“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.
Iconic David Webb Rock Crystal Chimera Bangle
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Iconic David Webb Rock Crystal Chimera Bangle A bangle featuring carved rock crystal, pear shaped emeralds, oval shaped rubies and round cut diamonds. Measurements: approximately 6...
Rock Crystal, 14k Gold, White Gold
David Webb Ruby and Diamond Lion Bangle Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb Ruby and Diamond Lion Bangle Bracelet A lion motif bracelet featuring cabochon rubies with green enamel in the center of each ruby. The lion head is set with round cut di...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
David Webb Emerald and Diamond Chimera Bangle Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb Emerald and Diamond Chimera Bangle Bracelet A bangle featuring a large center cabochon emerald set with round cut diamonds, pear shape sapphires and cabochon emeralds M...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
David Webb Turquoise And Diamond Snake Bangle Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb Turquoise and Diamond Snake Bangle Bracelet A bangle featuring textured gold as snake skin set with a turquoise and diamond head Measurements: 2.75" in diameter (flexib...
Diamond, Turquoise, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Indian Enamel and Diamond Elephant Bangles
Located in New York, NY
Antique Indian Enamel and Diamond Elephant Bangles A pair of antique Indian yellow gold bangles from circa 1850s with elephant head motifs. The bangles are set throughout with rose-...
Diamond, Ruby, 22k Gold
Retro Ruby and Citrine Gold Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
Retro Ruby and Citrine Gold bracelet 12 oval citrines weigh approx 48 cts 48 rubies weigh approx 9.6 cts Made Circa 1940 Approx 1.20 inches wide 8 inches long 80.1 grams 14 karat ...
Citrine, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
David Webb Angel Skin Coral Chimeral & Diamond Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb Angel Skin Coral Chimeral & Diamond Bracelet. Mythology meets science meets jewelry. According to Greek mythology, Chimaera was a monstrous fire-breathing hybrid creature, a lion with a goat head on its back and a snake as its tail. With such creative and fascinating story background, the term 'chimerism' came to describe anything composed of very disparate parts. An important bracelet...
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
David Webb Coral Double Lion Head Bangle Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Double Head Lion BANGLE BRACELET, BY DAVID WEBB An important example of David Webb's design, a carved coral bangle bracelet. Designed in David Webb's celebrated and signature animal motif, the bracelet features two dragon heads whereby each is adorned by various diamonds and colored gemstones: emeralds and rubies. The two heads are joined together by a diamond-covered clasp. Signed “David Webb.” Designed as two opposing carved coral dragon...
Vintage 1960s David Webb Coral Lion Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted with black enamel over 18k yellow gold with carved Coral, Cabochon Emeralds, Round cut Emeralds, and Round Brilliant cut Diamonds. Signed by David Webb Circa 1960s Siz...
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Enamel
David Webb Chestnut Horse Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Finley crafted in 18k yellow gold and enamel with Round Brilliant cut Diamonds and Cabochon Rubies. Signed by David Webb Size 6 1/4
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Enamel
Georgian Coral Bracelet
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A coral bracelet with lions, eagles, dogs, cats, snakes and dragons all in a loving embrace with acanthus leaves on their backs carved to create a magnificent bracelet with a hidden ...
Coral, 18k Gold
David Webb White Enamel Ram Animal Bangle with Rubies and Emeralds Bracelet
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
DAVID WEBB IMPORTANT VINTAGE RAM'S HEAD BRACELET This is a wonderful, rare and elegant bracelet, with a flexible white enameled body, and dramatic cabochon rubies, emerald and sapphires set in the ram's head. This bracelet was made for socialite Carolyne Ryan Foulke, c1960's. Signed WEBB. It was on loan to the exhibition of David Webb jewelry...
Emerald, Ruby, Enamel
