Vintage Earrings 1940s
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, Brass, Mixed Metal
Mid-20th Century European Drop Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1950s Clip-on Earrings
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s Stud Earrings
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1940s More Earrings
Diamond, Gold
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Mixed Metal
Vintage 1940s French Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century Retro Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, 14k Gold
Vintage 1940s Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1940s Stud Earrings
Diamond, Gold
Vintage 1940s Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1940s Drop Earrings
Vintage 1950s Artist Clip-on Earrings
Crystal, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Stud Earrings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century More Necklaces
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Silver
1960s Cocktail Dresses
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
Base Metal
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1940s American Drop Earrings
Vintage 1940s Unknown Modernist Dangle Earrings
Garnet, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s American Clip-on Earrings
Rhodium
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1940s American Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1940s French Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1940s American Clip-on Earrings
Base Metal
Vintage 1940s Drop Necklaces
Vintage 1940s Unknown Chain Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Gold Plate
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Drop Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1940s Clip-on Earrings
Mid-20th Century American Retro Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Pearl
Mid-20th Century European Drop Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1940s French Retro Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century English Stud Earrings
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Clip-on Earrings
20th Century Unknown Modern Chandelier Earrings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s American Modern Dangle Earrings
Coral, Gold-filled
Vintage 1940s Chandelier Earrings
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1940s Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Clip-on Earrings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Retro Drop Earrings
Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
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Vintage Earrings 1940s For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Vintage Earrings 1940s?
Finding the Right Earrings for You
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.
- 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 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 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 ExpertAugust 20, 2024One way to tell if earrings are vintage is to research the maker. Search for maker's markings on the backs and then look up these marks using trusted online resources. From there, you can find out when the jewelry maker produced pieces similar to yours. Generally, earrings produced between 20 and 100 years ago are vintage. Another method for dating earrings is to examine their details closely. Most vintage earrings will show some signs of wear, such as faint scratches or tarnishing. You can also have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer date your earrings for you. Shop a wide range of vintage earrings 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 ExpertNovember 27, 2023How you use vintage clip-on earrings depends on what type of backing they have. Some simply feature a hinged clip that you open, slip over your ear and then press gently to close. Others may require you to turn a screw or shift a tension bar. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of vintage clip-on earrings.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 27, 2023Most vintage earrings are clip-ons largely due to how beliefs about piercings have changed over the years. It was only during the 1980s and ’90s that many women began piercing their ears. Prior to that, many women didn't have piercings and could only wear clip-ons, so makers produced earrings to suit their customer base. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of vintage earrings.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 8, 2023To wear vintage clip-on earrings properly, first position them so that the decorative part is in front of your ear and the backing is behind it. Clip-ons feature a variety of backings, but regardless of type, the clips should generally be positioned so that the open part faces the ceiling and the hinge or closed part is near the earlobe. Once you have the earrings in place, secure the clasp. This may involve squeezing a clip or turning a screw or fastener. On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage clip-on earrings.
- Are screw back earrings vintage?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Screw back earrings were most popular during the first half of the 20th century, before clip earrings increased in popularity. However, screw back earrings have never gone out of style. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique screw back earrings from some of the world’s top sellers.
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