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Antique Victorian 18k Gold 2.38ctw Old Diamond Flower Cluster Stud Earrings
Located in Montclair, NJ
flower design set with 14 old cut diamonds throughout. The diamonds are old mine and European cut stones
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Old Mine Cut Diamond 18ct Gold and Platinum Drop Earrings, circa 1890s
Located in London, GB
These exquisite Late Victorian drop earrings feature four old mine cut diamonds in each, weighing a
Category

Antique 1890s Russian Late Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

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

Diamond Set Victorian Earrings
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1880s, 18k, France. Set with lovely old mine cut diamonds, these late 1800s dangle earrings
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond Gold Cluster Earrings
Located in Napoli, NA
An enchanting pair of Victorian diamond cluster earrings set in 18k yellow gold with back drop
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Stamford, CT
Bright, white diamonds old mine and european cut, look brilliant in these dropped cluster earrings
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold

Victorian Old Cut Diamond Drop Cluster Earrings Set in Silver on Gold
Located in London, England
A beautiful pair of Victorian diamond drop earrings set in silver on gold (18k). Although over
Category

Antique 1880s British Early Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 14k TT Gold 0.55ctw Old Diamond Flower Cluster Stud Earrings
Located in Montclair, NJ
old mine and single cut diamonds throughout. The center diamond is slightly larger in size than those
Category

Antique 1860s Early Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

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

Victorian Cushion Mine Cut 2.03 Carat Total Weight Diamond Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
, each of these earrings holds a magnificent old Cushion Mine Cut diamond at the center. One of the
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Onyx Cushion Mine Cut Diamond Stud Earrings 1.70 Carat
Located in Narberth, PA
A gorgeous pair of onyx and diamond studs from the Victorian (ca1880) era! These unusual earrings
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

Antique Old Cut Diamond Cluster Earrings
Located in London, GB
Here we have a captivating pair of diamond cluster earrings originally dating back to the Victorian
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian 18K Enamel and Diamond Cluster Earrings
Located in Hummelstown, PA
fabricated in 18K yellow gold, 2.62 carats of shimmering old mine-cut diamond petals are interspersed by
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Enamel

Antique Claw Set Old Mine Cut Diamond Yellow Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
inserting" wire. Two nicely matched old mine cut diamonds, each weighing approximately 1 carat and grading
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in London, GB
Here we have a stunning pair of drop earrings taken from the early stages of the Victorian period
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Old-Cut Diamond Earrings 1.29 Carat
Located in London, GB
A pair of antique diamond stud earrings, set with old-cut diamonds, with a total weight of 1.29ct
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Victorian 2.00 Carat Diamond Crescent Moon Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
and right earring design. A graduated row of old Mine Cut diamonds lines the surface of each crescent
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Diamond and Jade Dangle Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
A gorgeous pair of jade and diamond earrings from the Victorian (1880s) era! Crafted in 14kt yellow
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Jade, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian 18k Gold 2.38ctw Old Diamond Flower Cluster Stud Earrings
Located in Montclair, NJ
flower design set with 4 old cut diamonds throughout. The diamonds are old mine and European cut stones
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

EGL Certified Old Mine Cut Diamond Rose Gold Dangle Earrings
Located in Stamford, CT
Victorian 1880 diamond rose gold dangle earrings. Original rose cut and old mine cut diamonds. EGL
Category

Antique 1880s Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold

Victorian 1.00ct Diamond Stud Earrings, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This beautiful pair of diamond stud earrings were crafted in the 1880s. They feature two glistening
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1860 s Victorian 2.50 Carats Diamond Silver 14 Karat Gold Foliate Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
throughout by old mine and rose cut diamonds Weighing in total approximately 1.70 carats - color and quality
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique 7.88 Ct Old Cut Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Chicago, IL
-silver, back – gold). The earrings feature two clean and very sparkly large old mine cut diamonds
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Old Cut Diamond Cluster Earrings
Located in London, GB
18ct rose gold, each piece showcases a cluster of chunky old cut diamonds that are very well matched in
Category

Antique 1890s Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian Diamond Natural Saltwater Pearl Gold Silver-Top Foliate Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
motif Accented throughout by rose cut and old mine cut diamonds weighing approximately 3.36 carats in
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18...

Victorian Diamond Natural Pearl Gold Silver Floral Drop Earrings GIA, circa 1860
Located in Philadelphia, PA
throughout by old mine and table cut diamonds weighing in total approximately 3.18 carats; G to J color with
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian 18kt/Blackened Steel Dangling Diamond Earrings 1.50ctw
Located in Narberth, PA
diamonds. A blackened steel half orb dangles below, displaying a substantial old Mine Cut diamond bezel set
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Steel

Early Victorian Diamond Coronet Cluster Earrings Set in Silver
Located in London, England
A beautiful pair of Victorian diamond coronet cluster earrings set in silver. Each earring
Category

Antique 1840s British Early Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Silver

Victorian 2.80 Carat Flower Motif Diamond Earrings, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
off sparkling old cut diamonds, which have been cut by hand. Each earring has a combined weight of
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian More Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Late Victorian South Sea Pearl Diamond Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
Lovely South Sea pearl earrings from the Late Victorian (ca1900) era! Each of these fabulous
Category

Antique Early 1900s Late Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Pearl Diamond Earrings
Located in London, GB
A pair of Victorian pearl and diamond fringe earrings, centrally set with an old mine cut diamond
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Earrings, circa 1880s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Earrings, ca. 1880s A beautiful pair of natural
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond Silver Gold Drop Stud Earrings, Antique
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Fabulous Victorian drop stud earrings. Classy, timeless, feminine and wearable, they are a great
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian Austro-Hungarian Sterling/14kt Diamond Drop Earrings 1.50ctw
Located in Narberth, PA
sterling silver atop 14kt yellow gold, these incredible earrings each adorn 3 old Mine Cut diamonds hanging
Category

Antique 1880s Austrian Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Black Enamel and Diamond Cluster Earrings 1.30 Total Carat
Located in Narberth, PA
, these stunning earrings display a sparkling cluster of old Mine Cut diamonds framed by a border of deep
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel

Victorian 2.00 Total Carat Sapphire and Diamond Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
A breathtaking pair of sapphire and diamond earrings from the Victorian (ca1880) era! These
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Platinum Top Old Cut Diamond Earrings
Located in Great Neck, NY
earrings have rose cut diamonds and old mine cut diamonds in a halo pattern on this victorian setting
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian 14k Diamond and Enamel Star Motif Drop Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
An exquisite pair of star-motif earrings from the Victorian (ca1880s) era! Crafted in 14k, each
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel

Magnificent Antique Diamond Drop Earrings, 5.50ctw Old Cuts in Silver Gold
Located in Sandnes, NO
of each earring lies a magnificent old-cut diamond of approximately 0.80 carat, surrounded by a
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Victorian Mixed Metals Garnet and Diamond Dangle Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
A rare and highly unusual pair of earrings from the Victorian (ca1880) era! Crafted in 14kt gold
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal

CA 1890 Antique Victorian Green Jadeite Jade and Diamond Earrings
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of antique Victorian Jadeite Jade and Diamond earrings circa 1890 set in 14 karat white gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Jade, 14k Gold

Antique Victorian 9ct Rose Gold Persian Turquoise And Diamond ‘Bombe’ Earrings
Located in NEW TOWN, AU
of graduating sizes to the stunning central old Mine-cut diamond to the centre which creates a
Category

20th Century Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, Rose Gold

Victorian Spinel Diamond Emerald 18 Karat Gold Insect Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
wings are set with old mine cut diamonds, varied in color with quality consistent with age Completed by
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

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

Late Victorian Diamond 14k Rose Gold Silver Dangle Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Pair of Late Victorian Diamond 14k Rose Gold Silver Dangle Earrings. Featuring two old mine cut
Category

Antique 1890s Late Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Napoli, NA
White Gold and silver GEM STONE: old mine cut Diamonds 5.50 total carats DESIGN ERA: Victorian WEIGHT
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Circa 1900s Handcrafted 18k Gold Natural Old Cut Diamond Drop Earring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 6.3 grams. Totally is diamond about 4 ct. The diamond is
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Napoli, NA
18k white Gold drop earrings consisting of old mine and rose cut diamonds having a total weight of
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Enamel Hoop Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
cutout center. Each earring features two rows of pavé set sparkling old Mine and Rose Cut diamonds, which
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold

Victorian Pearl Diamond Stud Single Earring 14K Gold Antique Original 1880 s
Located in Dearborn, MI
Victorian Pearl Diamond Stud Single Earring 14K Yellow Gold Antique Original 1880's Features 4
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pair of English Victorian Diamond Earrings in Silver on Gold Setting, circa 1880
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of English Victorian period silver on gold old mine cut Diamond earrings with rosettes
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Enamel Diamond Gold Earrings
Located in Chicago, IL
with royal blue enamel and embellished with old mine cut diamonds total diamond weight 0.35 ct
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond

Victorian Diamond Turquoise 18 Karat Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Each centering an articulated, claw set, old mine cut diamond, weighting approximately 0.20 carat
Category

Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Guilloche Enamel 14 Karat Gold Antique Star Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering six-rayed star motif comprised of bead set old mine and rose cut diamonds Weighing
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Victorian Diamond Gold Silver Drop Earrings
Located in Greenwich, CT
total of approximately 5 carats of Old Mine cushion cut diamonds designed in concentric circles and
Category

Antique 1880s American Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond

Victorian Diamond and Onyx Black Enamel 18k Rose Gold Dangle Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Pair of Victorian Diamond and Onyx Black Enamel 18k Rose Gold Dangle Earrings. Featuring two
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian 14 Karat Gold Single Cut Diamond and Sapphire Drop Earrings
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique drop earrings with single cut diamonds and sapphires. Item #E0022 Metal: 14K
Category

Antique Early 1800s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Pearl and Diamond Cluster Stud Earrings Set in 18k Yellow Gold
Located in London, England
A beautiful, classic pair of Victorian pearl and diamond cluster earrings set in 18k yellow gold
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

GIA Certified 2 Carat Old Mine Cut Cushion Cut Diamond Studs G H COLOR
By Antinori Fine Jewels
Located in Chicago, IL
of old mine cut diamonds is bright white, eye clean, full of old world charm, and dazzling with
Category

2010s Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian 14k Repousse Love Knot Motif Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
A fabulous pair of diamond love knot earrings from the Victorian (ca1880s) era! Crafted in 14k
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Old Mine Diamond Earrings Victorian For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the old mine diamond earrings victorian you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using gold, 18k gold and silver. You can easily find a 575 antique edition and 28 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect old mine diamond earrings victorian among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 18th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Finding an appealing old mine diamond earrings victorian — no matter the origin — is easy, but Antinori Fine Jewels, Mindi Mond and Fred Leighton each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for an old mine cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes old european cut and round cut alternatives. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking an old mine diamond earrings victorian, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is an Old Mine Diamond Earrings Victorian?

The price for an old mine diamond earrings victorian starts at $254 and tops out at $495,000 with these earrings, on average, selling for $6,508.

A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry

The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.

Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.

The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.

Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.

Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs. 

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 Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Finding the Right Earrings for You

In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.

Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.

Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.

While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.