Skip to main content

Vintage Feather 18K Gold Brooch

to
6
123
110
83
24
12
74
48
22
18
9
2
112
10
2
2
8
24
25
10
10
5
86
37
1
42
14
12
3
3
to
12
4
3
3
3
19
12
12
7
3
1
1
1
124
70
50
Sort By
Vintage 18K Gold and Diamond Pheasant Brooch
Located in Henderson, NV
Vintage 18K yellow gold pheasant brooch with round ruby eyes and brilliant-cut diamond accent
Category

1990s American Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co. Schlumberger 1960 s 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Feather Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Completed by hinged double pinstem with locking closure Stamped for 18 karat gold Fully signed for Jean
Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co. 1950 s Sapphire Diamond 18K Gold Vintage Owl Brooch
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch designed as stylized owl figure sitting on branch with deeply grooved feathers and features
Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

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

0.15Ct Sapphire 0.18Ct Diamond, 18k Yellow Gold Owl Brooch - Vintage 1969
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
, 18 karat yellow gold and 18 karat white gold set brooch in the form of an owl; part of our diverse
Category

Vintage 1960s English Brooches

Materials

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

Multi-Gemstone 18k Yellow Gold Bird Brooch - Vintage French Circa 1960
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
and 0.08 carat diamond , 18 karat yellow gold 'bird' brooch; part of our diverse vintage diamond
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage Solid 18k Yellow Gold Detailed Textured 3D Turkey Bird Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
This incredible and very well made vintage pin brooch is crafted in solid 18k yellow gold. It
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Tiffany Co Diamond and Emerald Owl Brooch in 18k Yellow Gold
By Tiffany Co.
Located in London, England
A beautiful vintage Tiffany & Co. diamond and emerald perching owl brooch set in 18k yellow gold
Category

1990s Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels 1960s Ruby Diamond Gold Platinum Feather Brooch Pin
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
1960s vintage Van Cleef & Arpels, feather brooch, set in 18k gold and platinum, with rubies and
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Platinum

Hermès Paris Vintage Bird Ruby Brooch 18K Rose Gold French, 1960s/1970s
By Hermès
Located in Lisbon, PT
Hermes Paris vintage whimsical bird ruby brooch in 18kt rose gold, French, 1960s/1970s, accompanied
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Diamond Feather Wrap Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom design Material: 18K yellow gold Diamonds: 45 round brilliant cut = 0.68cttw Color
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

0.75Ct Diamond and 0.02Ct Ruby, Enamel and 18k Yellow Gold Bird Vintage Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
enamelled 18 karat yellow gold bird of paradise brooch; part of our vintage jewelry/estate jewelry
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Tiffany and Co 18K Yellow Gold Ruby Owl Brooch Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Vintage Tiffany and Co 18K Yellow Gold Ruby Owl Brooch Pin. This gorgeous pin is crafted
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Yellow Gold

Vintage Bird Brooch Chalcedony Body and Ruby and Diamond Eyes in 18k Yellow Gold
Located in Fairfield, CT
Vintage Bird Brooch Chalcedony Body and Ruby and Diamond Eyes in 18k Yellow Gold This Mid-20th
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Chalcedony, Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Black Opal and Multi Gemstone Vintage Style Exotic Bird Brooch in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
Information Style: Art Deco Metal: 18K White Gold Width: 26 mm. Length: 74 mm. Weight: 20.21 g. (approx. in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 1940s Diamond and Yellow Gold Owl Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional vintage 1940s 0.33 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold 'owl' brooch; part of our
Category

Vintage 1940s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Colibri Enamel and 18k gold brooche on soutache and feather nest
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Delicate vintage Colibri pin brooch in 18k gold and beautifully and multicolored enameled, the
Category

Vintage 1940s Spanish Artisan Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Estate 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Turquoise Swan Brooch
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautifully made vintage swan brooch in 18K yellow gold with a cabochon oval turquoise set
Category

Vintage 1960s Retro Brooches

Materials

Turquoise, 18k Gold

Vintage Enamel and Gold Mallard Duck Brooch, circa 1970s
Located in London, GB
This charming mallard duck brooch was made in the 1970s. The body is made of solid 18 carat gold
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel

Cat s Eye Enamel and 18k Yellow Gold Owl Brooch by Tiffany Co
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning vintage 1950's 0.11 carat cat's eye, hot enamel and 18 karat yellow gold owl brooch made
Category

Vintage 1950s American Brooches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage French Diamond and Yellow Gold Mythological Brooch, Circa 1940
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive 0.07 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold griffin brooch; part of
Category

Vintage 1940s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Carrera y Carrera Prometheus Brooch 18k Diamonds
By Carrera y Carrera
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Vintage Carrera y Carrera Diamond & 18k Gold Brooch Depicting Prometheus and the Caucasian Eagle
Category

1990s Greek Hellenistic Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

18K and Platinum, Diamond Pave Large Bird Vintage Brooch by McTeigue, c. 1965
By McTeigue
Located in Aspen, CO
and tail are sculpted from 18k gold, showcasing intricate feather detailing. The bird clutches a
Category

Vintage 1960s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage Lapis Lazuli 18 Karat Yellow Gold Whimsical Duck Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
pinstem with locking closure Stamped for 18 karat gold Circa: 1960s Measures: 1 x 1 3/8 inches Total
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1950s Italian 11.19ct Banded Agate, Enamel and 18k Yellow Gold Cockerel Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The yellow gold brooch has been modelled in the form of an
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Brooches

Materials

Agate, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Vintage French Lapis Lazuli Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Gold Bird Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage French Lapis Lazuli Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Gold Bird Brooch. Featuring 38 cabochon lapis
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Kieselstein-Cord 18 Karat Yellow Gold Articulated Angel Vintage Pendant Brooch
By KIESELSTEIN-CORD
Located in Philadelphia, PA
hinged optional bale and pinstem closure. Stamped 150 for 18 karat gold. Fully signed with maker's mark
Category

1990s Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1960s Vintage Ruby Sapphire Emerald and Diamond Yellow Gold Owl Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
diamond, 18 karat yellow and white gold 'owl' brooch; part of our diverse vintage jewelry collections
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

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

1960 s Lapis Lazuli 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Owl Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Completed by hinged pinstem with locking closure Tested as 18 karat gold Circa: 1960s Measures: 1 7/16 x 1 3
Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Hermès Georges Lenfant Vintage Duck Emerald Sapphire Diamond Brooch Yellow Gold
By Hermès
Located in Lisbon, PT
Georges Lenfant for Hermes Paris vintage Duck In Flight emerald, sapphire and diamond brooch in
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

1960s Ruby Emerald Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Owl Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
pinstem with locking closure Stamped for 18 karat gold White gold tested as 14 karat With maker's mark
Category

Vintage 1960s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

French Pearl Diamond 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Vintage Turkey Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Completed by hinged pinstem with locking closure Tested with French hallmarks for 18 karat gold With partial
Category

Vintage 1950s Brooches

Materials

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

1980s Vintage Emerald Diamond Yellow and White Gold Owl Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This stunning, fine and impressive vintage brooch has been crafted in 18k yellow gold and 18k white
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Coral Emerald Ruby and Diamond Art Deco Style Bird Brooch in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
craftsmanship. Brooch Information Style: Art Deco Metal: 18K White Gold Width: 77 mm. Length: 38 mm. Weight
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

1960 s Ruby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Duck Whimsical Bird Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
purplish red in color Completed by hinged pinstem with locking closure Stamped for 18 karat gold Circa
Category

Vintage 1960s Modern Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1950s Diamond and Yellow Gold Dancer Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
art technology (Niton XL2 Analyzer) and verified as 18k gold. This vintage 1950's gold brooch is
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

Sterle Paris 18k Floral Branch Natural Pearl and Diamond Brooch
By Pierre Sterlé
Located in MIAMI, FL
Gorgeous design from famed designer Pierre Sterle. This vintage brooch is crafted in 18k yellow
Category

Vintage 1950s French Baroque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Diamond and Yellow Gold Owl Brooch Circa 1970
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning vintage 1970s 0.08 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold owl brooch; part of our
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Brooch Emerald Diamond Tsavorite Sapphire Gold Unisex Jewelry
Located in Berlin, DE
, the Vintage-inspired Emerald, Diamond Gold Brooch also needs a setting, a background. That, of
Category

2010s Hong Kong Rococo Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, White Go...

1950s Retro Italian Enamel 18 Karat Yellow Gold Rooster Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 karats yellow gold, owl hallmark. Representing a rooster with open beak and spread
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold

Whimsical Parrot Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Vintage Whimsical Parrot Brooch's body plumage is depicted in bright tropical shades of blue
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

18k Gold

E. Serafin Retro Multi-Gem Tricolor Gold Bird Pin Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
diamonds on 18k white gold The brooch features dual pin on reverse, one secured with the original tubular
Category

Vintage 1950s American Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Tiffany Co. Ruby and Diamond Penguin Brooch Yellow Gold, Circa 1960
By Tiffany Co.
Located in London, GB
A Tiffany & Co. ruby and diamond penguin brooch in yellow gold, circa 1960. This charming vintage
Category

Vintage 1960s American Retro Brooches

Materials

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

1950s 1.05 Carat Emerald and Sapphire Enamel and Yellow Gold Bird Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
. This stunning, fine and impressive vintage brooch has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The brooch has
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique French Ruby and Emerald Bird Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have an 18ct yellow gold brooch crafted into the shape of bird, which appears to be a
Category

Early 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage French Sapphire Diamond Turquoise 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Long-Eared Owl
Located in Philadelphia, PA
With a matte gold finish emphasizing the incredibly textured details of its feathers and the tree
Category

Vintage 1960s French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Seaman Schepps Diamond, Sapphire, and Pearl Chickadee Brooch
By Seaman Schepps
Located in Greenwich, CT
sapphires while the wings and eyes are micro set diamonds. Designed using both white and yellow 18K gold
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Vintage Gubelin Diamond Gold Feather Pin Brooch Clip
By Gubelin
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
wearable, the brooch is a great addition to your jewelry collection. It is made of 18 karat (stamped
Category

Vintage 1950s Swiss Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Handmade 18K Two Tone Gold 0.30ctw Diamond Textured Long Feather Leaf Brooch Pin
Located in Montclair, NJ
Clarity - 0.30ctw (approx.) Material: Solid 18k Yellow & White Gold Weight: 16.35 Grams Clasp: Pin w
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Midcentury 1950s/1960s Feather Plume Sapphire Diamond Brooch Platinum Rose Gold
Located in Lisbon, PT
Mid-Century feather sapphire and diamond brooch in platinum and rose gold, Portugal, by Camilo de
Category

Vintage 1950s Portuguese Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum

Cartier Paris Vintage Diamond Platinum Gold Hummingbird Brooch
By Cartier
Located in Greenwich, CT
matte yellow gold delicately feathered body, accented with .75 carats of glistening diamonds mounted in
Category

Vintage 1950s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage 18K Pearl Carved Emerald Sapphire Ruby Baguette Diamond Bird Pin Brooch
Located in Winter Springs, FL
A unique pin crafted in 18K yellow gold. The main body portion of the bird is a natural pearl
Category

Late 20th Century Retro Brooches

Materials

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

Vintage French Enamel and Emerald Bird Brooch, c.1940s
Located in London, GB
a colour contrast to the rusty colour of the feathers. The 18 carat gold body is intricately carved
Category

Vintage 1940s British Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Vintage 1960 s Penguin Brooch 18 Karat Yellow Gold Turquoise Cabochon Ruby Eye
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This lovely little penguin was made in Italy in 1960 ca out of 18 karat gold. It has a turquoise
Category

Vintage 1960s Post-War Brooches

Materials

Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Hummingbird Brooch with Yellow Gold, Diamonds, Ruby
Located in Hicksville, NY
1980s Vintage Hummingbird Brooch features 18K Yellow Gold, .20 carats of diamonds and .01 carat
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Italian Ruby, Moonstone, Coral and Yellow Gold Hummingbird Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
brooch has been crafted in 18 k yellow gold. The brooch has been modeled in the form of a hummingbird
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Brooches

Materials

Coral, Moonstone, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Italian Ruby Moonstone Coral and Yellow Gold Hummingbird Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
brooch has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The brooch has been modeled in the form of a hummingbird
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Brooches

Materials

Coral, Moonstone, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier 1992 Rare 18 Karat Yellow Gold Brooch Depicting Enameled Diamond Duck
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Introducing the Cartier 1992 Rare 18 Karat Yellow Gold Brooch Depicting green and blue enamel, the
Category

Late 20th Century French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

  • 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Vintage Feather 18 K Gold Brooch", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Vintage Feather 18K Gold Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact vintage feather 18k gold 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. You can easily find a 35 antique edition and 6 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect vintage feather 18k gold brooch among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. A vintage feather 18k gold brooch from Cartier and Tiffany Co. — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. While most can agree that any vintage feather 18k gold brooch from our collection can easily elevate most outfits, but the choice of a diamond version from the 17 available is guaranteed to add a special touch to your ensemble. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also cabochon cut and emerald cut cut versions available here, too. When shopping for a vintage feather 18k gold brooch, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Vintage Feather 18K Gold Brooch?

On average, a vintage feather 18k gold brooch at 1stDibs sells for $4,284, while they’re typically $1,600 on the low end and $39,804 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.

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.