Tiffany 18k Fish Brooch
Vintage 1980s Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Brooches
18k Gold
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s American Brooches
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold
1990s American Brooches
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century French Retro Brooches
Ruby, Tsavorite, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century French Brooches
Garnet, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Brooches
18k Gold
Late 20th Century Brooches
Coral, Onyx, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Brooches
Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century American Brooches
Coral, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s American Brooches
Peridot, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century French Modern Brooches
Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Brooches
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Peridot, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Retro Brooches
Garnet, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s American Brooches
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Peridot, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yello...
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Brooches
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Brooches
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, 18k Gold
1990s German Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century French Brooches
Garnet, Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
18k Gold
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Vintage 1980s Italian Classical Greek Clip-on Earrings
Gold
2010s Charm Bracelets
Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Jasper, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Retro Dome Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Modern Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Fashion Rings
Citrine, 18k Gold
20th Century American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, Platinum
20th Century Unknown Retro Bangles
18k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1950s American Modernist Brooches
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s French Artisan Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Link Bracelets
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches
Turquoise, Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Retro Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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 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.
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This Gem-Encrusted Boucheron Brooch Is a Symbol of Mid-Century Glamour and Clever Design
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The Editor of ‘Town & Country’ Loves Jewelry and History in Equal Measure
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