Skip to main content

Ruby Diamond Bee Brooch

to
10
239
35
211
128
53
52
48
32
29
27
23
20
17
8
7
6
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
82
18
10
4
4
Sort By
Vintage Ruby and Diamond Bee Brooch in 14kt Yellow Gold by Frank J. Golden
Located in Freeport, FL
Company in the mid-1980s, this sweet little bee can be a worn as brooch or slipped onto a strand of small
Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Rosenthal Diamond Gold Bee Pin with Ruby Eyes
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Chicago, IL
Rosenthal 18K yellow gold diamond bee pin set with 19 full cut round diamonds weighing 1.97cts and
Category

Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Bee Brooch Set
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef and Arpels set of three bee brooches. Brooches set in 18K yellow gold. Each bee features
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Hidalgo Enamel and Diamond Bee Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Beautifully crafted black enamel Hidalgo bee pin with .28tcw white diamond, G color, VS2 clarity
Category

2010s American Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Enamel

5 Carat Charming Diamond Bee Pin
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
cut diamonds having a total weight of approximately 5.00 carats set with 2 bezel set ruby eyes.
Category

20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum, 14k Gold

Victorian Burma Sapphire 4.60ct Certificated Untreated, Pearl, Ruby Bee/Insect/B
Located in London, GB
An exceptional, exquisite and well preserved Victorian brooch in the form of a bee with ruby eyes
Category

Antique 1850s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Sapph...

18 Karat Yellow Gold Rosenthal Diamond Bee Pin
By Rosenthal
Located in Chicago, IL
18K yellow gold Rosenthal diamond bee pin, prong set with 19 full cut round diamonds weighing
Category

1990s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Antique Green Emerald White Rose Cut Diamond and Red Ruby Brooch, circa 1900s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Antique emerald, diamond and ruby bee brooch, circa 1900 Mounted in silver and gold with old
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Emerald Ruby Diamond Bee Brooch
By Moira
Located in London, GB
Moira large bee brooch, with black enamel stripes, set with rose-cut round, brilliant-cut and old
Category

Early 2000s British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Silver

Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
Located in London, England
A beautiful bee brooch set with rubies and diamonds in 18ct yellow and white gold. With little
Category

2010s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Diamond Ruby Bee Brooch Pin
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Material: 14k Yellow Gold Diamond Details: Approximately 1ctw of round brilliant diamonds. Diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Sapphire Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
1ct. Metal weight: 6.68 grams This diamond, sapphire and ruby brooch is accompanied by a retail
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ruby Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ruby and gold bee brooch circa 1980. Designed with spread-out gold wings, the body pavé-set with
Category

Vintage 1980s Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Rosenthal Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal diamond ruby and gold bee brooch circa 1970. Stones: Diamonds totaling approximately
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Rosenthal Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal diamond ruby and gold bee brooch circa 1980. DETAILS: DIAMONDS: nineteen round
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold

Sapphire Diamond and Ruby Bee Brooch
Located in London, GB
An antique bee brooch, set with an oval sapphire to the thorax, round sapphires, old-cut, eight-cut
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver

Rosenthal Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal diamond ruby and yellow gold bee brooch circa 1980. * ABOUT THIS ITEM: #P-DJ914C
Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch Pin
Located in Austin, TX
A fine classic vintage bee brooch with diamonds and ruby's.The body and head are decorated with
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Rosenthal Diamond Ruby Yellow Gold Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal diamond ruby and gold bee brooch circa 1990. DETAILS: Rosenthal diamond and ruby bee
Category

1990s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Estate Pearl Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Queen Bee! An exciting estate brooch featuring 2.45 carats of VS quality colorless diamonds and
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

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

Gold Diamond Emerald and Ruby Bee Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18 carat white and yellow gold bee brooch set with diamonds and emeralds and with ruby eyes
Category

1990s Dutch Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Rosenthal Diamond Ruby Gold Gemstone Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Bethesda, MD
This beautiful Rosenthal bee brooch features 21 rubies with a total carat weight of 1.15 carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Pearl Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
This enchanting brooch pin with a Baroque pearl, diamonds and rubies is crafted in 18 K yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Ruby Diamond Pearl Gold Bee Brooch Pin
Located in Toronto, ON
Antique 18K Ruby Diamond and Pearl Bee Brooch Pin, C.1880. The brooch with a baroque pearl body
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Gold Diamond and Invisible Set Ruby Bee Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2000 Exceptional Quality 18K yellow Gold Bee Brooch, measuring 1 1/4 inches from wing tip to
Category

Early 2000s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby

Herbert Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Yellow Gold Bee Pin Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Bee Pin Brooch by Herbert Rosenthal. With 31 round brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Diamond

Late 19th Century Ruby and Diamond Bee Brooch
Located in Firenze, IT
circular ruby eyes, oval-cut ruby decoration on the body and wing tips, and rose-cut diamond detail on the
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Sabbadini Invisible Set Ruby Diamond Emerald Gold Bee Brooch
By Sabbadini
Located in New York, NY
Adorable 18k yellow gold bee brooch, by Italian designer Sabbadini. Featuring invisible set rubies
Category

20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold

Bee Brooch 1960s Enamel Rubies Gold
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bee Brooch 1960s Enamel Rubies Gold 1960s bee brooch crafted in 18 karat gold with ruby eyes and
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Pair of Emerald, Ruby, Diamond and Pearl Bee Brooches
Located in New York, NY
A pair of emerald, ruby, diamond, and pearl bee brooches. 18k. 26 diamonds on each bee (22 on wings
Category

1990s American Brooches

Materials

Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond, Ruby and Opal Bee Brooch, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
A Victorian bee brooch, set with two opals for the eyes, round and cushion-shaped rubies and rose
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Tahitian Pearl Ruby Diamond and Fancy Sapphire Bee Brooch
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
Beautiful Bumble Bee brooch, set with 36 brilliant cut Diamonds of 0.52 ct, G color, vs clarity, 3
Category

2010s Unknown Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Black Pearl, Ruby, Pink Sapphire...

1970s Herbert Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Two Color Gold Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in San Francisco, CA
round brilliant cut diamonds and 2 faceted rubies. The bee measures approximately 1 3/8 by 1 1/8 inch
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Large Gold Ruby and Diamond Iconic Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980 Herbert Rosenthal 18K Yellow Gold Bee Brooch, measuring 1 inch in length and 1 1/4
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby

Rosenthal 1970s Honey Bee Diamond Ruby Gold Brooch
By Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal 1970s diamond ruby and gold honey bee brooch. Mounted in 18-karat gold, the wings set
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond and Gold Bee Brooch
Located in San Francisco, CA
Be charmed with this diamond and 14k gold bee brooch! The body is set with 20 round brilliant-cut
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Vintage Tiffany Co Diamond Ruby Bee Yellow Gold Brooch Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Bee Brooch Pins by Tiffany & Co. With 17 Diamonds Total weight approx
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Gold Diamond Emerald Ruby Bee Pin Brooch Pendant
Located in Austin, TX
An attractive brooch in a form of a bee that has a collapsible round hoop so it can also be worn as
Category

1990s Portuguese Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Hammerman Brothers 18 Karat Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby Bee Brooch
By Hammeran Brothes
Located in Greenville, DE
diamond (15) round sapphires and (2) rubies. The diamond is approximately ..04cttw with a color of G and
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Cartier Ruby Diamond Bee Pin
By Cartier
Located in Litchfield, CT
18 karat gold Bee by Cartier is set with 1.0 carat of superb rubies and .25 carats of brilliant white
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Large Tiger Eye Diamond and Ruby Bumble Bee Brooch, 1880s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
A beautiful jewellery broach in the form of a bumble bee, French 1880s. The thorax is artistically
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Tiger s Eye, 18k Gold

Diamond Gold Bumble Bee Brooch
Located in Aspen, CO
With just over 1 ct. of fine white diamonds, our little bumble bee has ruby eyes and is 18K yellow
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Demantoid Garnet Ruby Sapphire Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Demantoid Garnet Ruby Sapphire and Diamond Bee Brooch Queen bee, bumble bee or honey bee, this
Category

Vintage 1950s Modern Brooches

Vintage Sapphire, Diamond, and Ruby 18k Yellow Gold Bee Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage Sapphire, Diamond, and Ruby 18k Yellow Gold Bee Brooch. Featuring 37 calibré cut
Category

1990s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Y...

Rosenthal Extra Large Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch Circa 1970s
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal Extra-Large Diamond and Ruby 18k gold bee brooch, circa 1970s. The Rosenthal Extra-Large
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

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

0.98ctw Ruby Diamond Bee Bug Brooch 18k Yellow Gold Pin
Located in McLeansville, NC
Gemstone Information: - Natural Diamonds - Total Carats - 0.30ctw Cut - Round Brilliant Color - F
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mid Century ruby diamond 14 yellow gold enamel bee brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This charming Mid-Century 14k yellow gold brooch from the 1960s features vibrant rubies, sparkling
Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby Tiffany Co. Bee Brooch, c.1970s
Located in London, GB
This vintage 1970s Tiffany & Co. bee brooch is a truly whimsical creation. The brooch features 0.50
Category

Vintage 1970s British Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rosenthal 1960s Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bee Vintage Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a stylized bee with linear engraved wings and textured legs Featuring transitional cut
Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Rosenthal Vintage Extra Large Diamond Ruby Gold Bee Brooch Circa 1970s
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal Vintage Extra-Large diamond ruby gold bee brooch, circa 1970s. The Rosenthal Vintage
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Yellow Gold and Diamond Bee Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980s 14k Yellow Gold Bee Brooch, measuring 1 inch in length and 1 1/8 inch wide, set with
Category

Vintage 1980s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Yellow Diamond and Ruby Bee Pin
By J. Birnbach
Located in New York, NY
This one-of-a kind yellow diamond and ruby bee pin is small enough to be subtle, yet sure to get
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Diamond Ruby Gold Queen Bee Insect Pin Brooch Clip Large
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Cute diamond Queen Bee pin that makes a stylish accent to any outfit. Timeless, fun and wearable
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

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

Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosenthal Estate Diamond and Ruby Bee Pin Quoting Emily Dickinson, " A flash of dew, a bee or
Category

Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Pearl Ruby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bumble Bee Pin Brooch Pendant
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Beautifully hand crafted diamond pearl bumble bee with vivid ruby eyes. The bee features high
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Art Nouveau Opal Diamond Bee Brooch
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This Art Nouveau bee, or wasp, brooch is a turn of the century wonder. A fabulous and fiery
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Vintage Bee Brooch in 18ct Yellow Gold set With Rubies Victorian cut Diamonds
Located in London, GB
This exquisite vintage bee brooch is crafted in 18ct yellow gold and adorned with 18 fine quality
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Ruby Diamond Bee Brooch", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Ruby Diamond Bee Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact ruby diamond bee brooch you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 273 vintage or 36 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Making the right choice when shopping for a ruby diamond bee brooch may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. Finding an appealing ruby diamond bee brooch — no matter the origin — is easy, but Herbert Rosenthal, Tiffany Co. and La Fleur Jewels each produced a popular version that is worth a look. A round cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also brilliant cut and mixed cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for a ruby diamond bee brooch, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Ruby Diamond Bee Brooch?

Prices for a ruby diamond bee brooch can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $100 and can go as high as $51,892, while this accessory, on average, fetches $2,892.

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 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 GucciVersaceDior 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.