Micro Mosaic Etruscan
Antique 1890s Unknown Etruscan Revival Brooches
14k Gold
Antique 1850s Italian Etruscan Revival Link Bracelets
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Jasper, Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
Antique 1880s Italian Etruscan Revival Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, 15k Gol...
Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Chalcedony, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Bangles
15k Gold
Antique 1880s Italian Etruscan Revival Bangles
Citrine, Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Jasper, Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
Recent Sales
Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Clip-on Earrings
18k Gold
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
Gold
Antique 1860s Etruscan Revival Necklace Enhancers
Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Necklace Enhancers
18k Gold
Antique 1880s Italian Etruscan Revival Link Bracelets
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s Italian Neoclassical Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1860s Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
Antique 1870s Italian Baroque Revival Bangles
Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century European Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
Antique 1880s Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Antique 1850s Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Lapis Lazuli, Coral, Carnelian, Agate, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Etruscan Revival Brooches
18k Gold
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Mid-20th Century Fashion Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Silver
2010s Turkish Modern Bridal Rings
Garnet, 14k Gold
2010s American Cocktail Dresses
Antique 1860s Italian Etruscan Revival Link Bracelets
Gold
1990s Cluster Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s English Etruscan Revival Drop Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century European Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Antique 1880s Italian Etruscan Revival Brooches
Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Desk Accessories
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s English Victorian Link Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Etruscan Revival Brooches
Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold
Micro Mosaic Etruscan For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Micro Mosaic Etruscan?
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.
- How are micro mosaics made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Micro mosaics consist of small glass pieces known as tesserae arranged to create beautiful patterns and intricate designs. Handcrafted micro mosaics take hours of painstaking craftsmanship and are highly coveted. Shop a collection of antique micro mosaic goods on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Micro mosaic jewelry is made with tiny pieces of glass or enamel, which are arranged together to create an image. The glass is usually set in cement or mastic and any gaps delicately filled in with wax. Shop an array of beautiful micro mosaic pieces from top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023To date micro mosaic jewelry, examine the hardware. This style of jewelry first became popular during the 19th century (Italian artist Giacomo Raffaelli, founder of the School of Mosaics in Milan, in 1806, is said to have been the first to incorporate micro mosaics into jewelry). Over time, the types of hardware used in the creation of these accessories changed considerably. For example, brooches from the late 19th and early 20th centuries will often have a “C” clasp, while safety pin-style fasteners became popular in the 1920s. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer can help you determine the age of a given piece based on the fasteners and clasps on your jewelry. Shop an assortment of micro mosaic jewelry on 1stDibs.