“Women are tired of jewelry-looking jewelry,” celebrated American designer David Webb once noted. In response, he created a menagerie of whimsical animals rendered as rings, brooches, earrings and, especially, bangle bracelets. This playfulness permeates all Webb’s work, which is characterized by brightly hued enamel and color-saturated semiprecious stones like coral, azurmalachite and turquoise, the notable exception being the clear, elegant rock crystal for which he had an affinity.
The North Carolina native apprenticed with his uncle, a silversmith, before moving to New York, where he established David Webb Inc. in 1948. He had no formal training in jewelry design. Instead, he culled inspiration from the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Americas, as well as the traditions of India and China — influences discernible in such pieces as his collar necklaces and talisman-like sautoirs.
Webb’s first animal bracelet was produced in 1957. His most famous, the zebra, took shape in 1963; its stripes now form the company’s logo. Although Webb died in 1975, his company continues to produce designs drawn from his extensive archives, and every piece is still made in the workshop above its Madison Avenue store.
Find an alluring collection of David Webb jewelry on 1stDibs, including earrings, brooches and other accessories.
Vintage 1960s Tahitian Pearls Necklace with Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in 18k white gold with Tahitian Pearls and Round Brilliant cut Diamonds weighing approximately a total of 50.00 carats. Circa 1960s
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Gold and Pearl Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in 18k yellow gold with Pears. Signed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Circa 1980s 15 3/4 inches long
Pearl, 18k Gold
South Sea Baroque Pearl Necklace with Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted with South Sea Baroque Pearls measuring 24.3 x 17.1 - 18.6 x 16.2 mm. The necklace features a clasp finely crafted in platinum with Round Brilliant cut Diamonds weighi...
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Antique Edwardian 1910s Pearl and 8.50 Carat Diamond Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Finley crafted in platinum and 18k yellow gold with Pearls and Old European cut Diamonds weighing approximately a total of 8.50 carats. Circa 1910s
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s David Webb Gold Collar Necklace with Diamonds
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in 18k yellow gold and platinum with Round Brilliant cut Diamonds weighing a total of approximately 2.50 carats. Signed by David Webb Circa 1970s 15 inches long
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Pearl Tassel Necklace with Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted with two strands and a tassel of cultured Pearls measuring 8.5 - 9 mm, featuring a center piece and clasp finely crafted in 18k yellow gold with Pear-Shaped and Round ...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
David Webb Pearl, Diamond, Onyx & Rock Crystal Necklace
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Platinum · Diamonds · Onyx · Rock crystal · Pearls · 1980s Bold, graphic, and unmistakably powerful, this exceptional necklace by David Webb is a masterful expression of the house’s...
Crystal, Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, Platinum
18 Karat White Gold, 4.39 Carat Diamond and Cultured Pearl Choker Necklace
By Bernard Grosz
Located in New York, NY
Feel like a princess in this beautiful 18 karat white gold , diamond and pearl choker. The necklace has been set with 9 pave diamond balls which alternate with 10 cultured white pearls. The pattern continues to the back with 18 karat white gold high polished balls...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
David Webb Triple Strand Fine Pearl and Diamond Necklace
By David Webb
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980s David Webb Triple Strand Pearls Necklace, Having very Fine AAA Quality 6 M.M Round Cultured Pearls With nearly no signs of surface blemishes and are of Fine White luster ...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
1970s Three -Strand Pearl Diamond 18K Choker Necklace
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant Estate 1980s Natural Diamond and three Strand Akoya pearl Choker Necklace with solid 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Bar Link The necklace has an ...
Diamond, Pearl
Two-Strand Silver Akoya Pearl Choker with Platinum & 2.3ct Diamond Centerpiece
By Eytan Brandes
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
This lovely, sexy one-of-a-kind choker by Eytan Brandes features a diamond bar pin that Eytan converted to a pendant centerpiece for two strands of small, super-lustrous silver baroq...
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gol...
Vintage Platinum 2.5ctw Diamond Multi Strand Pearl Collar Necklace by Adler
By Adler
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A vintage diamond, seed pearl, and platinum necklace, comprising one large round brilliant cut diamond, two-hundred-and-eighty-four smaller round brilliant cut diamonds, and approxim...
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
