Mid Century Pearl Brooch
Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century American Early Victorian Brooches
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Belle Époque Brooches
Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches
Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Baroque Brooches
Carnelian, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Artisan Brooches
Jade, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches
Lapis Lazuli, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Mid-20th Century American Retro Brooches
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches
Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century German Modern Brooches
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Mid-20th Century Unknown Artist Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Mid-20th Century American Modern Brooches
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Brooches
Garnet, Cultured Pearl, 10k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Brooches
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century Finnish Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Modern Brooches
Emerald, Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
Antique Mid-19th Century Late Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Sapphire, 10k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Crystal, Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century American Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Opal, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Retro Pocket Watches
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century More Jewelry
Vintage 1950s American Modernist Brooches
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French High Victorian Brooches
Agate, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches
Jade, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Tourmaline, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Brooches
Diamond
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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 Gem-Encrusted Boucheron Brooch Is a Symbol of Mid-Century Glamour and Clever Design
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