What did engagement rings look like in the 1920s?

In the 1920s, engagement rings still looked like rings but were representative of a diverse range of styles and influences. Art Deco diamond ring designs took inspiration from the contemporary Cubist movement as well as from ancient Egypt – a revival sparked by the opening of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Native American, African and Asian motifs also inspired jewelry pieces. Diamonds in square and rectangular shapes incorporating angular steps – like emerald cuts, Asscher cuts and baguettes – were set against black onyx, rubies, sapphires and emeralds to create color-blocking effects. Platinum, 18-karat gold, 14-karat white gold and sterling silver were some of the favored metals of the decade. Find a wide range of Art Deco engagement rings on 1stDibs.

1920s Deco Cocktail Rings

Diamond Ring 1 Carat 1920s

1920s Art Deco Blue Sapphire

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Antique 1920's Art Deco Diamond & Emerald Platinum Ring

$4,460Sale Price|20% Off

Antique 1920's Art Deco Diamond & Emerald Platinum Ring

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Antique Art Deco 1920's Shield Ring Over 1.00ct Brilliant Old Cut Round Diamonds & French Cut Emeralds The Beautiful Diamonds average H Color SI Clarity 21.5mm Long x 14mm Wide ...

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Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

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Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Antique Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Ring, Circa 1920's

$14,000

Antique Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Ring, Circa 1920's

Located in New Orleans, LA

Classic Art Deco Ruby and Diamond cocktail ring in 14K gold and platinum.

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Art Deco 1.5cttw Diamond + Sapphire 18k Gold Shield Cocktail Ring, 1920s

$6,800

$41,911

$3,037

1920s 1.20 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Platinum Set Cocktail Ring

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A fine and impressive 1.20 carat natural blue sapphire and 0.68 carat diamond, 18k yellow gold and platinum set cocktail ring in the Art Deco style; part of our antique jewelry and e...

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Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cluster Rings

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Deco Candy Cane Art Glass Cocktail Ring Belais Bros 14k Original 1920s Antique

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Antique Art Deco Platinum Jade and Diamond Ring circa 1920s

Located in New York, NY

An exquisite Art Deco platinum Jade diamond ring showcases a vibrant marquise cut jadeite cabochon of rich, translucent emerald green, set with 16 old European cut and old mine cut d...

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Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

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Diamond, Jade, Platinum

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Art Deco 1.20ct Old-Cut Diamond and Platinum Ring, Italy, Circa 1920

$5,268

Art Deco 1.20ct Old-Cut Diamond and Platinum Ring, Italy, Circa 1920

Located in Firenze, IT

Period: 1920 ca. Size: 6 3/4 Weight: 3.9 gr. The Art Déco ring presents a rectangular shape and is fully characterized by 32 stones, old-cut diamonds and rose-cut diamonds; the ring...

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Here we have an absolutely breathtaking antique diamond ring that was crafted from solid 18k yellow gold and platinum. This uniquely designed platter style ring features a gorgeous, ...

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Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Cocktail Rings

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Certified Art Deco Colombian Emerald and Diamond Platinum Ring

$3,300

$18,750

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Antique 14K Yellow Gold Clustered Emeralds and Diamond Cocktail Ring for Her

By VR Jewels

Located in New York, NY

Emerald ring in 14K Gold which perfectly goes with your personality and also helps you to improve your creativity. Designed with emeralds and diamonds that makes it a perfect fit to ...

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1905 Antique Ring Ruby Diamonds solid 18K Gold Platinum ØUS 8.7.5 / 3 gr

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1905 Antique Ring Ruby Diamonds solid 18K Gold Platinum ØUS 8.7.5 / 3 gr

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2.8 Ct Blue Sapphire & Diamond Three Stone Engagement Ring in 18K Yellow Gold

$3,555 / item

$6,250

Art Deco Three Stone Filigree Ring 1.20 Carats Platinum 4.2 Grams

By Harbor Diamonds

Located in New York, NY

Art Deco ring featuring three diamonds in the center and shattered diamonds throughout the mounting in a miligrain design mounting, in Platinum.

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15ct Yellow Gold Georgian Rare Hessonite Garnet, Natural Seed Pearl Cluster Ring

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15ct Yellow Gold Georgian Rare Hessonite Garnet, Natural Seed Pearl Cluster Ring

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Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Cluster Rings

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1920s Deco Cocktail Rings For Sale on 1stDibs

Browse a vast assortment of 1920s deco cocktail rings for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of gold, platinum and 18k gold, these items were constructed with great care. Our selection of items includes 387 vintage examples as well as 1 contemporary versions. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 20th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 21st Century. There are many different pieces in our collection of 1920s deco cocktail rings to choose from, but Art Deco and retro 1920s deco cocktail rings are of considerable interest. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Cartier, Belais Brothers and Belais produced popular versions that are worth a look. Any of these pieces can lend versatility to your look, but diamond versions, from our inventory of 181, are particularly popular. A selection of old european cut, round cut and brilliant cut can be found today on these pages. Most of our 1920s deco cocktail rings for sale are for women, but there are 82 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much are 1920s Deco Cocktail Rings?

On average, 1920s deco cocktail rings at 1stDibs sell for $3,448, while they’re typically $132 on the low end and $495,000 for the highest priced versions of this item.

A Close Look at Art-deco Jewelry

Fascination with the Jazz Age is endless, and even today jewelry designers continue to be inspired by authentic Art Deco jewelry and watches.

The Art Deco period, encompassing the 1920s and ’30s, ushered in a very distinct look in the design of jewelry. There were many influences on the jewelry of the era that actually began to take shape prior to the 1920s. In 1909, Serge Diaghilev brought the Ballet Russes to Paris, and women went wild for the company’s exotic and vibrant costumes It’s no wonder, then, that jade, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise and other bright gemstones became all the rage. There already existed a fascination with the East, particularly China and Japan, and motifs consisting of fans and masks started to show up in Art Deco jewelry.

However, the event that had the greatest influence on Deco was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. When the world saw what was hidden in Tut’s burial chamber, it sent just about everyone into a frenzy. Pierre Cartier wrote in 1923 that “the discovery of the tomb will bring some sweeping changes in fashion jewelry.” And he couldn’t have been more right. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. (Cartier created some of the most iconic jewelry designs that defined this era.)

While a lot of Art Deco jewelry was black and white — the black coming from the use of onyx or black enamel and the white from rock crystal and diamonds — there is plenty of color in jewelry of the era. A perfect accent to diamonds in platinum settings were blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and these stones were also used in combination with each other.

Many designers employed coral, jade and lapis lazuli, too. In fact, some of the most important avant-garde jewelers of the period, like Jean Després and Jean Fouquet (son of Georges), would combine white gold with ebony and malachite for a jolt of color.

A lot of the jewelry produced during this time nodded to current fashion trends, and women often accessorized their accessories. The cloche hat was often accented with geometric diamond brooches or double-clip brooches. Backless evening dresses looked fabulous with sautoir necklaces, and long pearl necklaces that ended with tassels, popular during the Edwardian period, were favored by women everywhere, including Coco Chanel.

Find unique Art Deco necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other 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 Cocktail-rings for You

A flashy symbol of wealth during the early 20th century, antique and vintage cocktail rings have gained broader appeal in the decades since for the hefty dose of glamour they bring to any ensemble.

Cocktail rings earned their name for their frequent appearances during glitzy cocktail parties at the height of the Prohibition era. Back then, these accessories were seen not only as statement pieces but as statements in and of themselves. They openly represented a sense of freedom and independence as well as a demonstration of opulence. After all, the 1920s heralded the Harlem Renaissance and Art Deco design, and a slew of social and cultural shifts meant that women in particular were breaking from pre–World War I conventions and embracing newfound freedoms to express themselves as individuals.

Women expressly wore cocktail rings on the fingers of their right hand versus the left, which was “reserved” for an engagement ring or wedding band, accessories definitely paid for by a suitor. And for cocktail rings, the bigger the colored gem at the center — which is usually mounted in a high setting — and the more elaborate the design, the stronger the likelihood of being noticed.

Cocktail rings remained a popular piece of jewelry for women until the 1930s, when the Great Depression and the onset of war marked a change in behaviors nationwide. While the 1960s and ’70s saw a return in visibility for the accessory, it wasn’t until the 1980s that cocktail rings once again assumed their position as a beacon of luxury and glitz.

During the 20th century, the range of dazzling cocktail rings seems to have been limitless, from glimmering gold rings set with carved jade diamonds designed by David Webb to Pomellato’s pink quartz confections to striking Gucci butterfly rings with accent diamonds set in a pavé fashion.

So, how do you wear a cocktail ring? Cocktail rings “can be worn for almost anything — dinners, date nights, parties, special events, on the red carpet,” explains David Joseph of New York-based jewelry brand Bochic.

Can you wear cocktail rings with other rings? “In my opinion, cocktail rings should stand on their own since they showcase a large gem in the center,” says Joseph.

These glamorous jewels can be worn inside or outside crowded taverns, in either daytime or nighttime with casual or dressy attire. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique and vintage cocktail rings, including those offered by Chanel, whose elegant cocktail rings often feature pearls and, of course, diamonds, and sometimes were styled after showy flowers like the camellia, and Van Cleef & Arpels, whose detailed and intricate designs are viewed as miniature pieces of wearable art.