Vintage Bead Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Dangle Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold-filled, Gold Plate, Base Metal
Vintage 1960s Australian Chandelier Earrings
Emerald, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
20th Century Stud Earrings
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Late Victorian Drop Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Late Victorian Drop Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Chandelier Earrings
Pearl
Vintage 1970s Clip-on Earrings
Late 20th Century American Retro Dangle Earrings
Crystal, Vermeil
Mid-20th Century Italian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Pearl
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Crystal
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, Yellow Gold
1990s American Dangle Earrings
Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s American Egyptian Revival Dangle Earrings
Citrine, Coral, Gold Plate
Vintage 1950s British Art Nouveau Drop Earrings
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Artist Dangle Earrings
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
20th Century Retro Dangle Earrings
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century American Retro Drop Earrings
14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Black Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Drop Earrings
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Modern Stud Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Turquoise, Gold Plate
1990s Modern Stud Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Pearl
Late 20th Century French Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Crystal
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Late 20th Century American Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Enamel
Vintage 1980s French Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Pearl
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
2010s Hong Kong Art Deco Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s French Modern Clip-on Earrings
Crystal, Brass
Vintage 1970s American Modern Dangle Earrings
Mixed Metal
Early 2000s Hong Kong Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Citrine, Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century Retro Clip-on Earrings
Crystal
Late 20th Century Mexican Artisan Lever-Back Earrings
Crystal, Onyx, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
1990s Dangle Earrings
Late 20th Century American Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Late 20th Century American Artisan Clip-on Earrings
Ruby, Turquoise
20th Century American Retro Clip-on Earrings
Crystal, Gold Plate
20th Century Dangle Earrings
20th Century Drop Earrings
Vintage 1980s Dangle Earrings
Early 2000s American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Retro Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Vintage Bead Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Vintage Bead Earrings?
Finding the Right Earrings for You
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024One way to tell if earrings are vintage is to research the maker. Search for maker's markings on the backs and then look up these marks using trusted online resources. From there, you can find out when the jewelry maker produced pieces similar to yours. Generally, earrings produced between 20 and 100 years ago are vintage. Another method for dating earrings is to examine their details closely. Most vintage earrings will show some signs of wear, such as faint scratches or tarnishing. You can also have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer date your earrings for you. Shop a wide range of vintage earrings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 8, 2023To wear vintage clip-on earrings properly, first position them so that the decorative part is in front of your ear and the backing is behind it. Clip-ons feature a variety of backings, but regardless of type, the clips should generally be positioned so that the open part faces the ceiling and the hinge or closed part is near the earlobe. Once you have the earrings in place, secure the clasp. This may involve squeezing a clip or turning a screw or fastener. On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage clip-on earrings.
- Are screw back earrings vintage?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Screw back earrings were most popular during the first half of the 20th century, before clip earrings increased in popularity. However, screw back earrings have never gone out of style. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique screw back earrings from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The easiest way to tell if a bead is glass or plastic is to feel it. Glass beads will be cooler to the touch, whereas plastic beads will be closer to room temperature and warm up quickly in your hands. Another test you can perform is to listen to the sound. Glass has a distinctive ring since it’s harder whereas plastic is softer and has a duller sound. Shop a range of vintage glass bead pieces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 27, 2023Most vintage earrings are clip-ons largely due to how beliefs about piercings have changed over the years. It was only during the 1980s and ’90s that many women began piercing their ears. Prior to that, many women didn't have piercings and could only wear clip-ons, so makers produced earrings to suit their customer base. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of vintage earrings.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 27, 2023How you use vintage clip-on earrings depends on what type of backing they have. Some simply feature a hinged clip that you open, slip over your ear and then press gently to close. Others may require you to turn a screw or shift a tension bar. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of vintage clip-on earrings.
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