Price guide to antique and vintage opal dragonfly brooches. Dragonflies are beautiful insects which have inspired many jewelry makers for centuries. Opals, with their beautiful play of colors, make excellent gemstones for dragonfly brooches.
An opal, diamond and gem-set dragonfly brooch, circa 1900
The wings composed of intricate gold knifewife ‘veins’ overlaid with carved slices of transparent precious opal, with additional rose-cut diamond decoration on the wings and legs, the eyes with circular-cut rubies, the thorax with a single cushion-shaped diamond and the curving abdomen with circular-cut demantoid garnets, mounted in silver and gold, detachable brooch fitting, width 7.2cm
The dragonfly was a popular motif in Art Nouveau jewellery, its delicate wings usually rendered in colourful plique-a-jour enamels. It is therefore unusual that the wings of this example are in transparent precious opal with a subtle blue and green play of colour that becomes more apparent as the jewel is held over a dark background.
Sold for £ 6,875 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2018
A DIAMOND, ENAMEL AND MULTI-GEM DRAGONFLY BROOCH
Designed as a variously-shaped sapphire, opal and diamond dragonfly, extending blue plique-à-jour enamel wings decorated with single-cut diamonds, mounted in gold.
Sold for USD 64,900 at Christies in 2011
Platinum, Gold, Gem-Set and Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
Centering one round opal encircled by 12 old European-cut diamonds, topped by one collet-set modified round demantoid garnet and one old European-cut diamond, flanked by 2 old European-cut diamonds, altogether approximately 1.20 cts., its antennae tipped by round opals, flanked by pairs of pierced wings set with old European, single and rose-cut diamonds, totaling approximtely 6.00 cts., embellished with one round cabochon ruby approximately 1.95 cts., one cushion-shaped ruby approximately 1.65 cts., 4 round opals, 3 cushion-shaped sapphires, 2 small cushion-shaped rubies, edged by 12 round sapphires, its curved gold body set with 13 round opals, circa 1920, approximately 24.6 dwts.
Cushion-shaped ruby: deep vivd raspberry red, good color concentration, moderately included, very lively. With AGL report, Burma origin, no indications of heat or clarity enhancement.
Cabochon ruby: medium pinkish-red, moderately included, translucent, very good polish.
Sapphires: deep royal blue, one small stone is brighter violetish-blue, slightly included, several minor table edge abrasions, lively.
Opals: top 3 are milky white with light green, red and blue play of color, opals on the tail have bluer body color with blue and green play of color, pinkish on reverse, translucent, good polish.
Demantoid garnet: bright medium lime green, moderately included, lively.
Large diamond: G-H-VS.
Diamonds: G-H-I-VS-SI, several crown facets chipped, one pavilion chipped.
Good condition. Normal wear. Well-made. 2 7/8 x 3 7/8 inches.
Sold for $10,625 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle New York in 2017
Multi-Stone Dragonfly Brooch
14k rose gold, the Art Nouveau-style brooch set with single-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.40 carats in total, five opal cabochons weighing approximately 0.10 carats each, ten round-cut rubies weighing approximately 0.25 carats in total, two round-cut sapphires weighing approximately 0.02 carats in total, and two round-cut emeralds weighing approximately 0.30 carats in total. size 1-1/2″ x 1-7/8″, total weight 9.8 grams.
Sold for $2,600 at New Orleans Auction Galleries in 2017
18Kt. Diamond, Opal & Enamel Dragonfly Brooch
Plique du jour articulated diamond, opal & enamel brooch in 18kt gold setting. Flexible tail. 2″ X 2.75″. Total weight 21.1 grams.
Sold for $700 at Abington Auction Gallery in 2017
Silver, Gold, Plique-à-jour Enamel, Sapphire, Opal and Diamond Brooch
Designed as a dragonfly with an articulated tail, set with 12 cabochon sapphires measuring approximately 3.6 to 2.2 mm, accented by round diamonds weighing approximately 1.40 carats, the body centered by an opal, gross weight approximately 13 dwts.
Sold for 8,750 USD at Sothebys in 2015
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
Victorian Opal and Diamond Brooches
