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Victorian En Tremblant Sapphire Diamond Emerald Ruby Gold Honey Bee Brooche
Located in Stamford, CT
Victorian honey bee pin with en tremblant wings. Made in 14 Karat gold with stones set in silver
Category

Antique 1890s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow ...

Vintage Henry Rosenthal 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Emerald and Ruby Bee Pin
Located in Great Neck, NY
Stunning Henry Rosenthal Bee pin with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. Item #P0086 Metal: 18K
Category

1990s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Diamond Gold Bee
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Litchfield, CT
with 2.50 carats of brilliant white diamonds (F color, VS clarity). Rosenthal Bees are the chic
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

1960s Tiffany Co. 18k Yellow Gold, Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire Bee Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Hicksville, NY
, 0.50carats total weight Eyes are made of Pink Rubies Center Diamond Featured on Top is 0.10 carat total
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Tiffany Co. Diamond Bee Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Houston, TX
Tiffany & Co. diamond bee pin in 18K yellow and white gold. Features two round ruby eyes and
Category

Mid-20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Diamond Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Litchfield, CT
with 1.0cttw carats of brilliant white diamonds (G color, VS clarity). Rosenthal bees are the chic
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Herbert Rosenthal 1Ct Diamond 18k White + Yellow Two Tone Onyx and Ruby Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Lexington, KY
round cut diamonds that make the wings appear as the real life big bee wings in real life. To further
Category

Vintage 1980s Brooches

Materials

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

14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Diamond Bee Pin
By Gregory Mikaelian Sons, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
14k yellow and white gold diamond "Bee" pin, containing 60 round full cut diamonds of very fine
Category

Vintage 1970s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby

14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Diamond Bee Pin
By Gregory Mikaelian Sons, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
14k yellow and white gold diamond "Bee" pin, containing 60 round full cut diamonds of very fine
Category

Late 20th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Sapphire and Diamond Gold Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Litchfield, CT
diamonds, .51 carat sapphires, and .02 carat total weight ruby eyes HALLMARKS: HR in a diamond-shaped
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Whimsical 18k Yellow Gold Italian Diamond Set Honey Bee
Located in Palm Beach, FL
sultry antique cut natural rubies. Total approximate diamond weight is .25ct and overall quality is H
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K Gold Yellow Sapphire Bee Pin
Located in Old Tappan, NJ
bee has two cabochon cut ruby eyes 1.6mm in diameter each. * Diamonds are G color, VS2 clarity
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

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

Jeweled 14 Karat Gold Bee Pin Duo
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
adorned with gemstones, one pin with rubies, .34 CTW and diamonds, .05 CTW and the mate with green
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Ruby Diamond gold Bee Pin brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Bee Pin Brooch by Herbert Rosenthal. With 5 round brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1960s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Bee Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian sapphire and diamond bee brooch, the thorax set with an old-cut diamond estimated to
Category

Antique 1880s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver

Whimsical Gold Diamond and Sapphire Bumble Bee Pin
By Hammerman Brothers
Located in New York, NY
Whimsical bumble bee pin is set with high quality round brilliant cut diamonds (approx. 0.25 cttw
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Gold Ruby Diamond Bee Brooch Set
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of 18k gold brooches set with approximately 0.50ctw of H/VS diamonds and rubies. The
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Albert Lipten 18K GOLD PLATINUM RUBY DIAMOND BEE BROOCH PIN
By Albert Lipten
Located in New York, NY
of a bumble bee, the realistic plique a jour wings (translucent enamel), pave diamond and enamel body
Category

American Brooches

Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch Pin
Located in Dallas, TX
rubies and round diamonds. Gold is marked 18K Six lovely rubies approximately 1.00 ct. total weight and
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Beautiful Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Sparkling figural bee pin, all over encrusted with bright white diamonds. Set with four bands of
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Ruby Diamond Gold Bow Bee Brooch
Located in Greenwich, CT
Antique diamond bow and bee pin, with old mine-cut and rose-cut diamonds altogether weighing
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Rose Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Brooch Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An 18k yellow gold bee brooch set with approximately 0.80ctw of G/VS diamonds and ruby eyes. The
Category

Late 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal Bee Pin Ruby Diamond Gold Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Palm Beach, FL
little bee's in various sizes & diamond weights. This bee pin has approx 2.50ct diamonds and ruby eyes
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Gold South Sea Pearl Ruby Diamond Bumble Bee Brooch Pin
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An 18k white gold bumble bee pin set with approximately 0.60ctw in G/VS diamonds, a 12.6mm south
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold

18k White Gold, Pavé Setting Ruby Diamond Fly Bee Brooch
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
Amazing and original 18 Kt white gold bee or fly brooch with pavé setting white diamonds and rubby
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Bee Insect Brooch Diamonds Rubies Pearl Hallmarked Chester 1909
Located in Preston, Lancashire
An exemplary Antique Queen Bee brooch with diamonds rubies pearl and agate by Charles Peach, dated
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Agate, Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

2.50 Carat Diamond 18 Karat Yellow/White Gold Ruby Bee Brooch
Located in Dallas, TX
with 31 (2.50 carats) round brilliant cut diamonds on his body and wings. His 2 ruby eyes will have you
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

18 Karat Yellow/White Gold 1.25 Carat Diamond Ruby Bee Brooch
Located in Dallas, TX
on his wings and has 2 ruby eyes. This captivating bee brooch was created in the late 20th century
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

18 Karat Yellow Gold Bee .75 Carat Ruby .10 Carat Diamond Brooch
Located in Dallas, TX
This ruby encrusted bee brooch is a superb way to display your love of bees; 16 rubies (.75 ctw
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique Pure Platinum Bee Brooch with Genuine Ruby, Pearl and Natural Diamond
Located in Manchester, NH
Pure Platinum Bug Brooch with Genuine Ruby and Pearl in Excellent Condition! This bee brooch is
Category

Vintage 1920s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Platinum

Herbert Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Agoura Hills, CA
Herbert Rosenthal 18K yellow gold bee brooch, set with 5 round brilliant cut diamonds and 16 round
Category

Late 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

1960s French 18 Kt Gold Emerald Ruby Diamond Enamel Honey Bee Pendant Pin Brooch
Located in New york, NY
, 4 ruby, diamond set wings and an alternating Enamel and Diamond bottom are carefully designed to
Category

Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Pink Sapphire Diamond Gold Bee Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
A tiny, beautifully formed bee brooch, set with a single brilliant-cut diamond, pink sapphires and
Category

Late 20th Century British Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold

Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in New Orleans, LA
Diamond Bee with ruby eyes. There are 31 diamonds weighing approximately 1.75cts. The color is E-F
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Ruby and Diamond Yellow Gold Bee Pin
Located in Agoura Hills, CA
old mine and old european cut diamonds. Approximate total ruby weight: 3.00ct Approximate total
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Toliro Italy 18 Karat Enamel and Diamond Bee Brooch
Located in Palm Beach, FL
What's all the buzz? It's compliments on this extraordinary bee brooch meticulously crafted in 18
Category

1990s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Herbert Rosenthal 18K Gold Ruby and Diamond Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Winnetka, IL
only type of bee you'd want to spend time on your shoulder. Hallmarked 18K and HR. 16 rubies, 3
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond, Tiger s Eye, Opal and Ruby Bee Pin
Located in San Francisco, CA
, and tiny ruby eyes. A breathtakingly beautiful, brilliantly rendered and regal Victorian brooch fit
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold

Blue Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bee Pin
Located in Dallas, TX
and 22 round brilliant cut diamonds on the wings. The bee also has two cabochon rubies for eyes.
Category

Vintage 1980s French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Blue Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bee Pin
Located in Dallas, TX
and 22 round brilliant cut diamonds on the wings. The bee also has two cabochon rubies for eyes.
Category

Vintage 1980s French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Ruby Diamond and Emerald 18 Karat Yellow Gold French Bee Pin
Located in Dallas, TX
This charming French bee pin is adorned in 18k yellow old and features 43 square rubies, weighing a
Category

Vintage 1980s French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Ruby Diamond and Emerald 18 Karat Yellow Gold French Bee Pin
Located in Dallas, TX
This charming French bee pin is adorned in 18k yellow old and features 43 square rubies, weighing a
Category

Vintage 1980s French Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Diamond Pearl Bee Pin
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
cut diamond accents, with 11mm pearl torso and ruby eyes.
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold

Gold and Diamond Bee Pin
Located in Vail, CO
Diamond bee pin, designed as a bee with a realistically textured gold abdomen and wings, a pavé
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

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

Late 1800s French Art Nouveau Bumble Bee 4 Leaf Clover 18K Gold Diamond Brooch
Located in New york, NY
tiger eye cabochons and onyx to the bumble bee's body and ruby as eyes to give it an extra lifelike
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Tiger s Eye, 18k Gold

Late 1800s French Art Nouveau Bumble Bee 4 Leaf Clover 18k Gold Diamond Brooch
By Buccellati
Located in New york, NY
tiger eye cabochons and onyx to the bumble bee's body and ruby as eyes to give it an extra lifelike
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Tiger s Eye, 18k Gold

Tiffany 18K Bumble Bee
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
Vibrant Tiffany 18k gold bee pin. Ruby eyes,body. set with bright faceted sapphires and a
Category

Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby

18K Gold Bee Pins by Herbert Rosenthal
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Winnetka, IL
A beautiful matched pair of sapphire and diamond bee pins with ruby eyes by Herbert Rosenthal. A
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold

Pair of Antique Gemset Gold and Sterling Bee Pins
Located in New York, NY
amethysts, peridots, rubies and rose diamonds. 10K yellow gold and sterling silver. Each bee is 3/4" X 2/3
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Peridot, Ruby, 10k Gold, Sterling Silver

18 Karat Diamond and Ruby Bee Brooch
Located in Pikesville, MD
rubies at 1.30 carats total weight are set as the bee stripes and eyes. Diamonds are approximately G
Category

Vintage 1980s American Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Diamond Gold Ruby Bee Insect Brooch Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Tiffany & Co 18k gold bee brooch, with approx. 0.60cts in G/VS diamonds and ruby eyes. Brooch is
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold

Diamonds and Rubies Gold Bee Brooch Made in Italy
By Gilberto Cassola
Located in Valenza, AL
18 Kt Gold Bee Brooch with White Diamonds, Natural Pink Red Rubies and Champagne Diamonds Eyes
Category

2010s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Adorable Herbert Rosenthal Ruby Diamond Gold Petite Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Lombard, IL
This adorable diamond and ruby 18-karat yellow gold petite bee brooch designed by Herbert Rosenthal
Category

Vintage 1970s American Brooches

Materials

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

Victorian Style Bee Insect Brooch with Diamonds, Ruby and Sapphires
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
diamond wings, the bee also has an oval faceted ruby collar set to a diamond surround between the wings
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Rosenthal Sapphire Ruby Diamond Gold Bee Pin
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A vintage Rosenthal bee pin set in 18KT yellow gold with sapphire body, diamond accent and ruby
Category

1990s Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

"Juicy " ZYDO Trio of Bee Broochs
By ZYDO
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Handmade 18kt. precious stone body Bee broochs, each bee is prong set with 29, natural gem color
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold

Herbert Rosenthal 18 Karat Yellow/White Gold 5.00 Carat Diamond Bee Brooch
By Herbert Rosenthal
Located in Dallas, TX
. Two graceful ruby eyes are set in an 18 karat yellow gold bee brooch. The body and wings are 18 carat
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

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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.