Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Egyptian Revival Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s Unknown Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century German Modernist Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Crystal, Brown Diamond, Gold, Gilt Metal
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gilt Metal
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s German Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s Byzantine Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s Indian Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1950s Unknown Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1950s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1950s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1940s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gilt Metal
1960s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
20th Century French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gold
1980s Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
20th Century French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1990s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1990s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1940s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Pearl
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1950s American Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
20th Century French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gold
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1990s Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gilt Metal
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1990s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1980s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
20th Century Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gold
1980s French Baroque Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s American Etruscan Revival Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1970s French Byzantine Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Pearl, Gilt Metal
1970s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1990s French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
20th Century French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
20th Century French Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
1950s American Modern Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace
Gold Plate
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Vintage Costume Jewelry Necklace For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage Costume Jewelry 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.
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 necklaces designed by David Webb — 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 Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023Vintage costume jewelry refers to costume jewelry that is 20 to 80 years old. Jewelry, costume or otherwise, that is 100 years old is referred to as antique. The big design fair in Paris in 1900 inspired jewelers to work with inexpensive materials, and Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel and others helped popularize costume jewelry during the 1920s. The roots of costume jewelry, however, took shape at least as far back as the 18th century, when paste jewelry that featured hand-cut glass instead of gemstones first emerged. Shop a variety of vintage costume jewelry on 1stDibs.
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