Mid Century Pearl Brooch
Antique Mid-19th Century French Brooches
Agate, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Brooches
Cultured Pearl
Antique Mid-19th Century Brooches
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Brooches
Black Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century European Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Canadian Contemporary Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Brooches
Pearl, Silver
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Canadian Late Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Garnet, Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Revival Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century American Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Brooches
Onyx, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Swiss Victorian Brooches
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century British Edwardian Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Base Metal
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Amethyst, Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown High Victorian Brooches
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Renaissance Brooches
Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Brooches
Emerald, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Vermeil
Mid-20th Century French Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Belgian Retro Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Emer...
Antique Mid-18th Century Unknown Georgian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Brooches
Jade, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Regency More Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Silver
Mid-20th Century Hollywood Regency Collectible Jewelry
Mid-20th Century American Modern More Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Etruscan Revival Brooches
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Swiss Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century British Belle Époque Brooches
Diamond, Pearl
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Brooches
White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century North American Brooches
Pearl
Mid-20th Century Brooches
White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Brooches
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches
Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Brooches
Natural Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow 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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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
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