Checkerboard Cut Amethyst Diamond 18 Karat Gold Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a mixed checkerboard cut amethyst measuring approximately 8.0 x 8.0 mm - light pinkish lavender color Surrounded by a diamond halo and a diamond accented bale Round brill...
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Blue Topaz Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Gemstone Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a basket set 9.5 mm checkerboard cushion cut blue topaz Flanked by round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.20 carat - eye clean and white Stamped 18KT for 1...
Diamond, White Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Dazzling 1.15 Carat Diamond Platinum Floral Cluster Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a basket set diamond surmount suspending a floral cluster drop of diamonds Total diamond weight is approximately 1.15 carats with G/H color and VS clarity Completed by ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Chic Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Rondelle Station Cable Chain Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cable chain necklace is accented by six rondelle stations bead set with round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing in total approximately 0.50 carat with G/H color and SI clarity Comple...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Elegant 3.10 Carat Pave Diamond Platinum Heart Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Articulated drop earrings are designed as three graduated diamond bezel links Suspending a pavé diamond heart terminating as another diamond bezel and pear drop Total diamond weigh...
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Cognac Citrine Diamond 18 Karat Gold Gemstone Statement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a basket set checkerboard cushion cut citrine Deeply saturated brownish orange while measuring 10.0 x 10.0 mm Flanked by round brilliant cut diamond shoulders weighing in...
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Effortless 0.50 Carat Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Rondelle Station Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Necklace is comprised of deeply fluted figure eight style links alternating with jump ring spacer links Accented by six rondelle stations bead set with round brilliant cut diamonds ...
Diamond, White Gold
Fantastic Diamond 18 Karat Gold Rondelle Station Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Necklace is comprised of deeply fluted figure eight style links alternating with jump ring spacer links Accented by six rondelle stations bead set with round brilliant cut diamonds ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Effortless 0.50 Carat Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Rondelle Station Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Necklace is comprised of deeply fluted figure eight style links alternating with jump ring spacer links Accented by six rondelle stations bead set with round brilliant cut diamonds ...
Diamond, White Gold
Romantic Amethyst Diamond 18 Karat Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an oval checkerboard cut amethyst measuring approximately 14.0 x 10.0 mm Surrounded by an ornate foliate halo decorated by milgrain edges With round brilliant cut diamond...
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Exquisite 10.25 Carat White Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a checkerboard cushion cut white sapphire weighing approximately 9.25 carats Set with stylized foliate prongs in a delicately scalloped mounting with split shoulders Acce...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Amethyst Diamond 20 Karat Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a mixed checkerboard cushion cut amethyst measuring approximately 14.0 x 12.0 mm A robust medium-light purple color and basket set with split prongs With a round brillian...
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Rose Gold
2.62 Carat Aquamarine Diamond Halo 18 Karat White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an emerald cut aquamarine weighing approximately 2.00 carat; transparent and light blue in color Surrounded by a round brilliant diamond halo and flanked by stylized loop ...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sunny Citrine Diamond 18 Karat Gold Gemstone Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a mixed checkerboard cushion cut citrine measuring approximately 12.0 x 10.0 mm Basket set with split prongs; displaying transparent medium light yellowish orange color A...
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Lovely 2.73 Carats Aquamarine Diamond 18 Karat Gold Gemstone Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cluster style ring centers an oval cut aquamarine weighing approximately 2.18 carats Transparent with medium light sky blue color Surrounded by a diamond halo and flanked by diamon...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Modern 4.05 Carats Diamond Pink Sapphire Platinum Floral Cluster Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Drop earrings designed as two floral clusters connected by a bezel set round brilliant cut diamond Each centers a bubble gum pink round cut sapphire weighing in total approximately ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
Heliodor Golden Beryl Diamond 18 Karat Gold Foliate Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed with stylized foliate surmounts accented by diamonds and milgrain Suspending an articulated drop centering pear cut heliodor beryl gemstones measuring approxim...
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Green Beryl Diamond 18 Karat White Cushion Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pendant necklace centers a cushion cut light green beryl stone measuring approximately 8.0 x 8.0 mm Surrounded by a round brilliant cut diamond halo and accented bale Weighing in t...
Beryl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Sunny Citrine Diamond 18 Karat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a rectangular checkerboard cut citrine measuring approximately 14.0 x 10.0 mm A saturated yellowish-orange color and set with split prongs in a stylized floral basket Sur...
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vibrant Heliodor Golden Beryl 18 Karat Gold Foliate Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a foliate surmount suspending an ornate clustered drop Drop centers an oval mixed cut heliodor beryl gemstone measuring approximately 9.0 x 7.0 mm Very well-matched wit...
Beryl, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Green Beryl Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Square Halo Gemstone Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a mixed checkerboard square cut beryl gemstone measuring approximately 8.0 x 8.0 mm Transparent with vibrant yellowish green color Surrounded by a square diamond halo and...
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Green Beryl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Checkerboard Amethyst Diamond Halo 18 Karat White Gold Gemstone Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cluster ring centers an 8.0 mm checkerboard cushion cut amethyst Transparent with pinkish purple Rose de France color - conchoidal fracture at pavilion With a cushion diamond halo ...
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Fancy Kunzite 2.00 Carat Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a checkerboard cushion cut kunzite gemstone Measuring approximately 11.0 x 11.0 mm with very light violetish-pink color With a diamond halo, shoulders, and diamond accent...
Diamond, White Diamond, Kunzite, 18k Gold, White Gold
Contemporary 10.00 Carat Morganite Diamond Platinum Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Drop style earrings center pear cut morganite, light pink in color, and weigh in total approximately 8.00 carats Surrounded by two articulated halos of bead set round brilliant cut ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Morganite, Platinum
Green Beryl Diamond Platinum Floral Cluster Statement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a 10.0 mm round checkerboard cut green beryl with light mint green color Surrounded by two halos of round brilliant cut diamonds and an elegantly scalloped edge Flanked b...
Beryl, Diamond, Platinum
Contemporary Diamond Cultured Pearl 18 Karat Gold Five-Strand Bracelet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Bracelet is comprised of five hand knotted strands of 4.9 mm round cultured pearls Very well-matched cream body color with rosé overtones and very good to excellent luster With two...
Diamond, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Contemporary 2.35 Carat Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings designed as a quatrefoil cluster surmount that suspends an ornately scalloped drop Centering oval cut sapphire weighing approximately 1.70 carats; very well-matched and vio...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Contemporary 7.13 Carat Sapphire Diamond Platinum Cluster Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed with a diamond cluster surmount suspending a mandala style cluster drop Mandala centers talon set white sapphire weighing in total approximately 2.55 carats S...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
Dazzling 2.50 Carat Diamond Platinum Floral Cluster Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed as a circular and radiating floral motif Centering a cluster of round brilliant cut diamonds surrounded by a bead set diamond halo With an additional outer ha...
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Fanciful London Blue Topaz Diamond 18 Karat Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings designed as a quatrefoil cluster surmount that suspends an ornately scalloped drop Centering oval cut topaz measuring approximately 7.0 x 5.0 mm, vibrantly London blue in c...
Diamond, White Diamond, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Brilliant Kunzite Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Floral Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an oval mixed cut kunzite measuring approximately 9.0 x 7.5 mm Transparent with medium light violetish pink color Surrounded by a double diamond halo and flanked by diamo...
Diamond, White Diamond, Kunzite, 14k Gold, White Gold
Contemporary 1.15 Carats Diamond Cultured Pearl 18 Karat Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed as a starburst motif surmount Suspending a large pearl drop with a stylized petaled pearl cap Large cultured pearls are white in body color with strong silver...
Diamond, White Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Contemporary Pink Tourmaline Diamond 18 Karat White Floral Cluster Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Drop earrings are designed as a diamond cluster surmount Suspending a flower drop with pear cut tourmalines as petals and centers a bright white diamond Tourmalines are transparent...
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
Contemporary Green Beryl Diamond Halo 18 Karat Gold Statement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an oval checkerboard mixed cut beryl stone measuring approximately 11.0 x 9.0 mm Transparent with very light and strongly yellowish-green color Surrounded by a diamond ha...
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Contemporary Green Tourmaline Diamond Halo 18 Karat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a mixed checkerboard emerald cut tourmaline with strikingly stepped pavilion facets Vivid yellow-green to green in color and measures approximately 10.9 x 9.8 mm Surround...
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Heliodor Golden Beryl Diamond 18 Karat Gold Floral Burst Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cable chain necklace is designed with faceted stations throughout and completes as a lobster clasp Suspending a floral pendant with bursting petals and a foliate bale Centering an ...
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Aquamarine Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Octagonal Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pendant necklace centers a round cut aquamarine weighing approximately 0.43 carat; light blue in color Bezel set in a polished white gold octagonal surround echoed by an octagonal d...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Spessartite Garnet Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Octagonal Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pendant necklace centers a 5.0 mm round cut spessartite garnet; bright orange in color Bezel set in a polished white gold octagonal surround echoed by an octagonal diamond halo Rou...
Diamond, Garnet, White Gold
Special Green Beryl Diamond 18 Karat Gold Drop Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cable chain necklace is designed with faceted stations throughout and completes as a lobster clasp Suspending a diamond cluster bale and drop pendant that centers a checkerboard pea...
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Checkerboard Cut White Topaz Diamond 18 Karat Gold Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a mixed checkerboard cut white topaz measuring approximately 7.5 x 7.5 mm Surrounded by a diamond halo and a diamond accented bale Round brilliant cut diamonds weigh in t...
Diamond, White Diamond, Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Checkerboard Cut Amethyst Diamond 18 Karat Gold Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a mixed checkerboard cut amethyst measuring approximately 8.0 x 8.0 mm - light pinkish lavender color Surrounded by a diamond halo and a diamond accented bale Round brill...
Amethyst, Diamond, Platinum, Gold
Contemporary Citrine Diamond 18 Karat Gold Foliate Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed with a stylized foliate surmount accented by milgrain and diamonds Suspending an articulated drop centering a pear cut citrine measuring approximately 12.0 x 9...
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Checkerboard Cut 3.65 Carats Aquamarine Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Enhancer style pendant features a chain link surmount design and a diamond halo Centering a mixed checkerboard cut aquamarine weighing approximately 3.00 carats - medium to light gr...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Contemporary Heliodor Golden Beryl Diamond Halo 18 Karat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a princess cut heliodor beryl measuring approximately 11.0 x 11.0 mm; strongly yellowish-orange in color Surrounded by a halo of round brilliant cut diamonds weighing appr...
Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Checkerboard Cut Amethyst Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Enhancer Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Enhancer style pendant features a chain link surmount design and a diamond halo Centering a mixed checkerboard cut amethyst measuring approximately 9.0 x 9.0 mm - light pinkish lave...
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Pink Tourmaline Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Cluster Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Diamonds-by-the-yard style cable chain necklace features ten bezel set round brilliant cut diamond stations Suspending a grandiose cluster pendant centering a pear cut tourmaline me...
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
Large Kunzite Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Foliate Cluster Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cluster pendant centers a large mixed pear cut kunzite measuring approximately 18.0 x 12.0 mm Transparent with very light violetish-pink color Encompassed by a stylized foliate sur...
Diamond, White Diamond, Kunzite, 18k Gold, White Gold
Kunzite 1.21 Carat Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Drop Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stylized cable chain necklace is comprised of deeply textured links With five circle stations accented with round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.55 carat; eye-clean...
Diamond, Kunzite, White Gold
Citrine 1.05 Carat Diamond 18 Karat Gold Foliate Cluster Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stylized cable chain necklace is comprised of textured links and completes as a lobster clasp Suspending a large drop pendant centering a pear cut citrine measuring approximately 20...
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
South Sea Pearl 2.20 Carat Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings feature a large clustered drop centering 11.5 mm round South Sea pearls Well-matched white body color with moderate iridescence and very good luster Surrounded by a halo o...
Diamond, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Go...
Golden Heliodor Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Foliate Pendant Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Faceted cable chain necklace suspends an oval cluster drop pendant Featuring an oval mixed cut heliodor measuring approximately 10.0 x 8.0 mm - medium light yellow Surrounded by a ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Aquamarine and Diamond Platinum 18 Karat White Gold Convertible Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed as clustered diamond stud surmounts with two optional drops Drops center either a pear cut diamond or a pear cut aquamarine; both surrounded by diamonds Aquam...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Gold, Platinum
2.00 Carat Aquamarine Diamond Platinum 18 Karat White Gold Convertible Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed as clustered diamond stud surmounts with an optional drop Drop is designed as a bezel set diamond suspending a diamond and aquamarine cluster Centering a pear...
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
4.50 Carat Orange Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Convertible Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Earrings are designed as clustered diamond stud surmounts with an optional drop Drop is designed as articulated bezel set diamond links terminating as a diamond and sapphire cluster...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Modern 1.90 Carat Diamond Platinum Floral Cluster Stud Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stud earrings are designed as floral clusters of round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing in total approximately 1.90 carats with G/H color and VS clarity Completed by posts and frict...
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Chic Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Rondelle Station Cable Chain Necklace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cable chain necklace is accented by six rondelle stations bead set with round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing in total approximately 0.50 carat with G/H color and SI clarity Comple...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Checkerboard Citrine Diamond Halo 18 Karat Yellow Gold Gemstone Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cluster ring centers a 8.0 mm checkerboard cushion cut citrine Transparent and saturated orange in color With a cushion diamond halo and shoulder accents Round brilliant cut diamo...
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Contemporary jewelry is inextricably linked with the moment in which it is created, frequently reflecting current social, cultural and political issues such as environmental consciousness, identity and sustainability. It’s informed by fashion trends, from the chokers of the 1990s to the large chain necklaces of the early 2000s.
Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of adornment. Lockets made of silver or gold have been treasured gifts for hundreds of years, for example, and charm bracelets, which have existed since prehistoric times, didn’t become especially popular until the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria. For many centuries, fine jewelry was used primarily to express wealth or status through lavish materials. Then, in the 1960s, a concept known as the “critique of preciousness” emerged, with jewelers creating pieces that did not get their value from gemstones or precious metals. Instead, it was the jeweler’s artistic vision that was prized and elevated.
This shift still informs Contemporary jewelry being made by artists today. Whether they are using cheap, found materials and working with provocative geometric shapes or seeking out the rarest stones, they are imbuing their work with meaning through their skills, techniques and ideas. Innovative designers such as Elsa Peretti, who popularized sculptural sterling-silver jewelry for Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman, who twisted metal into the simple yet striking Cable bracelet, have also influenced the direction of Contemporary jewelry’s forms and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, technological advancements like metal alloys and laser engraving have led to new possibilities in jewelry design. Now, edgy makers and brands as well as minimalist designers are pushing Contemporary jewelry forward into the 21st century.
Find a collection of Contemporary rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
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.
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 rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
The sculptural lithograph is part of the inimitable artist’s “Ruckus” series, now on view at the Brooklyn Museum.
See why the famed photographer's celebrity portraits have graced magazine covers and become headline grabbers in their own right for five decades and counting.
Part art, part seating, they offer a fascinating meditation on life’s dualities.
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.
Cofounders Krista Scenna and Jill Benson highlight the work of underexposed talents and connect them with new collectors.
On the 25th anniversary of his innovative Crystal Haze collection, the designer revisits its origins.
Brought together by a love of jewelry with meaning, Adam Shulman and Heidi Nahser Fink built a brand that celebrates ingenious design and fine craftsmanship.
British portraitist David Bailey gets up close to his celebrity subjects.