure gold with 12.5% alloy. You can shop a collection of expertly vetted gold jewelry from some of the worlds top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 29, 2024To tell if jewelry is high quality, first look for hallmarks that indicate the metal's purity. You can use trusted online resources to determine what the hallmarks mean and learn more about the benefits of the materials. Examining the hardware featured on jewelry can further help you identify quality pieces. Holding a magnet near the jewelry can also be helpful. Solid precious metals usually aren't magnetic, so if the magnet sticks, you may have a piece of costume jewelry crafted out of less expensive materials. Well-made necklaces, earrings and bracelets usually feature sturdy clasps and fasteners that are simple to operate but can stay securely closed. When in doubt about the quality of a particular piece, seek the opinion of a certified appraiser, experienced jeweler or other expert. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of antique, vintage and contemporary jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024The difference between Chanel high jewelry and fine jewelry comes down to exclusivity. The Chanel fine jewelry collection consists of pieces featuring precious metals and gemstones. These are available to purchase through Chanel boutiques and other authorized dealers. Chanel high jewelry is the term for one-of-a-kind Chanel jewelry. These pieces are custom-designed by the luxury fashion house's high jewelry artistic director and made to order for each customer. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of Chanel jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry is 18-karat gold, not 14-karat. The luxury jewelry designer makes necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and cufflinks in 18-karat white, gold and rose gold. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024The oldest high jewelry house in Paris is Mellerio dits Meller. Its history spans more than 400 years, dating back to 1613, when members of the Mellerio family began working as goldsmiths in Paris. Known for its timeless and exquisite bracelets, rings, objets d'art and other goods, Mellerio has counted the likes of Queen Victoria, Marie-Antoinette, Marie de' Medici and other historically important figures as clients. On 1stDibs, find a range of Mellerio dits Meller jewelry.