Rare Brooches

There is a broad range of rare brooches for sale on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Silver — can elevate any look. Find a collection of 306 vintage versions or 23 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 18th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 21st Century. Pieces in our collection of rare brooches made by Victorian jewelers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — are very popular. There have been many well-made iterations of these items over the years, but those made by Chanel, Hermès and Christian Lacroix are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Any of these pieces can lend versatility to your look, but Diamond versions, from our inventory of 32, are particularly popular. Today, if you’re looking for round cut rare brooches and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes cabochon and brilliant cut alternatives. There aren’t many items for men in our collection of rare brooches, as most of the options available are for women.

Prices for rare brooches can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $100 and can go as high as $129,215, while rare brooches, on average, fetch $1,420.

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.