Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
Brass
1940s American Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
Diamond, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1940s Mexican Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Brass
1940s Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Mixed Metal
20th Century European Vintage 1940s Necklace
Diamond, White Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s American Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gilt Metal
1940s European Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
Garnet, 18k Gold
1940s French Vintage 1940s Necklace
Yellow Gold
1940s Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Copper, Enamel
1940s Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage 1940s Necklace
Mixed Metal
1940s Modern Vintage 1940s Necklace
Copper
20th Century Vintage 1940s Necklace
14k Gold
1940s American Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s American Vintage 1940s Necklace
Base Metal
1940s Czech Vintage 1940s Necklace
Enamel
1930s American Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gilt Metal
1940s French Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Pearl, Gold Plate
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
1950s Vintage 1940s Necklace
Opal, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
20th Century Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
Ruby, 14k Gold
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s American Artisan Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gold-filled, White Gold, Sterling Silver
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s French Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Ruby, Gold, Sterling Silver
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
Mid-20th Century French Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage 1940s Necklace
Mixed Metal
1940s American Modern Vintage 1940s Necklace
Mixed Metal
Mid-20th Century Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s Arts and Crafts Vintage 1940s Necklace
Copper, Enamel
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gold-filled
1940s Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
10k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Art Nouveau Vintage 1940s Necklace
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
1930s French Vintage 1940s Necklace
Crystal, Gold Plate, Brass
1940s French Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
18k Gold, Rose Gold
1940s French Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Swedish Vintage 1940s Necklace
Rock Crystal, Silver
20th Century French Vintage 1940s Necklace
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1940s British Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gold, 18k Gold
1940s American Modern Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
Garnet, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s American Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Silver Plate
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s American Vintage 1940s Necklace
Gold Plate
20th Century Retro Vintage 1940s Necklace
Diamond, Hematite, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Diamond, Pearl, Enamel
1940s Vintage 1940s Necklace
Sterling Silver
1940s North American Vintage 1940s Necklace
Mid-20th Century Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s American Vintage 1940s Necklace
1940s American Modern Vintage 1940s Necklace
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
Crystal, Diamond, Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold
1940s French Art Deco Vintage 1940s Necklace
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Vintage 1940s Necklace For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage 1940s Necklace?
Finding the Right Necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage David Webb necklaces — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
- What is a 1940s style dress?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021The most popular 1940s-style dress was the shirtwaist dress. It had a front opening like a men’s shirt, but with large buttons in the front of the dress, which was practical and easy to wear. The sleeves were short and necklines varied from shirt style to sweetheart and other necklines. Antique and vintage dresses from well-known designers are available on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A number of dresses were popular during the 1940s. Many women wore short-waist dresses with button necks, collars, fitted waists and full skirts. The classic A-lines with knee-length hems in red, white and blue colors were also a trend. Shop a collection of vintage dresses on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021In the 1940s, ladies wore clothes defined by clean and slim silhouettes. The jackets, blouses and sweaters often featured shoulderpads and had somewhat of a military feel. Most dresses were quite casual and pants and playsuits became part of a woman's everyday style.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024To tell if a necklace is vintage, one approach is to conduct research using trusted online resources. Start by looking for hallmarks and then use the maker's mark to identify the brand that produced it. From there, you can look at online catalogues and reference guides to determine approximately when your jewelry was made. A necklace is vintage if it is between 20 and 99 years old. Another option is to have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable jeweler help you with the dating process. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of vintage necklaces.
- What makes a necklace vintage?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023What makes a necklace vintage is its age. Any necklace made at least 20 to 80 years ago is vintage. Necklaces produced a century ago or more are antiques. A vintage-inspired or vintage-style necklace is one manufactured during the past 20 years but inspired by older jewelry. Find a wide variety of vintage necklaces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024Claire McCardell was the designer often called the Mother of American Fashion in the 1940s. An American designer, she helped introduce women's sportswear to the United States and was particularly well-known for her bias-cut, loose-fitting Monastic dress. When World War II broke out in the 1940s, she designed pieces out of readily available materials like denim, calico and wool jersey, introducing new fabrics for women's clothing that would remain popular well after the close of the war. Many people point to McCardell as one of the first successful American fashion designers. Shop a collection of Claire McCardell apparel on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Clasp design on vintage necklaces vary significantly, so there’s no uniform way to open and close a clasp. Research the specific type of necklace to find resources on the style of clasp. On 1stDibs, you'll find a collection of vintage necklaces from some of the world's top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To determine whether a pearl necklace is modern or vintage, first look for signs of wear, such as blunted edges on the prongs. The pearls will likely have dull spots where they came into contact with skin. The clasp can clue you in, too. Lobster clasps appeared in the 1970s, while early 20th century clasps were generally safety-pin style or C-clasps. Modern necklaces typically have a spring-loaded clasp. Shop a selection of vintage pearl jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 24, 2024To tell if a rhinestone necklace is vintage, look on the clasp or the back of the pendant for a maker's mark. By snapping a photo of the mark and performing a reverse image search or entering a description of the marking into an online search engine, you can often identify the maker of a piece. Then, conduct further research to learn when the company or artisan was active and producing necklaces similar to yours. It is vintage if you estimate that your necklace is between 20 and 99 years old. Older pieces are antiques, while newer ones are contemporary. For additional assistance with dating your rhinestone necklace, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of vintage necklaces.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Vintage Chanel jewelry always has a date stamp and logo located somewhere on the piece that you can use for authentication. Everything on the date stamp should be easy to read, and the Chanel logo should look immaculate. Fake logos are often hard to read and have mistakes in the font. All the details should be exquisite, and the necklace should feel substantial. If it feels light and cheap, it’s probably a fake. Shop a collection of authentic vintage Chanel necklaces from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024To tell if a vintage Tiffany necklace is real, look closely at the links and clasp. Due to their expert craftsmanship, Tiffany & Co. links appear continuous and have no visible seams or solder marks. The clasp should also be sturdy and free of solder or glue marks. Hallmarks can also help you authenticate your piece. Most Tiffany & Co. jewelry will say the maker's full time or “T&Co.” Items marked simply with “Tiffany” are usually not authentic. Comparing the markings on your jewelry to hallmark images found on trusted online resources can help you identify counterfeits. A certified appraiser or experienced dealer can also be of assistance. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of vintage Tiffany & Co. necklaces.
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