“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.
David Webb, Platinum 18K Gold Enamel Diamond Earrings, Certificate
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
These David Webb clip-on earrings showcase the house’s signature elegance with bold white enamel and shimmering diamond wave lines. Crafted from 18K go...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
Bvlgari 18K Gold Turquoise Diamond Drop Earrings, Late 20th Century
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
These Bulgari earrings express the house’s celebrated colour revolution, pairing turquoise cabochons with sparkling diamonds. Arranged around sweeping diamond scrolls, the elongated ...
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
David Webb, Platinum 18K Gold Enamel Diamond Earrings
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
These David Webb earrings embody the house’s bold American glamour. Rich green enamel is wrapped in twisted gold rope motifs, accented with pavé diamonds for brilliance. The craftsma...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
David Webb 18K Gold Platinum Mabe Pearl Earrings, Late 20th Century
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
These David Webb earrings exude a bold and sophisticated charm, blending classic elegance with modern luxury. Featuring lustrous 18mm Mabe pearls, their radiant glow is beautifully f...
18k Gold, Platinum
David Webb, Platinum 18K Gold Coral Diamond Earrings
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
These David Webb earrings exemplify the house’s American boldness, blending Byzantine revival motifs with saturated color. Hammered gold frames coral and amethyst cabochons amid pavé...
Amethyst, Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Tiffany & Co. 18K Gold Sculptural Clip-On Earrings, Mid-20th Century
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
A sculptural pair of Tiffany & Co. 18k gold ear clips. Deeply ridged contours and hand-worked, hammered surfaces create striking organic texture and volume. Their bold naturalism...
Gold, 18k Gold
David Webb Turquoise and Diamond Oval Clip-On Gold Earrings
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb turquoise and diamond earrings in 18 karat yellow gold with stylized branch design. These clip-on earrings feature 2 oval c...
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
L’Orée du Bois 18K Gold & Turquoise Dome Earrings, France, 1970–80s
Located in Miami, FL
These 1970–80s L’Orée du Bois earrings capture the house’s unmistakable approach to form: rounded wood silhouettes accented with crisp 18K gold elements and vibrant turquoise cabocho...
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Gerard Yosca Gold Tone Faux Turquoise Clip-On Earrings, 1980s
By Gerard Yosca
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Yosca Gold Tone With Faux Turquoise Earrings Circa 1980s. These are well-made and substantial earrings. The earrings feature a dome of faux turq...
Mixed Metal
David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Cabochon Cut Turquoise Flower Clip-On Earrings
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Introducing the David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Cabochon Cut Turquoise Flower Coral Clip-On Earrings – a truly enchanting and distinctive addition to your jewelry collection. Measuring ap...
Turquoise, Yellow Gold
Vintage Nettie Rosenstein Faux Turquoise Clip-On Earrings, 1960s
By Nettie Rosenstein
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Nettie Rosenstein Faux Turquoise Diamante Earrings Circa 1960s. These are such well-made and well-designed earrings from the period. ...
Mixed Metal
IVAN & CO. Modernist Turquoise Clips Earrings 18Kt Gold With 3.20 Ctw Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
Clips-on earrings designed by Ivan & Co. This is a classic pair of modernism clips-on earrings created by Ivan & Co. back in the late 1970's. They were carefully crafted in ...
Diamond, Turquoise, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
