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Victorian Diamond Spray Brooch

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

Victorian 7.50 Diamond Floral Spray Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
Notable Victorian period Diamond spray brooch made of silver over 15 Kt gold - 1860 ca Designed as
Category

Antique 1860s European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian 2.60ct Diamond Spray Brooch, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
brooch is an excellent example of Victorian evening wear. Gemstone: Diamond Carat Weight: 2.60 Stone
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian Rose Cut Diamond Large Floral Spray Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
This beautiful spray brooch is 1890 ca Extremely well crafted of solid 18 KT rose gold /silver Rich
Category

Antique 1890s European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian 15K Gold Silver 3.8ctw Peruzzi Cut Diamond Floral Spray Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
, hailing from the Victorian era. Diamond spray brooches were popular throughout the Victorian era, and this
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian 3.50 Ct Old Mine Diamond Floral Spray Brooch 18 KT Silver
Located in Napoli, IT
This outstanding Victorian period spray brooch is 1890/1900 ca Hand crafted during the time of
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Diamond floral spray brooch, circa 1850.
Located in London, GB
Diamond floral spray brooch. Set with one drop shape old mine diamond in an open back cutdown
Category

Antique 1850s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold

Antique 6.38 Carat Diamond and Yellow Gold Silver Set Spray Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
stunning, fine and impressive antique diamond spray brooch has been crafted in 10k yellow gold with a
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow 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

HenrySchreiner Early Set ProngSet Crystal Silver Spray Tiered Earrings Brooch
By Henry Schreiner
Located in Chicago, IL
diamond jewelry admired during his youth in Bavaria. The large brooch and matching clip earrings feature
Category

Vintage 1940s American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Crystal, Diamond, Rhodium, Silver

A Victorian natural pearl and diamond ivy spray brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian natural pearl and diamond ivy spray brooch, consisting of five leaves encrusted with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Recent Sales

Victorian Diamond Flower Spray Brooch
Located in Milano, IT
A silver topped yellow gold spray brooch with old-cut diamonds. France, 1850 circa. Approximate
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

7.50 Carat Diamond Victorian Floral Spray Brooch
Located in Napoli, IT
Early Victorian, magnificent floral spray brooch in a remarkable and impressive content of old cut
Category

Antique 1840s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Victorian Natural Pearl And Diamond Spray Brooch, Circa 1860
Located in London, GB
A natural pearl and diamond spray brooch, circa 1860 Of floral and foliate design, set with two
Category

Antique 1860s Unknown Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Rose cut Diamond silver gold Flower Spray Brooch
Located in Houston, TX
Victorian diamond flower spray brooch silver front with yellow gold back. So beautiful
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 10k Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond and Pearl Spray Pin
Located in Prairie Village, KS
charming split and pendant pearl diamond brooch
Category

American Brooches

Materials

Diamond

Victorian Silver on Gold Floral Spray Pin with Diamonds
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early Victorian silver on gold diamond floral spray pin.
Category

Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

French Victorian Four Leaf Gem Clover Spray Pin
Located in London, GB
, emerald and diamond respectively, within a delicate foliate surround set with rose- and circular-cut
Category

French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Diamond Floral Spray Brooch
Located in London, England
A notable Victorian diamond brooch set in silver on gold, designed as a floral and foliate spray
Category

Antique 1870s Unknown High Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond

Antique Victorian Tremblant Diamond Floral Spray Brooch Silver Gold Portuguese
Located in Lisbon, PT
Victorian en Tremblant diamond floral spray brooch in silver and gold, Portugal, late 1800s. A
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Portuguese Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

A diamond spray brooch, circa 1890
Located in Firenze, IT
Of floral and foliate design, the openwork brooch set with cushion-shaped and rose-cut diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Floral and Foliate Spray Brooch c1850
Located in Firenze, IT
19th century diamond floral and foliate spray brooch, France c.1850, forming three smaller brooches
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Silver and Gold Flower Spray Brooch
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A diamond spray brooch with rose cut diamonds (app. 3 carats) all set in silver with gold backing
Category

20th Century Dutch Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Diamond "En Tremblant" Rose Spray Brooch
Located in Baltimore, MD
"En Tremblant" floral brooches were popular in the 19th century. The central flower is mounted on
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

19th Century Diamond Floral Spray Brooch, 1860 ca
Located in Firenze, IT
flowerheads five petals with the main stones in the center, diamond set leaves and ribbon tied stems, open set
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Platinum Ruby, Diamond, and Pearl Spray Brooch, c. 1890
Located in Towson, MD
years! This glorious late-Victorian piece is in impressive condition! The old European-cut diamonds
Category

Antique 1890s Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum

Antique Victorian Diamond Floral Foliate Spray Brooch Silver Gold 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
Antique Victorian diamond floral spray brooch in silver and gold, Portuguese, 1880s/1890s, cased. A
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Portuguese Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Early Victorian Diamond Spray Brooch
Located in London, GB
An early Victorian diamond spray brooch, the flower-head centrally set with an old cut diamond
Category

Antique 1840s British Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond Spray Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian diamond spray brooch, the flower-head centrally-set with an old-cut diamond estimated
Category

Antique 1850s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond Silver Gold En Tremblant Floral Spray Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Victorian en tremblant old-mine diamond floral spray brooch set in silver and gold. In A La Vieille
Category

Antique 1870s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian circa 1850, 5.83 Carat Diamond Gold Rose Floral Spray Brooch
Located in Berlin, Berlin
colour. Our brooch transfers the ribboned floral spray of a moss rose or dog rose – both particularly
Category

Antique 1850s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Demantoid Garnet and Diamond Spray with Opal Bug Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Demantoid garnet and diamond floral spray, the flowers set with natural pearls and an opal insect
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches

Materials

Garnet, Diamond, Natural Pearl, Opal, Platinum, 15k Gold

19th Century, Diamonds, 18k Yellow Gold, Silver Tremblant Spray Flowers Brooch
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
. Spray brooches most frequently consist of a range of small diamonds or coloured gemstones, which are
Category

Antique 1780s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Brooch of a Lily of the Valley Spray with Pearls and Diamonds, French circa 1890
Located in London, GB
Antique brooch in the design of a lily of the valley spray with a single pin fastening. Finely set
Category

Antique 1890s French Victorian Brooches

Materials

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

People Also Browsed

Victorian 18 Karat Gold TW 2.50 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Lever-Back Earrings
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is an amazing pair of Victorian lever-back earrings. It is crafted in 18K gold. Circa 1860. The piece features 2 old mine cut diamonds: 1.20ct and 1.30ct, G-H, P1. The gems hav...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Platinum Hand Engraved Millgrain Bow 1.30 Inch Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Introducing our exquisite Art Deco Sapphire, nine caliber cut sapphires weighing approximately 0.45 carats, and Diamond, numerous round single cut diamonds weighing approximately 0....
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Antique White Gold Diamond Brooch as a Bouquet of Flowers with a Bow
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful, antique white gold diamond brooch as a bouquet of flowers with a bow. Set with a lot of old cut diamonds. Including certificate of authenticity and box.
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, White Gold

1930s Antique 2.85 Carat Diamond and Platinum Bow Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique 1930s 2.85 carat diamond and platinum brooch in the form of a bow; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and imp...
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Necklace
Located in London, GB
A Victorian natural pearl and diamond necklace, the twelve graduated cluster motifs each centred with natural bouton pearls measuring from 5.6 mm to 9 mm, within a surround of old br...
Category

Antique 1880s Link Necklaces

Materials

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

Rose Cut Diamond Solitare Gold Ring
Located in Cairo, EG
Large rose cut diamond diameter 10mm×8mm in octagon shape excellent spark white color no inclousion with total estimate diamond weight of 3.5 carats centered in 14k gold solitaire ri...
Category

Mid-20th Century Solitaire Rings

Victorian, 23.17 Carat Old Cushion Shape Diamond Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Victorian drop earrings! 36 gradual old European diamonds set in gold & silver in a circular shape & filigree workmanship, with estimated total weight of 8 carats Center di...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Exceptional Art Deco Mazer Pendant Brooch
By Mazer
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Art Deco Mazer Pendant Brooch from the 1930's. High Art Deco design with step faceted faux aquamarines and sapphires set within an intricate pave and baguette dangle sett...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Rhodium

An early Victorian topaz and diamond brooch/pendant
Located in London, GB
An early Victorian topaz and diamond brooch/pendant, to the centre a cushion-cut orange topaz measuring approximately 8.2 x 6.2mm, cut-down set in yellow gold collet with closed bac...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, 15k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Mellerio Borgnis French Antique Diamond Silver Gold Flower Brooch 19th Century
Located in Geneva, CH
Antique Diamond Silver Gold Flower Brooch. Late 19th Century. French marks. Original antique box Mellerio Borgnis Paris - France. Dimensions: Length: 9.50 centimeters. Height: 3.90...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique 17th/18th Century Sequilé Diamond Demi-Parure Yellow Gold Portuguese
Located in Lisbon, PT
Museum-quality antique late 17th/early 18th century diamond and yellow gold Baroque “sequilé” earrings and pendant/brooch demi-parure, Portuguese, with hallmarks from the period and ...
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Portuguese Georgian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Opal and Diamond Crown Tiara Haircomb Necklace, circa 1880s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
Victorian Opal and Diamond Crown Haircomb Necklace, ca. 1880s A very unusual and stunning Victorian crown, set with fiery opal cabochons and old-mine cut diamonds, from the 1880s. T...
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold, Silver

Antique Art Nouveau Diamond and Pearl pendant, floral
Located in NEWARK, GB
This stunning Art Nouveau diamond pendant is a true beauty! This finely crafted piece is both elegant and bold at the same time, the pendant has a beautiful openwork design giving i...
Category

Antique 19th Century British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver

1940S Retro Diamond Platinum Double Clip Brooch
Located in Geneva, CH
Diamond Platinum and white gold 18K Double Clip Brooch. Total diamond weight: approximately 4.20 carats. Circa 1940. Total length: 5.50 centimeters. Width: 0.50 centimeters up to 3.3...
Category

Vintage 1940s European Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Belle Epoque Natural Pearl and Diamond Sautoir Necklace
Located in London, GB
A Belle Epoque natural pearl and diamond sautoir necklace, centred with an openwork plaque of geometric design, encrusted with swiss-cut diamonds and pearls, suspending two pear-shap...
Category

Vintage 1910s Austrian Belle Époque Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum

Mid-19th Century Diamond Brooch
Located in London, GB
A mid-19th Century diamond brooch, designed as a miniature corsage ornament, with entwined scrolled leaves, suspending four foliate drops, all set throughout with old brilliant- and ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

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Victorian Diamond Spray Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact victorian diamond spray brooch you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using gold, silver and yellow gold. If you’re looking for a victorian diamond spray brooch from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 19th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 20th Century. A victorian diamond spray brooch from Giuliano, Henry Schreiner and Trifari — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. A victorian diamond spray brooch can make for a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 17 diamond versions can add an especially stylish touch. See these pages for an old mine cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also old european cut cut and rose cut cut versions available here, too. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking a victorian diamond spray brooch, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Victorian Diamond Spray Brooch?

The price for a victorian diamond spray brooch starts at $1,395 and tops out at $275,504 with these brooches, on average, selling for $9,361.

A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry

The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.

Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.

The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.

Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.

Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs. 

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.