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Diamond Sunburst Brooch

Antique Stunning Diamond Sun Burst Brooch Circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
A stunning Victorian diamond sunburst brooch c.1880s, centred with an old cut diamond in cut down
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Platinum

Victorian Diamond Gold Sunburst Pin Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
large old cut diamonds in the center which is surrounded by 7 smaller diamonds. In total they weigh 1.03
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co. Platinum Diamond Lace Sunburst Pin Brooch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This dazzling Tiffany & Co. pin features a radiant sunburst design entirely pavé-set with brilliant
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

18k Yellow Gold and Platinum Floral Sunburst Diamond Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This exquisite 18K yellow gold and platinum floral sunburst brooch from the 1970s captures the bold
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique 14Y OEC Diamond & Seed Pearl Sunburst Brooch / Pendant
Located in McLeansville, NC
An antique 14 karat yellow gold diamond and seed pearl sunburst pendant and brooch. This pendant
Category

Vintage 1970s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

18kt Gold Sunburst Brooch with Diamonds, Emeralds, and Tahitian Pearl Drop
Located in Braintree, GB
A stunning vintage brooch crafted in 18-karat yellow gold, designed in a sunburst or floral motif
Category

1990s European Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold

Platinum and 18 Karat Gold Sunburst Design Brooch with Diamonds, circa 1960
Located in Princeton, NJ
Circa 1960 Platinum and 18k yellow gold sunburst design brooch with diamonds. This immaculate
Category

Vintage 1960s Retro Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Syna Yellow Gold Sunburst Pin with Pink Tourmaline and Diamonds
By Syna Jewels
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
Created in 18 karat yellow gold Pink Tourmaline 1.40 carats approx. Diamonds 0.55 carat approx
Category

2010s American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 3.87 Carat Diamond and White Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
diamonds, graduating in size, dependent on position. This impressive Victorian sunburst diamond brooch
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, White Gold, Silver

Recent Sales

Classic American Diamond Sunburst Brooch
Located in New York, NY
An American classic diamond sunburst pin. Often these were worn in pairs or more, scattered around
Category

Early 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Rhodium

Dazzling Belle Epoque Diamond Set Sunburst Brooch
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A dazzling Belle Epoque Diamond set Sunburst Brooch. This white over Yellow Gold Sunburst is set
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Belle Époque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Ruby Sunburst Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful diamond and ruby brooch with old european cuts . Total diamond weight of approximately
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

YNY Natural Multicolor Diamond Gold Sunburst Pendant Brooch
Located in New York, NY
YNY Natural Multicolor Diamonds (Yellow, White, Burnt Orange, Champagne Colors) Pendent Sun Burst
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Victorian Twelve-Rayed Star Sunburst Gold Diamond Brooch Pendant
Located in Munich, DE
The Victorian star or sunburst brooch has a fold down attachement. Therefore it can be worn as a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Pretty Victorian Diamond Pearl and Yellow Gold Sunburst Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lombard, IL
Pretty Victorian Circa 1900 diamond pearl and yellow gold Sunburst brooch/pendant set with one
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold

Victorian circa 1880 Certified 7.51 ct Diamond Sapphire Sunburst Brooch Pendant
Located in Berlin, Berlin
The diamond-set star or sunburst was one of the most popular jewellery items of the late 19th
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond Sunburst Brooch Pendant
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This lovely Antique sunburst brooch was made around the 1890's. Its handcrafted in 14 karat gold
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

9.18 Carat Antique Diamond Sunburst Brooch/Pendant Platinum/14 Karat
Located in Miami, FL
Offered here is an Antique Masterpiece, circa early 1900 A large sunburst handmade of platinum over
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum

Antique Edwardian 14k Gold Platinum Old Cut Diamond Sunburst Brooch Pin Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
center of the large sunburst design. The wavy flames are drenched with old cut diamonds that total
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Mid Century Sunburst Diamond Platinum Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
made brooch of sunburst design features a central round diamond weighing 1.21 carats, approximately G
Category

Vintage 1950s Modernist Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Platinum

Seed Pearl Diamond Yellow Gold Sunburst Brooch
Located in Dallas, TX
This is an amazing brooch with a beautiful sunburst design. It features several split seed pearls
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Antique Diamond Seed-Pearl Gold Sunburst Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds. Made in 14k gold and can be worn as a pendant or brooch. Length: 2 inches
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond Two-Tone Gold Sunburst Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
This unique antique style diamond sunburst brooch is crafted in a combination of solid matte 18K
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown More Jewelry

Materials

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

Antique 14ct Yellow & White Gold, Victorian Diamond Starburst Brooch/Pendant
Located in Brighton, GB
/sunburst diamond brooch which can also be worn as a beautiful pendant. Set with a fabulous 0.35ct (approx
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

18 Karat Gold Turquoise and Diamond Sunburst Brooch
Located in Darien, CT
18k Gold Turquoise and Diamond Sunburst Brooch A truly magnificent piece featuring exquisite
Category

20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

1 Carat Natural Round Diamonds Medusa Sunburst Rotary Pendant Brooch 14 Karat
Located in New York, NY
Estate Prime Medusa 1.00ct. Natural diamonds Brooch Sunburst pin. Rounds, Full cut Brilliant. H
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 4.88 Carat Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant Brooch with Chain
Located in Miami, FL
Offered here is a " Victorian period " sunburst diamond pendant brooch on chain, One yellow gold
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14k Rose Gold Sunburst Leaf Pendant Brooch with Chain and Appraisal
Located in Eagan, MN
A stunning modernist style sunburst pendant brooch in 14KT rose gold. It is pre-owned but in new
Category

2010s Unknown Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Diamond Sunburst Brooch
Located in Greenwich, CT
Diamond 'sunburst' brooch, centering on a larger old European cut diamond weighing approximately
Category

20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

BUCCELLATI ​Pierced Gold & Diamond Sunburst Brooch
By Buccellati
Located in Greenwich, CT
Diamond-set sunburst brooch, centering on a larger circular-cut diamond weighing approximately 1.10
Category

20th Century Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond Gold Floral Sunburst Brooch
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
Beautifully crafted 18-carat gold and diamond brooch in a floral style. Outer petals in rose-gold
Category

Vintage 1970s British Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

CARTIER Sunburst Citrine and Diamond Brooch
By Cartier
Located in New York City, NY
A classic yellow gold Retro brooch. Citrine in center, mounted with European cut diamonds for
Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold

Retro Sunburst Ruby and Diamond Brooch
Located in Newport Beach, CA
14KY Gold Retro "Sunburst" Rubies, Diamonds and peridot Pin or a pendant 40.1 Grams 3.5" across
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Brooches

Materials

14k Gold

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS sunburst diamond and gold pendant brooch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lakewood, NJ
Unique Van Cleef & Arpels diamond and platinum pattern center with two encircling 18k yellow gold
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold

Victorian 1.40 Carat Diamond Sunburst Star Brooch Pendant, Circa 1890
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A fabulous late Victorian 1.40 carat diamond sunburst star brooch set in silver on 18ct yellow gold
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Yellow Gold Old European Diamond Sunburst Convertible Brooch or Pendant
Located in Columbia, MO
! Appraises for $3,000! DETAILS: Gorgeous Antique Yellow Gold Diamond Sunburst Pin/Brooch/Pendant 14 karat
Category

Early 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Seed Pearl Diamond Accent Sunburst Pendant/Brooch in 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Vienna, VA
Seed Pearl Diamond Accent Sunburst Pendant/Brooch in 14K Seed Pearl Diamond Accent Sunburst
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

18ct White Gold 2.30ct Brilliant Cut Diamond Star Brooch and Pendant Circa 1950
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A stunning mid century brilliant cut diamond star ‘sunburst’ brooch dating from around 1950
Category

Vintage 1950s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold

Large Victorian 5.70 Carat Diamond Star Brooch and Pendant, circa 1880
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A stunning Victorian diamond star or sunburst brooch circa 1880’s comprising 5.70 carats of Old
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Mid Century 18ct Gold 1.80ct Diamond and Sapphire Star Brooch and Pendant
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A stunning 1960’s brilliant cut diamond star ‘sunburst’ brooch dating from around 1960 comprising
Category

Vintage 1960s Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

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Classic Diamond Platinum Wreath Necklace
By Diamond Scene
Located in New York, NY
The most elegant diamond necklace! 51.14 carats of F-G color VS clarity diamond set in platinum. Features diamonds from approximately 1 carat in the center. This exquisite piece i...
Category

2010s Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Socrate Earrings, large model
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This striking Van Cleef & Arpels pair of pierced earrings with French clips from the celebrated Socrate™ jewelry collection feature a delicate floral motif crafted in 18K white gold ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Oscar Heyman Iconic Pansy Diamond Amethyst Citrine Gold Platinum Brooch
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Oscar Heyman platinum and 18k gold pansy flower brooch, set with amethyst, citrine, rubies and approx. 1.25ctw G/VS diamonds. The brooch measures 1.25" x 1 1/8". Hallmarked wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

CARTIER Deux Têtes Tiger Bracelet
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier is renowned for its iconic panther designs, but this exquisite bracelet stands out for its elegant tiger motif, adorned with fancy yellow diamonds. This unique and highly cov...
Category

Vintage 1960s Bangles

Materials

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

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

Van Cleef & Arpels Cabochon Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Diamond Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Like Gemstones Tumbled Smooth by a Babbling Brook Through the Centuries, this Work of Art Gleams with Life and Light. Intertwined Throughout are 13 Cabochon Sapphires, 11 Cabochon Em...
Category

20th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

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

HARRY WINSTON Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald & Diamond Necklace
By Harry Winston
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful in daytime in Natural Light and Amazing at Night, Shimmering as if with Electrical Light. Comprising of a Fringe Design Cabochon-Cut Rubies, Sapphire and Emeralds are set o...
Category

Vintage 1980s Pendant Necklaces

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Augustine brooch
By Augustine Paris
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
AUGUSTINE - (Made in France) Golden metal camellia brooch with pearly-effect glass paste and rhinestones. Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Height: 11.5 cm BR16
Category

2010s French Brooches

Cartier Art Deco Diamond Ring, 4.33 Carats
By Cartier
Located in New Orleans, LA
Spectacular color, clarity and rarity distinguish the 4.33-carat diamond in this Art Deco-period ring by famed jeweler Cartier. Unique for its hexagonal shape, the diamond is certifi...
Category

20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Hermes Birkin 35 Matte Fauve Porosus Crocodile Bag Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Birkin 35 bag featured in matte Fauve Porosus Crocodile. Neutral perfection for year round wear, this chic bag is a must for any Hermes collector. Rich wi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

18K Rose Gold Fancy Diamond & Ruby Fish Brooch
By Althoff Jewelry
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Fancy Diamond & Ruby Fish 18K Rose Gold Brooch 15 Fancy Diamonds 1.53 CT 2 Green Garnet 0.14 CT 6 Pink Sapphires 0.11 CT 105 Rubies 1.56 CT 18K Rose Gold 11.72 GM The Ruby gemstone...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold

Birkin 30 Epsom Leather Vert Criquet
By Hermès
Located in Paris, FR
Amazing Birkin 30 in Cricket Green Epsom leather. The plastics are still on the jewelry. Padlock, zipper pull, bell and keys (2) are present. The bag is in very good condition and ha...
Category

2010s French Tote Bags

Birkin 30 Epsom Leather Vert Criquet
Birkin 30 Epsom Leather Vert Criquet
H 8.27 in D 6.3 in L 11.82 in
Tiffany & Co. Untreated Colombian Emerald Diamond Earrings
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
These exquisite drop earrings from Tiffany & Co. are a captivating masterpiece adorned with the rare beauty of Colombian emeralds and dazzling diamonds. At the heart of each earring...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

18K Yellow Gold Sunflower Diamond Brooch
By Valentin Magro
Located in New York, NY
White diamonds and gold combine to produce a brilliant glow to this brooch. 18k yellow gold enlivens a sunflower motif, featuring two overlapping rows of textured petals. The artisan...
Category

2010s American Brooches

Materials

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

18K Yellow Gold Sunflower Diamond Brooch
18K Yellow Gold Sunflower Diamond Brooch
W 2.3 in D 0.75 in L 2.3 in
Large Sapphire and Diamond Butterfly Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This exquisite butterfly pin features 18k yellow gold and silver, adorned with a captivating arrangement of sapphires and diamonds. The pin is meticulously crafted with attention to ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18...

A Cartier New York Art Deco Tutti Frutti Double Clip Brooch
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
A Cartier New York Art Deco Tutti Frutti double clip brooch. An exceptional piece, a beautiful example of Cartier's iconic Tutti Frutti design adorned with carved emeralds, baguette...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum

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Diamond Sunburst Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the diamond sunburst brooch you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Frequently made of Gold, 14k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. Our collection of these items for sale includes 31 vintage editions and 3 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect diamond sunburst 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. Creating a diamond sunburst brooch has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Cartier and Buccellati are consistently popular. An old european cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also round cut and old mine cut versions for sale. Most of our diamond sunburst brooch for sale are for women, but there are 12 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a Diamond Sunburst Brooch?

Prices for a diamond sunburst brooch can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $400 and can go as high as $74,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $4,400.

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.