Forget Me Not Brooch Pin
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Multi-gemstone, Onyx, Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s European Baroque Revival Brooches
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique 19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Multi-gemstone, Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Swedish Renaissance Revival Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Mid-18th Century European Renaissance Revival Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Silver
Antique 19th Century Swedish Aesthetic Movement Brooches
18k Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Nouveau Brooches
Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Agate, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Victorian Collectible Jewelry
Stone
Antique 1860s Italian Etruscan Revival Drop Earrings
Gold
19th Century Portrait Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Recent Sales
Vintage 1930s Brooches
Jade, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Brooches
Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Cut Steel
Antique 1860s Victorian Brooches
Agate, Vermeil, Silver
20th Century Brooches
Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Multi-gemstone, Onyx, Turquoise, Gold, 10k Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches
14k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Brooches
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
9k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Brooches
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches
Gold, Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 19th Century British George III Brooches
Diamond, Gold
Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches
Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Agate, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century British Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Turquoise, Rose Gold
Vintage 1910s British Victorian Brooches
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1910s British George V Brooches
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, 15k Gold
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century Asian Beaded Necklaces
Amber
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Multi-gemstone, Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
Antique 1880s British Victorian Drop Necklaces
Onyx, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Bangles
18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 18th Century English George II Solitaire Rings
Crystal, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Fashion Rings
Moonstone, Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Brooches
Multi-gemstone, Onyx, Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Forget Me Not Brooch Pin For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Forget Me Not Brooch Pin?
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 Gucci, Versace, Dior 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.
- What is a brooch pin?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Brooch pins are beautiful pieces of jewelry with a sharpened metal wire on the reverse that adheres to garments. Traditionally, people wore pins and brooches on clothing such as skirts, sweaters, jackets, shirts, and hats. Brooches were used to hold garments together in the past. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage brooch pins.
- Is a brooch a pin?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024Yes, a brooch is a pin. A pin is the general term for an accessory designed to slide through fabric and stay in place with the help of a fastener. A brooch is the term for a decorative pin. The word pin can also refer to a functional accessory that has no decorative embellishments. As a result, not all pins are brooches, but all brooches are pins. Explore a diverse assortment of brooches on 1stDibs.
- What are brooch pins called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Brooch pins are usually called brooches or pins. The practice of wearing pins dates back to the Bronze Age. At the time, people referred to a pin as a fibula. Its purpose was to fasten clothing. Shop a range of brooch pins on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023The main difference between pins and brooches is style. Both items slide through fabrics and secure in the back with some type of fastener. Brooches are always decorative, but some pins are made only to secure materials together or to hold a garment in place. All brooches are pins, but not all pins are brooches. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of brooches.
Read More
This David Webb Coral Flower Brooch Is Better Than a Bouquet
For starters, it is one of the jewelry designer’s most celebrated works.
This Gem-Encrusted Boucheron Brooch Is a Symbol of Mid-Century Glamour and Clever Design
Though it sparkles with more than 27 carats of diamonds, this multifaceted gem delivers more than just dazzle.
The Editor of ‘Town & Country’ Loves Jewelry and History in Equal Measure
Stellene Volandes takes us on a glittering, engrossing tour through the centuries.
5 Fresh Jewelry Trends That Will Bring You Joy This Spring
From cameos to cigar bands, here are the looks on our radar this season.
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.