18 Carat Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Band Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
This very attractive Ring has 6 Oval Cut Rubies, colour enhanced, individually claw set and graduated size 0.20ct - 0.50ct nestled around 10 Brilliant Pave Cut Diamonds of very high ...
Modern Emerald Ruby Diamond Gold Stackable Ring Set
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Three yellow and white gold rings set with emeralds, rubies and appoximately 1 carat of G/VS diamonds.
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
Art Deco Diamond and Ruby Target Ring, Round Ruby Halo Ring Engagement Ruby Ring
Located in Rottedam, NL
Condition: excellent Details: 10 carat rose gold Circa 1.1 CT of calibrated rubies Circa 1.3 CT of diamonds Current size: US 7.5 EU 17.5 Weight: 6.5 g
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Snake ring in 18-carat yellow gold decorated with 86 black diamonds and 2 rubies
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
Snake ring in 18-carat yellow gold decorated with 86 round-cut black diamonds of 0.01 carats each, or 0.86 carats in total, 87 round champagne diamonds of 0.01 carats each, or 0.87 c...
Black Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Carved Large Ruby High Polished Beveled Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
18kt yellow gold beveled mounting consisting of a large carved and etched ruby in a floral design set in a high polished beveled gold mounting American Made in The 1960's designed in...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Antique 0.25 Carat Diamond Ruby and Sapphire Three Stone Gold Ring, circa 1890
Located in Goettingen, DE
Antique 0.25 Carat Diamond Ruby and Sapphire Three Stone Gold Ring, circa 1890 Late Victorian vertical three stone ring set with an oval cut diamond of 0.25 ct, accompanied, side ...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Sold|$5,990
Victorian 18k Ruby & Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
Crafted in 18k yellow gold, this ring features a .85ct oval cut ruby, which is held within a ten-prong setting.
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ruby Diamond Two-Color Gold Fashion Cocktail Band Ring
By Beyond Fine Jewelry
Located in NEW YORK, NY
4 Ruby Pear Shape 1.43 Carat 10 Ruby Round 0.63 Carat set along side Colorless Round Brilliant VS-SI Clarity Diamonds 1.03 Carat in 14K White and Yellow Gold in Stunning Fashion Cock...
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Gilbert Albert Signed 18 Karat Gold 10 Carat Chrysoprase Berry Motif Ring
By Gilbert Albert
Located in New york, NY
Rare 1960s Gilbert Albert Signed 18 Karat Gold 10 Carat Chrysoprase Berry Motif Ring, Fully Signed & Serial Numbered Chrysoprase Stone Dimensions: Approximately 10 carat (Length 12m...
Chalcedony, Chrysophrase, 18k Gold
Sold|$1,995
Ruby Black White Diamond Ring
Located in Gainesville, FL
This ring is crafted from 14k white gold and weighs 10 grams.
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Pear Shaped Burma Ruby Diamond Toi et Moi Gold Ring
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
A fine and impressive 'toi et moi' ring, or 'you and me'. A perfectly matched pear-shaped ruby and pear-shaped diamond are mounted on a cross-over in 18 carat gold.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Edwardian 18k/Platinum Ruby and Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
The ruby is bordered by a halo of 10 old European cut diamonds, which have an approximate total carat weight of 1.20ctw and are prong set.
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
AIG certified 1.70 carat princess cut ruby - 0.06 carat round brillant diamonds
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
18 carat white gold ring designed with 16 rubies princess cut weighing 1.70 carat and 12 round brillant cut diamonds weighing 0.06 carat.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Sold|$15,750
Deco-Retro Platinum Diamond and Ruby Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
This sensational late 1930s cocktail ring fashioned in platinum and 14 karat yellow gold is encrusted with 2.50 carats of vintage diamonds.
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum, 14k Gold
Blue sapphire, ruby and citrine ring w/ over 2 carats round brilliant
Located in Surfside, FL
Blue sapphire, ruby and citrine ring with over 2 carats round brilliant cut diamonds, estimate: G-H color, VS clarity, set in 18k gold.
Yellow Gold
Contemporary Art Deco Style 1.01ct Diamond and Ruby Cluster 18ct White Gold Ring
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Diamond Details: Cut: Modern Brilliant Cut Carat: 1.01ct total Clarity: SI Colour: I-J Ruby Details: Carat: 0.25-0.30ct total Ring Size: UK N 3/4 or US 7.10 Condition: Very good, s...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
14K Vintage Red, White and Blue, Ruby, Diamond and Sapphire Ring in Yellow Gold
Located in Boca Raton, FL
14K Vintage Red, White and Blue - Ruby, Diamond and Sapphire Ring in Yellow Gold.
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
No Heat Ruby Weighing 3.15ct and Diamond Cluster Ring 18ct Yellow & White Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Diamond Details: Cut: Brilliant Cut Carat: 1.30ct total Clarity: SI1 Colour: I Ruby Details: Cut: Oval Cushion Cut Carat: 3.15ct Ring Size: UK L or US 5.75 Condition: Very Good, sl...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
0.72 Carat Orangey-Pink Spinel and Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Tucson, AZ
This modern bypass shank ring is done in 18-karat yellow gold. The tension set center stone has a small basket for extra security and is a pinkish-orange Spinel The one VS clarity a...
Diamond, Spinel, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1.35 ct. Center Diamond Retro Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fabulous large scale platinum over 14 karat rose gold Retro ring. A stunning 1.35 carat European cut diamond is bezel set and highlighted by rubies and diamonds that playfully dance ...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Platinum
Blue Sapphire, Ruby and Citrine Ring with over 2 Carats Round Brilliant Cut Diam
Located in Surfside, FL
Blue sapphire, ruby and citrine ring with over 2 carats round brilliant cut diamonds, estimate: G-H color, VS clarity, set in 18k gold.
Yellow Gold
10, 21 Carat Natural Tanzanian Neon Vibrant Reddish Pink Mahenge Spinel
By D and A Style
Located in Singapore, SG
Extremely rare Mahenge spinel from Tanzania with fascinating color. The stone with such size and quality is now simply impossible to find on the market. Spinel Mahenge is mined in ...
Sapphire, Spinel, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Go...
14K Ruby & Diamond Cocktail Ring - Size 8.75 - Timeless Elegance, Luxury Jewelry
Located in Holtsville, NY
Indulge in luxurious elegance with this stunning 14K yellow gold cocktail ring, featuring a captivating 0.92 carat oval modified brilliant ruby at its center.
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Soldier Sapphire Tourmaline Diamond Topaz Ruby Snail Ring One of a Kind
By Alex Soldier
Located in New York, NY
Pink topaz: 32 stones, total carat weight: 5.3 ct. Pink sapphires: 67 stones, total carat weight: 10 ct.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Topaz, Tourmaline...
Beautiful 14 Carat Gold Rainbow Design Gemstone Stack Half Eternity Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
A beautiful and unusual half eternity or stack ring. SIZE ; U UK, 10 US Modelled in 14 carat yellow gold throughout.
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Contemporary 1.80ct No Heat Ruby and 1.28ct Diamond Double Cluster Ring in 18ct
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
The band itself is a split shoulder leading to a plain band, such a beautiful gem set ring. Diamond Details: Cut: Brilliant Cut Carat: 1.28ct total Clarity: VS2-SI1 Colour: G-H No ...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$13,450
Art Deco 1.63 c Diamond Ruby Ring
Located in Wimberley, TX
An exceptional diamond with any icy white shimmering hue shares a stage with luscious channel set rubies in a circa 1930 Art Deco ring of 15k yellow gold and platinum.
Diamond, Platinum
14K Ruby & Diamond Eternity Band, 3.11ct Cut Cornered Rectangular Step Cut Ruby
Located in Holtsville, NY
The centerpiece of this ring is a stunning 3.11 carat cut cornered rectangular step cut ruby, set beautifully among 10 red gems.
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Alex Sepkus Rose Gold 1.33 Carat Oval Diamond Solitaire Ladies Fashion Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Columbia, MO
Item Details Main Stone Shape Oval Main Stone Weight 1.300000 Main Stone Treatment Not Enhanced Secondary Stone Diamond Secondary Stone Weight $0.03 Main Stone Creation Natural Main...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Incredible Midcentury 1950s French 18 Carat Rose Gold Morganite and Diamond Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Secure within its gold collet setting and surrounded by a ring of collet-set brilliant-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 1.40 carats, this makes for an unusual and begui...
Diamond, Morganite, Rose Gold
David Webb 1960s Gemstone Gold Bombe Cocktail Ring
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb 18k gold and platinum bombe-shaped cocktail ring centering a 1.5 carat faceted round Burma ruby surrounded by 10 round brilliant diamonds, 22 emeralds, 8 pear shaped sapph...
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Set of Two 18 Karat JJ Marco Gemstone and Diamond Stackable Rings
By JJ Marco
Located in Pikesville, MD
The other band features alternating diamonds and rubies with .08 carats of diamonds and .10 carats of rubies.
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Very Rare Hot Pink Burmese Spinel & Diamond 18K Ring
Located in Mill Valley, CA
Another large spinel in the Crown Jewels, the “Timur ruby,” weighs over 350 carats. It, too, has a checkered history.
Diamond, Spinel, 18k Gold
Antique, Art Deco, Platinum, Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Diamond: total carat weight approximately 0.20 carats total. RING SIZE UK: Q US: 8 1/4 MEASUREMENTS Setting: 10 x 15mm Height of setting: 4mm WEIGHT Gross weight 2.65 grams
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Victorian French Hallmark Gold and Ruby Necklace
Located in Aliso Viejo, CA
The necklace measures 51.5” and weighs 18.65 grams. There are ten gold detailed and ruby stations. Each station has 10 rubies that measure 1.75mm each and set in a pave’ type setting.
Ruby, 18k Gold
Unique Marquise Ruby Diamond White Gold Cluster Pendant
Located in Columbia, MO
DETAILS: Unique White Gold Marquise Ruby & Round Diamond Cluster Pendant & Chain 10 karat white gold .70 carat combined total gemstone & diamond weight 18" in length...
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 10k Gold, White Gold
Vintage French Cut Ruby Diamond Cross Pendant Necklace
Located in Narberth, PA
A beautiful Vintage cross necklace from the 1950s! The lovely piece is made of 18kt white gold and forms the shape of a cross. The front surface of the cross is represented by 10 cal...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Magnificent Costume Jewelry Pigeon Blood 10 Carat Ruby Ring
Located in New York, NY
Magnificent Costume Jewelry Amazing Faux Pigeon Blood 10 Carat Ruby Ring set with half moon diamond cut cubic zirconia shoulders in white and yellow gold.
10k Gold
2.58 Carat Men's Ruby Diamond 14 Karat White Gold Ring
By DGI
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Total Carat Weight of the ring is 2.58 Carats. It is beautifully curated in 14 Karat White Gold and weighs approximately 16.1 grams.
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
2.93 Carat Men's Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
By DGI
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Total Carat Weight of the ring is 2.93 Carats. It is beautifully curated in 14 Karat Yellow Gold and weighs approximately 14.6 grams.
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1.79 Carat Ruby and 0.86 Carat Diamonds set in 18kt White Gold Ring
By Amin Luxury
Located in Florence, IT
This 1.79 Carat natural Myanmar (formerly Burma) Ruby and 0.86 Carats of Diamonds are set in a 18kt White Gold Ring.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Fine Ruby and Diamond Ring 7.56 Carat in 18 Karat White Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Offered here is a dazzling Ruby weighing 4.61 carats showcases its rich red color in this 18 kt white gold princess Diana Style ring.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$1,668
Lovers Shield 1.5 Carat Ruby Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Available in 14K yellow gold, rose gold and white gold. This ring is handmade and designed in NYC.
Ruby, 14k Gold
Ladies 18 Karat White Gold Ruby and Diamonds Ring
Located in New York, NY
This Ladies 18k White Gold Ruby and Diamonds Ring has 4.55 carats of Ruby and 0.44 carats of Diamonds.
Ruby, White Gold
Kian Design 1.00 Carat Oval Cut Ruby Engagement Ring in 18 Carat Yellow Gold
By Kian Design
Located in South Perth, AU
Oval Cut Runby & Diamonds Engagement Ring This stunning engagement ring set with one oval cut ruby and three beautiful round diamonds in four vintage yellow gold bezel settings, The...
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 2.95 Carat Cushion Cut Ruby and Rose Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
An antique ruby and diamond band from the later part of the Victorian era. Set with a row of five cushion shaped, mixed cut rubies of medium to dark colour. The rubies are claw and...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Round Red Ruby and Black Enamel 9 Carat Yellow Gold Mens Vintage Signet Ring
Located in Hamilton, AU
Forged in 9 carat yellow gold is this handsome mens solitaire vintage signet ring that features a black enamelled reindeer head beset with a single round red ruby.
Ruby, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1960s Ruby Sapphire Emerald Diamond Gold Fun Ring
Located in New York, NY
14kt yellow gold large cocktail ring embellished with 10 full cut diamonds weighing approximately 1 carat and 6 faceted emerals weighing approx. .50cts and further designed with 6 fa...
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, White Diamond, 14k Gold
Sold|$1,800
Channel Set Faceted Ruby Gold Ring
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Easily worn by men or women. This 14 karat yellow gold ring has a step design leading to a channel set with five beautifully matched round, faceted rubies having an approximate tota...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$7,800
Mine Cut Diamond and Ruby Ring
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique mine cut diamond and ruby ring. There are 10 mine-cut diamonds that weigh 2.00cts total. There are approximately 1.00cts of calibre cut rubies. The mounting is platinum.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage Gold Diamond Ruby Coiled Snake Ring Full Hallmarks circa 1980s
Located in Preston, Lancashire
A diamond and ruby coiled snake ring crafted in 9 karat yellow gold.
Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold
Ruby Emerald Sapphire Diamond 18Karat White Rose Yellow Gold Stackable Ring Band
By Brij Nivesh
Located in Hollywood, FL
A perfect Band sold as Set of 3 totaling 0.31 carat of Diamond , 0.48 ct Precious Stone, 6.202 gram of 18 Karat Gold Emerald / Diamond Ring Details Emerald Pieces : 9 Pieces Diam...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yello...
Sold|$19,950
Burmese Ruby Cabochon on a 1950s Cocktail Ring
Located in Paris, IDF
A 18Kt yellow gold and platinum ring, centered with an about 6,40 carats ruby cabochon, framed by four triangular diamonds and four brilliant cut diamonds.
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Natural Untreated Ruby Diamond Heart Cluster Ring, 1975
Located in London, GB
Vintage heart shaped ring with fine and lively natural untreated “Pidgeon Blood” Rubies and diamonds, made in 1975 with London hall mark. 6 well matched “Pidgeon Blood” rubies with...
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Emis Beros 18 Karat Ruby and Diamond Double Cluster Flower Ring
By Emis Beros
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This stunning 18 karat yellow gold ring features two flower clusters boasting above gem quality oval faceted perfectly matched rubies with over 6 carats total weight.
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Alex Soldier Sapphire Tourmaline Diamond Topaz Ruby Snail Ring One of a Kind
By Alex Soldier
Located in New York, NY
Pink topaz: 32 stones, total carat weight: 5.3 ct. Pink sapphires: 67 stones, total carat weight: 10 ct.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Topaz, Tourmaline...
Roberto Coin "Primavera" 18 Karat Two-Tone Rose/White Gold Diamond Fashion Ring
By Roberto Coin
Located in Mansfield, OH
The inside of this ring has the Roberto Coin trademark marquise ruby and signature.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
This deep red gem is the color of heat and passion — vintage and antique ruby jewelry is perfect for those born in the middle of summer.
Rubies are one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money. Just consider the Van Cleef & Arpels “scarf” necklace the Duke of Windsor presented to the Duchess on her 40th birthday, in 1936 — set with diamonds and dripping with rubies, a testament to the deep-red gemstone’s power — or the slippers encrusted with 4,600 rubies that Harry Winston made to commemorate The Wizard of Oz’s golden anniversary. July babies have permission to adorn themselves with this beautiful red stone even when it’s not their birthday.
Rubies are considered precious stones — along with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds — and have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs Scale, surpassed only by Moissanite and diamonds. They are composed of corundum, a colorless mineral that is also the basic material of sapphires. In the July birthstone, the red of the gemstone — and the various hues seen in sapphires — are produced by the presence of trace elements. In the case of a ruby, this element is chromium. Rubies range in color from vermilion to a violet red. They are also pleochroic, which means that a stone’s hue can vary depending on the direction of viewing. The most sought-after color is pigeon’s blood: pure red with a hint of blue.
Rubies that are hosted in dolomite marble are the most prized: Because the marble is low in iron, so are the rubies, resulting in a more intense color. Rubies found in basalt, which has a higher iron content, are generally darker and less intense.
When shopping for antique and vintage ruby jewelry, remember that the 4Cs of selecting the perfect diamond — color, clarity, cut and carat — also apply to rubies.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, the color of the July birthstone should be a vibrant to slightly purplish red, and the stone should be clear and inclusion-free. Accordingly, the cut should show off its color and clarity. As for the last criterion, fine rubies more than a carat in weight are rare. Often, large rubies are more expensive than diamonds of comparable weights.
Find a collection of ruby necklaces, ruby rings and other accessories on 1stDibs.
Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.
No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.
Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.
Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry.
The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.
Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.
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Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.