18-carat yellow gold ring decorated with a 10-franc gold Napoleon dating 1868
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
18-carat yellow gold ring decorated with a 10-franc gold Napoleon dating from 1868 The coin is
Antique 1860s Signet Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18-carat yellow gold ring decorated with a 10-franc gold Napoleon dating 1868
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
18-carat yellow gold ring decorated with a 10-franc gold Napoleon dating from 1868 The coin is
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 'Hare' Carnelian Intaglio Ring
Located in New York, NY
A lovely antique Victorian carnelian intaglio ring with a carved image of a leaping hare. The ring
Carnelian, 18k Gold
Victorian 18 Carat Gold Bloodstone Signet Ring, 1868
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Victorian 18ct yellow gold oval bloodstone signet ring. The ring is hallmarked with Birmingham
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Almandine Garnet and Diamond 15 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
This standout Almandine Garnet and Diamond Gold Ring was crafted in the Victorian period. Modelled
Diamond, Garnet, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Gold Rose Cut Diamond Garnet Ladybird Ring
Located in Boston, Lincolnshire
A Lovely Victorian Garnet and Rose cut Diamond Ladybird ring. Stones in Silver topped gold setting
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Victorian Cabochon Garnet 15 Carat Gold, Dated 1868 Ring
Located in Lancaster , GB
This exquisite antique Victorian ring is fully hallmarked and dated Birmingham 1868. Adorned with
Garnet, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Diamond and Ruby Double Headed Snake Ring
Located in London, GB
unmarked 18K Gold and could well have been an Engagement Ring in the 19th century. The Ring size has been
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Antique Georgian Garnet Rose Cut Diamond Ring 18 Carat Gold
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous 18ct Gold Georgian Garnet and Rose cut Diamond ring is simply stunning, Circa 1830
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold
Victorian 1.55 Carat Diamond Rare Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
A traditional Victorian period Diamond cluster ring Exquisitely set with a centre old mine cushion
Diamond, 18k Gold
Victorian 15ct Gold Emerald and Garnet Floral Cluster Ring Circa 1867
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A truly elegant mid Victorian 15ct gold garnet floral ring dating from circa 1867 its design is so
Emerald, Garnet, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Amethyst Emerald Pearl Ring Dated 1867 12 Carat Gold
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
genuine Victorian, dated 1867. Set in 12ct Yellow Gold. The ring is set with Amethyst, Emerald, and Pearl
Amethyst, Emerald, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Victorian Locket Backed Moonstone and Old Cushion Diamond Cluster Ring in Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Yellow Gold Diamond Details: Cut: Old Cut Carat: 1.44ct total Colour: H-K Clarity: SI1-SI2 Ring Size
Diamond, Moonstone, Gold
Victorian Locket Backed Moonstone and Old Cushion Diamond Cluster Ring in Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Yellow Gold Diamond Details: Cut: Old Cut Carat: 1.44ct total Colour: H-K Clarity: SI1-SI2 Ring Size
Diamond, Moonstone, Gold
Victorian Locket Backed Moonstone and Old Cushion Diamond Cluster Ring in Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Yellow Gold Diamond Details: Cut: Old Cut Carat: 1.44ct total Colour: H-K Clarity: SI1-SI2 Ring Size
Diamond, Moonstone, Gold
Victorian Natural Blue Sapphire and Rose Cut Diamond Crossover Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Victorian romance Gorgeous over beliefs, this authentic Victorian era Cross over ring, perfect for
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Victorian Oval Pink Spinel & Diamond Cluster Ring in 18 Carat Gold, English 1865
Located in London, GB
Oval cluster ring dating from the mid Victorian period. The cluster comprises a large central pink
Spinel, Diamond, Topaz, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 15ct Gold Pink Sapphire, Pearl and Green Beryl Cluster Ring Circa 1866
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
An immaculate high Victorian 15ct yellow gold pink sapphire, pearl and green beryl cluster ring
Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Green Beryl, Gold, 15k Gold
Mid Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Four-Stone Ring, circa 1866
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
An interesting antique mid-Victorian 18 karat yellow gold ruby and diamond ring. With two Old Mine
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$1,500
Victorian Dearest Gemstone Acrostic Ring
Located in Brooklyn, NY
, the stones in this 15k gold cluster ring spell DEAREST. The flared shoulders and flat hoop are chased
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, 15k Gold
1860s Victorian Opal Emerald Garnet Fede Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A sweet mid Victorian period gem set cluster ring, the central opal surrounded by emeralds and
Emerald, Garnet, Opal, Yellow Gold
Victorian 9k Gold Aquamarine and Blue Topaz Three Stone Ring, Circa 1860
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A delightfully pretty high Victorian oval aquamarine and blue topaz three stone ring set in 9k
Aquamarine, Gold, 9k Gold
One Yellow Gold and Silver Rose Cut Diamond Ring, Netherlands, circa 1860
Located in Heerlen, NL
One (1) 14K. yellow gold and silver diamond ring Set with 3 rose cut diamonds, weighing together
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Gold and Citrine Ring - 1860s
Located in London, Chelsea
Ravishing Antique Gold and Citrine Ring. Truly stunning brooch conversion ring featuring a large
Citrine, 18k Gold, 9k Gold
Lovely Mid Victorian Enameled Diamond Gold Urn Ring
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful mid Victorian urn ring would have been worn as a memorial piece for a loved one. The
Diamond, Gold
1860s French Napoleon III Agate Gold Signet Ring
Located in St. Catharines, ON
A Parisian ring set with a vacant oval agate within a beaded 18k gold bezel, the shoulders designed
Agate, 18k Gold
Sold|$825
Gold Memorial Fede Ring
Located in New York, NY
Fede rings- where two hands are clasped-have been popular for centuries. The hands can symbolize
15k Gold
Victorian Gent Rare Signet Seal Ring 18 Karat Solid Gold
Located in Napoli, IT
fine Victorian intaglio seal men's ring exquisitely hand crafted of substantial 18 KT sold gold
18k Gold
Unusual Victorian Chalcedony and Black Enamel Locket Mourning Ring 18 Karat Gold
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A superb mourning signet ring, chalcedony seal set with a monogram of the letters CSN, the hinged
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Victorian Lover's Knot Diamond Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
Victorian 18ct Gold Chased Lovers Knot Ring, Set with 3 old cut diamonds, Hallmarks for Birmingham
White Diamond, 18k Gold
Sold|$2,860
Antique Gold Ring 1855-1877 Tampere Finland
Located in Orimattila, FI
Antique Gold Ring 1855-1877 Tampere Finland. Very rare indeed. Stone most obviously Glass. A great
Gold
Victorian Sapphire & Rose Cut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Kenley surrey, GB
A Stunning high quality Navette Boat shaped Victorian Ring 3 Bright blue sapphires glitter with
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Victorian Almandine Garnet and Diamond 15 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
This standout Almandine Garnet and Diamond Gold Ring was crafted in the Victorian period. Modelled
Diamond, Garnet, 15k Gold
Enameled "In Memory Of" Pearl Ruby Gold Cluster Ring
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully enameled on 18K yellow gold, this cluster ring is set with pearls and a central ruby
Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
English Gold Garnet Emerald Five-Stone Ring, 1866
Located in St. Catharines, ON
each side, mounted in 15kt yellow gold decorated with scrolls and engraved motifs all around the shank
Emerald, Garnet, 15k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 15 Carat Yellow Gold Diamond and Multi Gemstone Victorian Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
This beautifully preserved Antique Ring has been closely fashioned along the lines of the very
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Gemstone Regard Ring 15 Carat Gold Dated 1868
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This beautiful antique Victorian Regard ring is fully hallmarked and dated Birmingham 1868. Set
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Antique 9 Kt Yellow Gold Oval Bloodstone Signet Ring of Large Size
Located in Windsor Forest, Berkshire
A beautiful Victorian antique 9 Kt yellow gold and bloodstone signet ring with large oval face
Antique Victorian Garnet and Opal Ring in 22ct Yellow Gold with Detailed Shouler
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
An exquisite example of a Victorian piece of jewellery. This ring features two small blue cloudy
Garnet, Opal, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$6,800
Superb Victorian Snake Ring
Located in New York, NY
everlasting/endless love. This ring, in 18K is set with a very large old mine cut diamond and garnet eyes. The
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold
1862 Victorian Heraldic Lion Intaglio Signet Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A very cool mid-Victorian Heraldic Signet Ring, modelled in 15k gold and hallmarked for the year
Onyx, 15k Gold
Antique Victorian Ruby Diamond Ring Dated London, 1869
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous 18ct Yellow Gold ring is fully hallmarked London 1869 Set with a trilogy of Rubies
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Cabochon Garnet and Old Mine Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
approximately 12mm x 6.5mm. The 18k yellow gold ring is further accented by a decadent halo of twelve Old Mine
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold
The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.
Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.
The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.
Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs.
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.
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.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.