Platinum and Gold Earrings
Platinum and gold earrings bring together durable white metal and warm yellow or white gold, spanning Edwardian, Art Deco and Mid-Century periods.
Platinum and Gold Earrings
Platinum and gold earrings are fine antique and vintage pieces designed primarily as drop earrings, clusters and studs. These jewels unite the strength of platinum with the richness of 18ct gold, often set with diamonds and occasionally aquamarine or jade.
The selection ranges from delicate Edwardian drop designs to geometric Art Deco creations and cleaner Mid-Century forms. Buyers frequently encounter white gold and platinum combinations framing old-cut and rose-cut diamonds.
Many examples showcase French craftsmanship from the early twentieth century alongside English work. Articulated drop earrings and cluster configurations dominate the available styles.
Materials and construction
Goldsmiths utilised platinum for its exceptional tensile strength, allowing intricate, needle-thin wirework and secure settings that held diamonds without excessive metal bulk. This white metal was frequently combined with 18ct yellow or white gold to construct the body of the earring.
Gemstones were shaped by hand, featuring old European, transitional, rose and baguette cuts suited to the candlelit or early electric environments of their era. Settings often incorporate millegrain borders alongside openwork galleries to maximise light passing through the stones.
Platinum and Gold Earrings Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for platinum and gold earrings among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature pieces from the Edwardian, 1920, 1930 and 1950 periods.
Judging the work
Quality rests in the crispness of the platinum wirework and the harmony between the gold mount and the primary stones. Superior pieces display invisible or flush joins where the platinum meets the gold substructure.
The selection of the diamonds and coloured gems dictates the overall refinement, particularly when matching old-cut stones by hand for symmetry and brilliance. Original closures and functioning screw-backs or lever-backs also determine the integrity of a surviving pair.
The Platinum and Gold Earrings Glossary
- Old European cut
- A diamond cut popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries featuring a small table, high crown and deep pavilion. This cut produces broad flashes of light rather than the pinpoint sparkle of modern stones.
- Millegrain
- A decorative technique involving a row of tiny raised beads along the edge of a metal setting. It softens the transition between metal and stone.
- Art Deco
- A design style spanning the 1920s and 1930s defined by geometric precision, symmetry and sharp lines. In earrings, this translates to rectilinear drops and symmetrical clusters.
- Transition cut
- A diamond cut used from the 1920s to the 1940s representing the evolution from old European cuts to modern round brilliants. These stones retain deep proportions with a slightly larger table.
Platinum and Gold Earrings: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these earrings come from?
The pieces span the Edwardian era, the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s, and Mid-Century modern designs.
Craftsmanship shifts from lace-like floral motifs in the early 1900s to geometric architecture by the 1930s.
Are these earrings made entirely of platinum?
Most examples use a combination of platinum and 18ct white or yellow gold rather than platinum alone.
Platinum was typically deployed on the face of the earring to securely hold diamonds, while gold formed the underlying structure.
What gemstones are set in these earrings?
Diamonds are the primary stone, including old European, rose, transitional and baguette cuts.
Select pieces also feature aquamarine or carved jade alongside the diamond pavé and cluster work.
How should antique drop earrings be stored?
Store them individually in lined boxes to prevent the platinum and gold mounts from scratching against other jewellery.
Keep articulated drops laid flat or hung carefully to protect the delicate hinges from strain.