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Antique Diamond and Silver Upon Gold Crescent Brooch, 4.00 Carats, Circa 1880
Located in London, GB
An antique crescent moon brooch, the body is set with two rows of old mine-cut diamonds, graduating
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Emerald, Diamond and Ruby brooch, Sterling silver and 9lt gold
Located in NEWARK, GB
This magnificent antique Art Nouveau Emerald, Diamond and Ruby brooch is just breathtaking! A
Category

Early 20th Century British Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Circa 1900s 18k Gold Top Silver Natural Diamond Enamel Clover Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 11.7 grams. Totally is diamond 0.75 ct. The diamond is has
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond Ruby Emerald Butterfly Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Germany, c.1900 The finely modeled butterfly brooch is handcrafted in silver and 14K gold. The
Category

Early 20th Century German Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond 14k Gold Silver-Topped Fleur De Lis Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
crafted in 14k gold and has been silver-topped to make the gold a white color which is typical of antique
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique Diamond “En Tremblant” Flower Spray Brooch circa 1860 Silver Rose Gold
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
A Victorian diamond spray brooch, the flower-head centrally-set with an old-cut diamond estimated
Category

Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Rose Gold, Silver

Antique 0.26 Carat Ruby 1.02 Carat Diamond Pearl Silver Set Insect Bar Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive antique ruby brooch has been silver set. The plain pointed bar brooch is ornamented to the centre
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Silver

Antique 14K Yellow Gold and Sterling Silver Pearl and Diamond Brooch #19911
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Antique 14K Yellow Gold and Sterling Silver Pearl and Diamond Brooch- This stunning 14K yellow
Category

20th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Egyptian Scarab Brooch Ruby Sapphire Diamonds Citrine Garnet Gilt Silver
Located in SE
Antique Egyptian Revival sacred Scarab Beetle Brooch made of Gilt / Fold Filled Silver decorated
Category

Vintage 1930s Egyptian Egyptian Revival Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Citrine, Garnet, Sapphire, Gold-filled, Silver

Antique Old Cut Diamond Branch Brooch Silver Gold Buts Leaf Shape Art Nouveau
Located in Berlin, DE
Old Cut Diamond antique brooch, France, circa 1890s Oxidized silver, yellow gold, old-cut diamonds
Category

Antique 1890s French Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

Antique Circa 1900s 14k Gold Top Silver Natural Diamond Enamel Decorated Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 8.1 grams. Totally is diamond about 0.50 carat. The diamond
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Georgian Silver and Yellow Gold 3.45ctw Old Cut Diamond Ribbon Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Georgian, diamond, gold, and silver brooch, comprising forty-three old mine cut and rose cut
Category

Antique 1830s British Georgian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Gold Antique Brooch / Corsage Front with Silver, Diamonds, Fine Pearls and Ename
Located in PARIS, FR
18Kt (750°/°°) Round bodice front gold and silver set with four old mine cut diamonds at the four
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver

Victorian 15K Gold Silver 3.8ctw Peruzzi Cut Diamond Floral Spray Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique diamond, silver, and yellow gold brooch, comprising forty-six old (Peruzzi) cut diamonds
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond and Silver Upon Gold Star Brooch and Hair Pin, Circa 1905
Located in London, GB
An antique diamond six point star brooch and hair pin, with rays, with an old-cut diamond, in a cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique 19th Century Old Cut Diamond Floral Foliate Spray Brooch Silver Gold
Located in Lisbon, PT
Antique Victorian diamond floral spray brooch in silver and yellow gold, probably Portuguese, circa
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 14K Gold and Silver Rose Cut Diamond Pearl Flower Pin Brooch
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 14K Gold and Silver Rose Cut Diamond Pearl Flower Pin Brooch. This
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Silver on Gold Round Cluster Antique Brooch
Located in London, GB
wonderfully with every movement. Each diamond is artfully embedded within the finely detailed open-work silver
Category

Vintage 1910s Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Georgian Silver 9K Gold Diamond Foliate Openwork Brooch in Fitted Case
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Georgian diamond, silver, and rose gold brooch, comprising forty-seven old mine cut diamonds, set
Category

Antique Late 18th Century British Georgian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold and Silver 4.5ctw Old Mine Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique diamond, silver, and yellow gold brooch, comprising fifty-four old mine cut diamond and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 15K Gold Silver 3.2ctw Old Cut Diamond Star Brooch Pendant
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, yellow gold and silver brooch and pendant, comprising thirty-one old mine cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Flower Comet Brooch Pin Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver / 3 gr
Located in SE
seven rose cut Diamonds set in Silver clusters,back sides closed. Flower's Ø 13mm. Total weight of
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swedish Renaissance Revival Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

1890s English Antique Rose Cut Diamond Crescent Moon Gold Silver Bar Brooch Pin
Located in New York, NY
Rare Authentic 1890s-1900s Antique Victorian English Rose Cut Diamonds Crescent Moon Yellow Gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, Silver

Antique 18 K Lyre Gold Brooch Apollos Instrument Flowers Diamonds Silver Garnet
Located in Munich, Bavaria
out of silver and set with diamonds. The almandine is surrounded by a white enamel frame.The lyre is
Category

Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Arts and Crafts 14k Yellow Gold and Silver Opal Diamond Floral Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This antique floral brooch features an impressive 19.90ct opal at its center, radiating a stunning
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique 1.20 Carat Diamond Pearl and Ruby Yellow Gold and Silver Fox Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
, silver set 'fox' brooch; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Circa 1900s 10k Gold Top Silver Natural Rose Cut Diamond Moon Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 11.1 grams. Totally is diamond about 4 ct. Please contact
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold, Silver

Antique Circa 1900s 9k Gold Top Silver Natural Rose Cut Diamond Moon Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 9.1 grams. Totally is rose cut diamond 1.50 ct. Please
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Silver

Antique Brooch with Natural Pearls Diamonds in Silver 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Lucerne, CH
This exquisite antique brooch combines silver and 14-karat yellow gold, reflecting the elegance of
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Unique Antique Diamond Set Petal Shape Crystal Brooch in Silver and 9ct Gold
Located in London, GB
Unique Antique Silver and 9ct gold Diamond Set Petal Shape, Crystal Brooch Unique Antique Silver
Category

20th Century British Brooches

Materials

Crystal, Diamond, Gold, Silver, 9k Gold

Exquisite Diamond Antique Bow Brooch/Pendant in Sterling Silver and 18k Yellow G
Located in Bloomington, MN
Exquisite Diamond Antique Bow Brooch/Pendant in Sterling Silver and 18k Yellow Gold Introducing
Category

Late 20th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Antique Diamond Dragonfly Brooch circa 1870s
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Victorian diamond dragonfly brooch, c.1870s, the openwork design realistically modelled
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Style Turquoise Emerald Diamond Brooch
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
A stunning brooch cast in 18K gold & sterling silver. It is hand set with 1.03 carats emerald, .84
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Georgian 5.00 Carat Diamond Starburst Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in silver on top of gold with an Old Mine cut center Diamond weighing approximately
Category

Antique Early 1700s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Old Mine Cut Diamond Silver on Gold Brooch and Pendant, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
Beautiful antique flower brooch/pendant featuring 31 old mine cut diamonds with a total approximate
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Old Mine Cut Diamond Flower Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1880s – 1890s This Victorian era flower head brooch is finely crafted in silver topped 18K
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Blue Enamel Rose Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
silver diamond set frame lies a round plate of beautiful royal blue enamel giving this brooch its
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver, Enamel

Antique lily of the valley 3cts diamond brooch in 18 karat gold and silver
Located in PARIS, FR
Antique lily of the valley diamond brooch in 18 karat gold and silver. Large brooch featuring two
Category

Antique 1870s French Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique French Diamond Enamel Gold Brooch 1840s
Located in Chicago, IL
France, circa 1840 – 1850. The brooch is superbly modeled as a silver and gold bird embellished
Category

Antique 1840s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel

Antique 5.50 Carat Diamond White Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique Victorian 5.50 carat diamond, 9 karat white gold and silver
Category

Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian 15K Gold and Silver Diamond Swallow and Ear of Wheat Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique diamond, ruby, silver, and yellow gold brooch, comprising fifty-four rose cut diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Silver

Antique Imperial topaz diamond Maltese Cross brooch
Located in New York, NY
An exquisitely crafted antique Maltese Cross brooch, centering a fine Imperial Topaz, highlighted
Category

Antique 1880s Brooches

Materials

Topaz, White Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Diamonds, Colombian emeralds, Burmese rubies antique brooch
Located in PARIS, FR
Silver brooch on 18k (750°/°°°) gold, featuring a floral design, with 3.5 carats of old-cut
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Swan Brooch Diamonds and Seed Pearls set in Silver and Gold
Located in Brighton, GB
Victorian Swan Brooch Gorgeous Diamonds & Seed Pearls set in Silver & Gold Check Out Her
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver

Antique Georgian 2.50 Carat Diamond Starburst Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in silver on top of 18K gold with Old Mine cut Diamonds weighing approximately a
Category

Antique 18th Century Georgian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Diamond Gold and Siver Brooch
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
and lively. It has a detachable brooch fitting A very fine antique piece. Diamonds Weight
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold

Antique Victorian 9K Rose Gold and Silver Ruby, Diamond and Pearl Insect Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique gold, silver, ruby, diamond, and pearl brooch, comprising one round cut ruby, twenty-six
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

18K White Gold and Silver Victorian Diamond Brooch
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
18K Gold and Silver Victorian antique diamond brooch, showcasing dazzling old-cut diamonds in an
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond Arrow Brooch on Venetian Furlane
By Eleuteri
Located in New York, NY
Furlane (velvet slippers) with a late 19th century diamond arrow jabot brooch (detachable and wearable as
Category

Antique 1880s Italian Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Gold, Silver

Late Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Brooch in 14K White Gold and Silver
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
with silver-topped settings — a hallmark of the era designed to enhance the brilliance of diamonds
Category

Antique 1880s Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Circa 1900s 18k Gold Top Silver Natural Diamond And Ruby Bird Brooch
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 24.6 grams. Totally is diamond 6.85 carat. The diamond is
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond and Silver Upon Gold Six Point Star Brooch, With Rays Circa 1890
Located in London, GB
An antique diamond six point star brooch, with rays, with an old-cut diamond, in a cut down setting
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique 18k Gold Silver Hand Enamel Portrait Old Cut Diamond Frame Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
Genuine Diamonds - Old Rose Cut - Pavé Set Material: Solid 18k Yellow Gold w/ Silver Top (Purity might be
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel

Antique 9kt Gold Silver 10.60 ct. Aquamarine and 2.90 ct. Diamond Brooch
Located in Braintree, GB
An exquisite antique 19th-century pendant brooch crafted in silver on 9kt gold (X-ray tested
Category

Antique 1870s British Brooches

Materials

Aquamarine, Gold, Silver

Antique 18k Gold Silver Hand Enamel Portrait Old Cut Diamond Frame Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
This gorgeous antique piece was crafted during the early Victorian era from solid 18k gold with a
Category

Antique 1870s Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel

French 19th Century Diamond Sapphire 18 Karat Yellow Gold Silver Bar Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 karat yellow gold, eagle's head hallmark and silver. Called a barrette brooch, it is
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Pearl, Diamond Sapphire Trident Brooch Pin
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
This exceedingly unusual brooch pin dates to the 19th century and has been set with diamonds
Category

Antique 19th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

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Silver Diamond Antique Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate silver diamond antique brooch for your needs in our varied inventory. Frequently made of gold, silver and yellow gold, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 1029 vintage or 15 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Making the right choice when shopping for a silver diamond antique brooch may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 18th 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 silver diamond antique brooch — no matter the origin — is easy, but LB Exclusive, Meghna Jewels and Cartier each produced a popular version that is worth a look. A rose cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also old mine cut and old european cut versions for sale. When shopping for a silver diamond antique brooch, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Silver Diamond Antique Brooch?

The price for a silver diamond antique brooch starts at $100 and tops out at $348,500 with these brooches, on average, selling for $4,719.

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.