Old Cameos
Vintage 1960s Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Cufflinks
Agate, Chalcedony, Sterling Silver
Antique 1870s Dutch Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, White Gold
Antique Early 19th Century Neoclassical Brooches
Diamond, White Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
White Gold
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Art Nouveau Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Late Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Brooches
Diamond, White Gold
Antique Early 1900s Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold, Platinum
Antique 1890s American Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Italian Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century German Belle Époque Band Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Antique 1880s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1870s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold-filled, Silver
Antique 1860s Italian Victorian Brooches
Agate, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century European Georgian Signet Rings
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Baroque Revival Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian More Rings
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Brooches
Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century French Romantic More Rings
Agate, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Vintage 1950s French Dome Rings
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Brooches
Pinchbeck
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches
Coral, 14k Gold
2010s American Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Freshwater Pearl
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Brooches
Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Brooches
9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, Agate, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Brooches
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, Agate, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1940s Italian Artisan Brooches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, White Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Vintage 1920s Scandinavian Brooches
14k Gold
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Brooches
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Drop Necklaces
Agate, Diamond, Natural Pearl
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s Austrian High Victorian Brooches
14k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Brooches
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century European Victorian Brooches
9k Gold
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Vintage 1930s Italian Choker Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Dome Rings
Agate, Diamond, Gold
Early 20th Century Italian Victorian Signet Rings
Agate, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Brooches
Agate, 18k Gold
20th Century Brooches
Diamond, White Gold
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Old Cameos For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Old Cameos?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To tell how old a cameo brooch is for certain, you usually need to consult a licensed jewelry appraiser. This is because many authentic pieces do not have marks, and there are many modern reproductions that resemble the antique jewelry. Find a selection of expertly vetted antique cameo brooches on 1stDibs.
- Are old cameos worth money?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024Yes, some old cameos can be worth money. Pieces with the most value are handcrafted from natural materials, such as gemstones and shells. In addition to materials, the size, type, age, maker and condition of the cameo will influence how much it might sell for. If you'd like to get an idea of the potential value of your cameo, consider consulting a certified appraiser, knowledgeable antique dealer or experienced jeweler. Shop a wide range of cameos on 1stDibs.