Mid Century Pearl Brooch
Antique Mid-19th Century Early Victorian Brooches
Gold
Vintage 1950s Brooches
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Brooches
14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Brooches
Pearl, Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Quartz, Pearl, Brass, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century Greek Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Renaissance Revival Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century European Victorian Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Brooches
Citrine, Jade, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Japanese Modern Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Artist Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Renaissance Revival Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Turquoise, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silve...
Antique Mid-19th Century French Holbeinesque Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1960s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow ...
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Oriental Pearl, Sterling Silver, Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century European High Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century European Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century American Art Nouveau Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical More Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Gold
Mid-20th Century Drop Necklaces
Mid-20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Agate, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Revival Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Danish Modernist Brooches
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s Danish Modernist Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Brooches
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique 1850s French Neoclassical Brooches
Agate, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Baroque Brooches
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Brooches
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Oriental Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
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Mid Century Pearl Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Mid Century Pearl Brooch?
The Legacy of Pearl in Jewelry Design
The pearl has been synonymous with ladylike elegance since the Tudor period — learn what to look for when shopping for vintage and antique pearl jewelry as well as how to tell the origin of a pearl with our handy primer.
Every woman at some point in her life desires a simple strand of pearls. They are elegant, timeless, versatile — just ask Coco Chanel or Jacqueline Kennedy — and valuable. In 1917, Pierre Cartier famously traded a double-strand of natural pearls for a Fifth Avenue mansion, the Cartier brand’s flagship store ever since. And if you were born in the beginning of summer, pearl is the June birthstone.
It is possible to tell where a pearl originated from its appearance. Akoyas are usually round and white — the classic pearl, if you will. South Sea pearls are normally larger and vary in color; orangey yellow ones are not uncommon. Tahitian pearls are mostly black but can also be gray or brown, and between the Akoya and the South Sea varieties in size. Freshwater pearls, or Orientals, run the gamut in terms of color and size, but in shape, they tend to resemble Rice Krispies. Another important distinction is a round pearl versus a baroque pearl. A round pearl is self-explanatory, but there are two types of baroque pearls: symmetrical and asymmetrical. In general, the symmetrical variation commands a higher valuation. Within a strand of pearls, uniformity is prized — the more the individual pearls resemble one another, the more valuable the strand.
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the earliest recorded mention of a pearl was in 2206 BC by a Chinese historian. Centuries later, Christopher Columbus made it a point to visit pearl fisheries during his 15th-century exploration of the Caribbean. Since the late-19th century, the Japanese have been at the forefront of cultivating pearls, when jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto successfully cultured the world’s first pearl in 1893.
On 1stDibs, find vintage and antique pearl necklaces, pearl earrings 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 Gucci, Versace, Dior 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.
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The care that went into crafting this jewel, with its lifelike carved petals and diamond accents, matches the sentiment it represents.
This David Webb Coral Flower Brooch Is Better Than a Bouquet
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This Gem-Encrusted Boucheron Brooch Is a Symbol of Mid-Century Glamour and Clever Design
Though it sparkles with more than 27 carats of diamonds, this multifaceted gem delivers more than just dazzle.
The Editor of ‘Town & Country’ Loves Jewelry and History in Equal Measure
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