Yellow Sapphire GIA Cert Diamond Platinum Cluster Ring circa 1920
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Edwardian platinum cluster ring features a 2.38 carat yellow sapphire (GIA) center stone surrounded by three rows of small round diamonds, which total approximately 1.55 carats ...
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Platinum
1920's Diamond Solitaire Ring with Diamond Shoulders in 18ct Yellow Gold & Plat
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
A pretty 18ct Yellow Gold and Platinum ring that was made in the 1920's.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920's Diamond Solitaire Ring with Diamond Shoulders in 18ct Yellow Gold & Plat
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
A pretty 18ct Yellow Gold and Platinum ring that was made in the 1920's.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920's Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold and Platinum
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Embrace antique elegance with this 1920's Diamond solitaire engagement ring beautifully crafted in 18ct Yellow Gold and Platinum.
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco Baguette Diamond Square Cluster Ring, circa 1920
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A splendid 1920s diamond square cluster ring, unusually it's set with a central baguette cut stone. It's modelled in platinum and 18k gold, the head finished in fine millegrain detai...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920's 1.00ct Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold and Platinum
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Step back in time with our 1920's 1.00ct Diamond solitaire engagement ring, a treasure that blends the elegance of yesteryears with timeless beauty.
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920's Diamond Set Eye Aesthetic Ring in 18ct White and Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
This lovely ring was crafted in the 1920's and features a beautifully coloured pink/red paste stone which resembles a Ruby set with an Old European Cut Diamond in the centre giving t...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Canary Yellow Diamond Gold Platinum Ring
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A rare Art Deco original fancy yellow (un-enhanced) diamond ring. The central bezel set marquee yellow diamond weighs .70 ct, SI2 clarity with good cut. It is set in platinum and 18k...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Sold|$5,375
Fancy Yellow and White Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
A fancy yellow and white diamond cluster ring set in 18ct gold and platinum.
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Platinum
Art Deco Peridot Diamond Ring 18 Carat Gold, circa 1920
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
FACE MEASURES: Width 9mm x Height 9mm x Depth 4mm METAL: 18ct White/ Yellow Gold STONES: Peridot (0.50ct), Diamonds (0.60ct) CLARITY: SI 1 - H-J colour AGE: Art Deco, Circa 1920 ...
Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Cluster 18 Carat Gold, circa 1920 Ring
Located in Lancaster , GB
A stunning Art Deco ring C. 1920, adorned with a 0.80ct Sapphire in the centre accompanied by two 0.65ct Old cut Diamonds.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Rose Cut Diamond Flower Ring, French, circa 1920
Located in Essex, GB
Sits nice and snug to the ring on a slim yellow gold shank. Cut – Rose cut diamonds.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 0.51 Carat Old Cut Diamond Engagement Ring, circa 1920
Located in Essex, GB
A lovely antique diamond ring, The old European cut diamond in the centre – graded by HRD Antwerp as H colour, SI1 clarity – is burstingly white and lively.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco Carré Cut Diamond and Ruby Square Cluster Ring, circa 1920
Located in Essex, GB
Metal – 18k yellow gold. The diamonds are set in platinum. Tested.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1920's Period 3.18ct Two Stone Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
The most beautiful and larger than life two stone ring. This ring has an almost toi et moi style but with a channel of Diamonds set dividing them.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco Fancy Intense Yellow 2.02 Carat Cushion-Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring
By Belais Brothers
Located in San Francisco, CA
A beautiful bright sunshiny yellow antique cushion-cut diamond, weighing 2.02 carats (graded Fancy Intense Yellow - VS2 Clarity by the GIA) radiates from atop a refined, neoclassical...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
Emerald and Diamond Ring in 18k Yellow and White Gold
Located in Surfside, FL
ESTIMATED RETAIL: $5,230 YOUR PRICE: $3,940 - Emerald and diamond vintage style shield ring in 18k yellow and white gold with approximately 1.10 carats in full cut and bezel set roun...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
1920s Art Deco Platinum, 18k Yellow Gold, Diamond Sapphire Cocktail Marquise Ring
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
Circa 1920. Condition: Good. Old European cut diamonds.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 2.18 Carat Fancy Yellow Diamond Ring with Calibre Sapphires
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hailing from the height of the Art Deco period, circa 1925, this fabulous trophy ring stars a resplendent, rich sunshiny fancy yellow antique cushion-cut diamond weighing 2.18 carats...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
18 Carat Yellow Gold Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
The Centrepiece of this Art Deco Ring is a 1.73ct Emerald Cut, deep blue Sapphire, eye clean Clarity surrounded by 16 Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds, channel/micro claw set. Colour G-H...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 0.67 Carat Emerald & 0.90 Carat Old Cut Diamond Trilogy Ring circa 1920
Located in Essex, GB
A perfectly balanced emerald and diamond trilogy ring. The Colombian emerald in the centre is set in a yellow gold coronet collet and displays a bright, vibrant green.
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco Ring with Rose Cut Diamonds and one Pearl, 14K Yellow Gold and Silver
Located in Nordhorn, NI
Beautiful Original Art Deco Ring with Rose Cut Diamonds and one Pearl. The 22 rose cut diamonds have a good color and a clarity. The rose cut diamonds are not set in silver foil, bu...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco diamond ring in 18 carat yellow gold and platinum
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
An 18 carat yellow gold and platinum ring from the Art Deco period set with five old mine cut diamonds. The diamonds are about .16 carat in total, SI2 to Pique 1 in quality and L to...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Sold|$470
Art Deco Diamond Halo Cluster Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
This pretty 1920s cluster ring is set with nine sparkling white diamonds, surrounded by an oval platinum halo. The delicate head is complemented by elegant pinched shoulders. Modelle...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco Amethyst and Diamond Ring in 18 Carat Yellow Gold and Platinum
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
This ring features such a lovely Emerald Cut Amethyst stone in the centre with three small bright and clear Diamonds on either side weighing a total of 0.30ct. Made from 18ct Yellow ...
Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
French Art Deco Platinum and Yellow Gold Diamond, Pearl and Ruby Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
This handmade French Art Deco is made up of 18ct Yellow Gold & Platinum. It features a Pear Cut Ruby, Claw set, approximately 0.40 Carats in weight & vivid Pinkish Red in colour. 12 ...
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1.76 Carat Art Deco Fancy Yellow Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
This spectacular Art Deco ring, circa 1920s-30s, showcases a sensational, sunshine bright, natural Fancy Yellow European-cut diamond, weighing 1.76 carat. We've owned and examined ma...
Ring, White and Yellow Gold, Antique, Art Deco Style, Diamonds and Ruby
Located in EL Waalre, NL
Art Deco style ring, in 14 carat white gold and set with 31 Diamonds, brilliant cut, total 0,60 crt., 14 Rubies, square cut. Complete in original condition. Clarity diamonds: SI Colo...
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
French Art Deco 1.40 Carats Peridot Diamonds 18 Carats Yellow Gold Platinum Ring
Located in Paris, FR
Yellow gold and platinum Art Deco ring set with a square-cut peridot of 1.40 carats and old-cut diamonds.
Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Sold|$2,715
Antique Art Deco Amethyst Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Antique Art Deco ring boasts a fabulous Amethyst which is all natural, set in 18ct Yellow Gold. The amethyst is over 25ct in size and is adorned with beautiful bright...
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 6.26 Carat Yellow Ceylon Sapphire Cocktail Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A stunning Art Deco period cushion cut yellow sapphire cocktail ring. The principal stone is nothing short of spectacular, displaying a vibrant, warm yellow colour; it's certified at...
White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1920s Sapphire Diamond Platinum Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A gorgeous antique engagement ring or antique fashion ring that features a .45ct. apx. European cut center diamond with I1 clarity (100% eye clean) and H color. There is .20ct. apx. ...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Sold|$1,000
Art Deco Zircon Diamond Flower Cluster Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
This pretty vintage cluster ring is set with a vibrant blue zircon in the centre of a diamond halo, the settings formed to look like flower petals. In typical Art Deco style, the hea...
White Diamond, Zircon, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Edwardian Burma Ruby diamond Gold Fashion Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
T.W. apx. single cut diamonds. The ring dates from 1915 to 1920 and is oval in shape with the center line of rubies and single cut diamonds on each side.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Emerald and Diamond Ring in 18ct White and Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
This gorgeous little antique ring was hand crafted in the Art Deco era. It holds an Emerald cut clear and light Emerald in the centre with a surround of Old European Cut Diamonds in ...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Russian Emerald Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A beautiful emerald and diamond ring from the early (ca1920) Art Deco era! This ring is of Russian origin, and has a petite and feminine design crafted in 14kt gold. At the center is...
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 14k/Platinum Diamond Engagement Ring 2.27ct
Located in Narberth, PA
A breathtaking engagement ring from the Art Deco (ca1920s) era! Crafted in 14k yellow gold and platinum, this ring features a solitary 2.27ct old European cut diamond. The large diam...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco 14k/Platinum Sapphire & Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A fabulous sapphire and diamond ring from the Art Deco (ca1920s) era! Crafted in 14k yellow gold and platinum, this ring features a central oval-cut Ceylon sapphire. The dark, vibran...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique .36 carat diamond gold platinum engagement ring
Located in Tampa, FL
An incredible antique engagement ring featuring a .36ct. European cut center diamond with VS2 clarity and F-G color. It is accented with .08ct. apx. T.W. of transitional cut diamonds...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 0.88 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
This elegant vintage engagement ring is set with a gorgeous chunky old Cushion Cut Diamond - VS1 Clarity, H Colour, and .88 Carats in weight. The classic Art Deco mount is modelled i...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Stunning Vintage Art Deco Diamond Engagement Ring, 1920s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique jewelry object group: engagement ring (or anniversary ring) Condition: excellent condition Ring size Continental: 52 & 16½ , Size US 6 , Size UK: L - Free resizing (only fo...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco .50 Carat Diamond Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
An extravagant Art Deco diamond engagement ring crafted in platinum and 14K yellow gold featuring a .50ct. apx. old mine/cushion cut center diamond of VS2 clarity and H-I color. The ...
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Art Deco .52 Carat Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A sweet engagement ring from the 1920's. Primary Stone(s): Diamond - Conflict Free Weight: .52ct. apx.
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1930's Diamond Three Stone Ring with Diamond Set Shoulders in 18ct Yellow Gold a
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
A pretty 18ct Yellow Gold and Platinum ring that was made in the 1930's. This ring has a 0.20ct Diamond in the centre with a 0.10ct Diamond either side making a beautiful trilogy rin...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Art Deco .60 Carats Enamel Diamonds Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A unique antique engagement ring or fashion ring crafted in 14K yellow gold with enamel accents. This ring features a .10ct. apx. European cut center diamond that is surrounded by .5...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Gold Platinum Three Stone Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A beautiful antique 3 stone ring crafted in platinum & 18K yellow gold featuring 3 diamonds that weigh .24ct. apx. T.W. The clarity of the diamonds are SI2-I1 (100% Eye Clean) and I-...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Emerald and Old Mine Cut Diamond Trilogy, circa 1920
Located in Essex, GB
Carat – The emerald is approximately 0.38 with approximately 0.49 carat of diamonds. Circa – 1920. Size – J 1/2 (UK) or 5 (US).
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Decorative Vintage Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Antwerp, BE
Now, 80% of the women are offered a diamond ring to signify engagement. Diamond(s): One old European cut diamond with an estimated weight of ± 0.18ct.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, P...
1.25 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A beautiful fashion ring featuring 1.00ct. apx. T.W. of round brilliant diamonds and 1.25ct. apx. T.W. of baguette shaped sapphires. The ring is interesting in design with all of the...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco 1.15 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A beautiful antique engagement ring featuring a 1.15ct. natural rectangular cushion cut sapphire and .75ct. apx. T.W. of European cut diamonds with VS2-SI1 clarity and G-H color. The...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco .33 Carat Diamond Sapphire Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A very popular antique engagement ring crafted in platinum and 18K yellow gold featuring a lovely .33ct. apx. European cut center diamond with VS2 clarity and I-J color. The .50ct. a...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
1.25 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Gold Fashion Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A beautiful estate fashion ring featuring 1.00ct. apx. T.W. of round brilliant diamonds and 1.25ct. apx. T.W. of baguette shaped sapphires. The ring is interesting in design with all...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$1,100
Art Deco Blue Moonstone Diamond Trilogy Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
This superb 1920s ring is set with a central blue moonstone, flanked by two brilliant cut diamonds. Modelled in 18k yellow gold, the diamonds are set is white gold claw mounts to cre...
White Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Superb Platinum and Gold Art Deco Ring with Diamonds and Rubies
Located in Antwerp, BE
At the time, this style was seen as elegant, glamorous, functional and modern. Period: ca. 1920 Material: platinum and 18K yellow gold Diamonds: Four old brilliant cut diamonds wi...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Retro .55 Carat Diamond Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A geometrically designed retro engagement ring crafted in platinum and 18K yellow gold and features a .55ct. European cut center diamond flanked by 2 rows of .15ct. apx. T.W. of sing...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
In our Tampa store this ring has a retail price of $8,995. An extraordinarily beautiful Art Deco diamond and sapphire engagement ring crafted in Platinum and 18k yellow gold. It f...
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Antique .35 Carat Diamond Sapphire Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A popular antique engagement ring crafted in platinum and 18K yellow gold that features a .35ct. apx. center diamond with I1 clarity and I-J color. The diamond is surrounded by lab c...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow 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.
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.
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.
Ancient Egyptians referred to the vibrant stone as the “gem of the sun.”
There are many ways to showcase a diamond, from traditional prongs to a smooth, streamlined bezel. Here’s everything you need to consider.
The vintage bombé ring is bursting with color and timeless style.
Zircon is a magnificent and underrated natural gemstone that has been worn and adored for centuries.
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.
If diamonds don’t seem right, what about a magnificent sapphire, ruby or emerald?
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.