Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1960s American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1930s Unknown Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Silver
1950s American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1950s American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1950s American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Contemporary Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1950s American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1980s American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s American Modern Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1960s Retro Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1980s British Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Gold
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1980s British Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Gold
20th Century Contemporary Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1970s Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1960s American Native American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Vintage Turquoise Bracelet
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
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Vintage Turquoise Bracelet For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage Turquoise Bracelet?
The Legacy of Turquoise in Jewelry Design
The thought of vintage and antique turquoise jewelry often conjures up images of striking Navajo bracelets and necklaces worn with a denim shirt and cowboy boots. This all-American look has been celebrated by fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger on their runways and in ad campaigns. In the October 2016 issue of Vogue magazine, Tom Ford said he only wears turquoise jewelry at his Santa Fe ranch. So what is it about this gorgeous blue-green stone that makes us wish that we were born in December?
It’s not surprising that turquoise is abundant in New Mexico and Arizona because, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), it needs to be in “dry and barren regions where acidic, copper-rich groundwater seeps downward and reacts with minerals that contain phosphorus and aluminum.
Turquoise is not found in a single crystal but is a combination of microcrystals. Its appearance, waxy and opaque, is attributed to its structure and composition. “It’s an aggregate of microscopic crystals that form a solid mass. If the crystals are packed closely together, the material is less porous, so it has a finer texture. Fine-textured turquoise has an attractive, waxy luster when it’s polished. Turquoise with a less-dense crystal structure has higher porosity and coarser texture, resulting in a dull luster when it’s polished,” notes the GIA. Since no one wants to set a dull piece of turquoise, porous turquoise is often treated to make the stone more attractive.
In the United States, there have been discoveries of turquoise from 200 B.C. It is not just loose turquoise stones that have been found, but entire suites of jewelry from prehistoric times. In the late 19th-century, the Navajo Indians, who learned silversmithing from the Spanish, started to make beads out of turquoise and eventually combined it with silver around the 1880s. Initially this jewelry was for ceremonial purposes, but it became fashionable once the tourism in the Southwest picked up in the beginning of the 20th century.
Find antique and vintage turquoise rings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right Bracelets for You
Today, antique and vintage bracelets are versatile and universally loved accessories that can add polish and pizzazz to any ensemble.
Bracelets were among the jewels discovered to have been buried with Pharaoh Tutankhamun when his tomb was unearthed in 1922, and wrist and arm bracelets were allegedly worn by Queen Puabi in Sumer, southern Mesopotamia. But preceding the adornments of Ancient Egypt and elsewhere, the people of prehistoric times likely wore the decorative accessory, fashioning it from shells and fish bones. When the Bronze Age allowed for more durable materials and semiprecious stones to be incorporated into jewelry, bracelets became a treasured symbol of wealth.
In the thousands of years following the debut of the world’s first bracelets, the artistry behind this common accessory has only broadened, with designers at popular jewelry houses growing more venturesome over time. David Webb looked to nature for his Animal Kingdom bracelets, and for her best-selling bracelets and more at Tiffany Co., Elsa Peretti would frequently do the same. From bangles to tennis bracelets, the modern age offers plenty of options.
Internationally acclaimed bracelet designs have on occasion become powerful symbols of status, style and, in the case of Cartier's iconic design, love. The Cartier Love bracelet can be found on the wish list of most jewelry lovers and on the wrist of some of the world’s biggest stars. Its arrangement of mock screwheads and distinctive functionality — it was initially locked and unlocked with an accompanying vermeil screwdriver — is an enduring expression of loyalty, unity and romance. (Do you know how to spot a fake Cartier Love bracelet?)
While the Love bracelet has played a role in the skyrocketing popularity of cuff-style bracelets, they are far from the only glamorous option for collectors. Make a statement with an Art Deco design, a style that sees all kinds of iterations fitted with studded cuffs, one-of-a-kind shapes and dazzling insets. A chunky vintage gold bracelet in the Retro style will prove eye-catching and elevate any outfit.
One of the best things about bracelets, however, is that you never have to choose just one. Style icon Jacqueline Kennedy stacked her Croisillon bracelets — designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany Co. — with such frequency that the ornate bangles were eventually dubbed “Jackie bracelets” by reporters. Contemporary silver pieces can easily complement each other, rendering a layering of luxury almost a necessity.
Find a diverse collection of bracelets that you can sort by style, stone cut and more on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024To tell if a bracelet is vintage, look on the inside or clasp for a maker's mark. By researching the maker using trusted online resources and learning about the types of pieces they created, you can often get a rough idea of when your bracelet was produced. Vintage bracelets are 20 to 99 years old. Any bracelet that is 100 years old or older is antique. If you encounter any difficulties during your research, a certified appraiser or experienced jeweler can help date your piece. Find a wide range of vintage bracelets on 1stDibs.
Read More
How to Spot a Fake Cartier Love Bracelet
This iconic jewel has captured countless hearts with its elegant design and its amatory symbolism. Counterfeiters have taken note of the demand and created fake versions. If you’re looking for a genuine Cartier Love bracelet, it’s crucial to check all the elements for authenticity. Our guide will teach you the telltale traits of a knockoff.
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Tastemaker Bunny Mellon’s Extraordinary Schlumberger Jewels
The philanthropist and heiress was an avid jewelry collector, and her trove of Jean Schlumberger creations embodies the love of nature she shared with the famed designer.