18k Gold European Diamond Engagement Ring
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 18th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Gold
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings
Pink Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Unknown Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Aquamarine, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
20th Century Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century European Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Rose Gold
Antique Early 1900s European Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s European Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
- 1
- ...
18k Gold European Diamond Engagement Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 18k Gold European Diamond Engagement Ring?
Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship
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.
The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design
Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.
From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!
There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.
Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.
In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).
When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And 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.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right Rings for You
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.
Read More
Our Guide to Engagement Ring Settings – And How to Choose One
There are many ways to showcase a diamond, from traditional prongs to a smooth, streamlined bezel. Here’s everything you need to consider.
Nothing Says Summer Heat Like This Ruby-Red Cartier Stunner
The vintage bombé ring is bursting with color and timeless style.
Zircon Rings: Our Guide to a Uniquely Colorful Natural Gemstone
Zircon is a magnificent and underrated natural gemstone that has been worn and adored for centuries.
[Survey] Two-Thirds of Jewelry Gift Recipients Don’t Want to Be Surprised
Givers of fine gems enjoy surprise more than receivers, and women more than men. Find out what else our survey of 3,000 Americans revealed.
Colorful Gemstones Are a Brilliant Choice for Engagement Rings
If diamonds don’t seem right, what about a magnificent sapphire, ruby or emerald?
Our Guide to Fancy-Colored Diamond Engagement Rings
Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Talking Diamonds with the Jeweler Behind J. Lo’s Engagement Ring
Alon Ruschin, of Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry, channels his passion for gems into helping clients find just the right ring.