Red Carpet Worthy Antique And Vintage Jewelry

Bentley & Skinner’s Archaeological revival gold myrtle leaf tiara, possibly by Castellani. The twenty-two realistically carved leaves embellished with thirty buds forming a wreath, with a yellow gold frame hinged at the front, circa 1865.

During the Antique fairs in the U.S. and Europe, the most compelling and desirable antique and vintage pieces from the 1700s through the 1970s are becoming scarcer yet still can be found. The authentic, original statement-making pieces on display during the shows in different cities and at various dealers were treasures to behold. Many were also red carpet worthy. As 2023 SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild Awards) and The Academy Awards approach, scouring the shows for jewels that could take center stage on A-list celebrities became a hunt that seemed an apropos and fun approach to the last two big events during awards season and the genuine beauty of the antique and vintage gems.

Finding pieces that could stand out among the pieces we have seen at The Golden Globes, Critics Choice, Grammys and BAFTA was the guiding force, as was finding jewels that antique and vintage aficionados could also add to their own collections from high drama necklaces to brooches and clips.

Here are some of the stars that could shine on the red carpet and on you:

Star Struck Necklaces

Fred Leighton’s 18K gold and platinum set emerald and diamond necklace by Rene Boivin features A choker of stylized torsade design accented with old European cut diamonds and an interchangeable centerpiece set with a square emerald within a surround of emeralds. This convertible emerald centerpiece may be detached and worn as a clip brooch. The necklace has French hallmarks and maker’s marks. The piece is accompanied by an original Boivin case and a Certificate of Authenticity from renowned Boivin experts, Francoise Cailles and Jean-Norbert Salit. Circa 1937-1940.

Wartski ‘s enameled gold and gem-set pendant in the Indian taste by Falize, Paris, circa 1880.

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Fred Leighton’s necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels Paris of baguette and round diamonds are mounted in platinum, signed and numbered Van Cleef & Arpels.

Humphrey Butler’s antique peridot and pink topaz trellis work necklace with pearl drops, mounted in 15K gold.

Macklowe Gallery’s early 20th-century platinum convertible diamond collar necklace easily transforms between two lengths of necklaces and can also be worn as a pair of bracelets.

Lang Antiques’ Victorian swag necklace, circa 1850. The backs of the three drops garnet and diamond drops are designed with open display lockets. Hand fabricated in 15K yellow gold.

Sparkle Plenty Earrings

A La Vieille Russie’s antique Georgian ear diamond drop earrings with old mine diamond articulated swing-framed drop and fringe pendant earrings. English, late 18th century.

Simon Teakle’s Art Deco diamond earrings featuring shield shaped pendant drops set with baguette and pave set diamonds with a central navette shaped diamond suspended from a baguette cut diamond architectural style top, mounted in platinum, circa 1935.

Kentshire’s Victorian 18K gold, emerald and diamond pendant earrings with articulated beaded borders surrounding star-set emerald and diamond drops with inset circular emerald surmounts.

Lang Antiques’ drop earrings date back to the mid-19th century, circa 1850-1875. Each earring displays a half-dozen pastel pink topazes elegantly presented in fanciful foliate motif frames, lightly hand fabricated in 18K yellow gold.

Simon Teakle’s Art Deco diamond earrings by Ravasco. The earrings are designed in articulated pagoda pendant styles, set with circular, baguette, and navette shaped diamond style suspending a single larger old European cut diamond mounted in platinum circa 1925.

Unabashedly Bold Bracelets

Macklowe Gallery’s Important Bapst & Falize Paris diamond and enamel bangle bracelet. Made by Bapst and Falize circa 1887, this 18K gold, enamel and diamond hinged bangle is decorated with medallions depicting six distinct species of blossoms formed of old mine-cut diamonds topping medium relief gold stalks with foliage, some with berries. The bracelet is chased, surrounded by red translucent enamel and accented by bezel set diamonds. The reverse is counter-enameled in opaque sky blue, while each medallion corresponding to the frontal diamond motifs contains a chased relief depiction of the same flower realized in gold, with corresponding stalk and foliage in polychrome cloisonné enamel.

S.J. Phillips’ Art Deco cabochon ruby and diamond strap bracelet, c.1935, designed as two graduated cluster panels of oval cabochon rubies, joined by openwork geometric ‘bowtie’ sections set with round and baguette cut diamonds.

Estate Diamond Jewelry’s antique Art Deco platinum and diamond bracelet. The bracelet features a detailed swirl design. Openwork filigree and open spaces separates the swirl motif and the diamond links.The center of the bracelet features three bezel-set diamonds, the middle of which, features a larger old mine diamond circa 1920.

Siegelson’s Retro 18K gold and platium emerald and diamond bracelet by Verger Frères for Van Cleef & Arpels, Paris, circa 1940. It features a wide flexible bracelet composed of two bands of raised rectangular gold links collet-set with emeralds, the center with a band of cylindrical gold links, all accented by three ornate bombé enhancements set with emeralds and diamonds.

Captivating Clips

Sandra Cronan’s pair of carved emerald, ruby and diamond clips, mounted in platinum by Mauboussin. French, circa 1925.

Humphrey Butler’s pair of Edwardian diamond clip brooches of openwork floral design, set throughout with single-cut diamonds and rose-cut diamond borders.

High Drama Brooches

Macklowe Gallery’s Art Deco ‘jabot’ pin. With a quick little click (or “cliquet”) to snap the parts together, the brooch invisibly attaches to a jacket, shirt cuff, hat, and more. By an unknown French maker, this brooch is beautifully pavé-set with old European-cut diamonds with sparkle and fire offset by delicate lines of black enamel.

Veronique Bamps’ Posy brooch was crafted in gold, silver with enamel, diamonds, and garnets, France, circa 1850. Makers mark for Audouard frères.

Wartski’s diamond set Rosebud Brooch is a beauty and was created by Paul Flato New York, circa 1938

Estate Diamond Jewelry’s vintage Retro era ring, featuring an emerald-cut aquamarine, flanked by two rows of single cut diamonds set in rectangular bezels on the shoulders. Fine milgrain adorns the edges of the bezels. Rolled bars decorate the north and south edges of the mounting. This vintage ring was handcrafted in platinum circa 1940.

Bentley & Skinner’s A Edwardian opal and diamond cluster ring, set in a platinum mount with openwork gallery, circa 1905.

Fred Leighton’s Art Deco diamond, emerald and onyx ring with an old European cut diamond that centers a geometric cluster with checkered patterns of onyx and emeralds, Circa 1920s.

A La Vieille Russie’s Art Deco natural ruby and diamond ring set in a pavé diamond and platinum mount. English, circa 1930.