$22,840Sale Price|20% Off
1 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Sapphire Art Deco Engagement Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite vintage engagement ring, dating back to the 1920s, showcases the quintessential elegance of the Art Deco era. At its heart sits a stunning, GIA-certified old European ...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.30 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 5.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT#: 1216245947 Weight: 1.30 Carat Cut: Old European B...
White Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified .92 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 4.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2211527871 Weight: .92 carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color:...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.48 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2195298984 Weight: 1.48 carat Cut: Antique Cushion Color: I Clarit...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.28 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #:2213319823 Weight: 1.28 carat Cut: Antique Cushion Color: I Clarity...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 2.17 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 9 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6217852349 Weight: 2.17carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color: K ...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.05 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 5.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2211873062 Weight: 1.05carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color:...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.45 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 4.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6224027248 Weight: 1.45ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: L ...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.25 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2221050734 Weight: 1.25ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: J Cla...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified .63 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.4 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6227175129 Weight: .63ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: H Cl...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.84 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 9.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 5221083033 Weight: 1.84carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color:...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified .97 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 5.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.1 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #:2223129197 Weight: .97ct Cut: Old Mine brilliant (Antique Cushio...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified .85 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.8 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6223157868 Weight: .85ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: K Cl...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.27 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 8 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 4.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6223183130 Weight: 1.27ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: J Cla...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.97 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 8 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.7 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2225163086 Weight: 1.97ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: M Cla...
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 0.65Ct Burmese Ruby and 0.48Ct Diamond, Platinum Twist Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique 0.65 carat Burmese ruby, 0.48 carat diamond and platinum twist ring; part of our diverse collection of twist engagement rings. This stunning,...
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Circa 1920s GIA .55ct Old European Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1920s Item Details: Ring Size: 4.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.6 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA Report#: 2151973992 Weight: .55ct total weight...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.81 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 1216619261 Weight: 1.81 carat Cut: Old European brilliant Colo...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.00 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 6.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 1.8 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2215413712 Weight: 1.00 carat Cut: Antique Cushi...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.36 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 6.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT#: 5211317698 Weight: 1.36 Carat Cut: Old European B...
White Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified .56 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 4.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 5211548782 Weight: .56 Cut: Old European brilliant Color: L Clar...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.41 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 7.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.2 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6214579794 Weight: 1.41 Cut: Old European brilliant Color: M Cl...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.09 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6217862973 Weight: 1.09 carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.04 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2225084155 Weight: 1.04carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color:...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.09 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 7.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2215335813 Weight: 1.09carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color:...
Diamond, Platinum
Art Deco GIA Certified Fancy Intense Yellow Marquise Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco GIA Certified Fancy Intense Yellow Marquise Diamond Ring A platinum ring set with a marquise brilliant cut intense yellow cut diamond accented by round cut diamonds. Yel...
Diamond, Platinum
Circa 1920s GIA 1.46ct Old European Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1920s Item Details: Ring Size: 6.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 4.1 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA Report#: 2231441028 Weight: 1.46ct total weig...
Diamond, Platinum
Circa 1920s GIA 1.67ct Old European Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1920s Item Details: Ring Size: 5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 4.9 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA Report#:6234413471 Weight: 1.67ct total weight...
Diamond, Platinum
1920 Art Deco Platinum Ring with Diamonds and Sapphires
Located in Aventura, FL
This exquisite Art Deco filigree ring showcases the era's masterful craftsmanship in lustrous platinum, featuring a beautiful 0.75-carat center diamond complemented by 0.16 carats of...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Art Deco Agate and 9 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This wonderful agate stone has marbling of deep green and amber colour running through. There are double claws holding the stone and ornate shoulders leading to an open gallery. Rin...
Agate, Gold
Antique 1.26 Carat Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Platinum Set Ring Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique 1920's 1.26 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold, platinum set dress ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunning, fi...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.03 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2215621341 Weight: 1.03 carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color: H...
Diamond, Platinum
Antique Men's 0.08 Carat Round Diamond Squared Ring 18k Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Antique Men's 0.08 Carat G/VS Single Cut Round Diamond Squared Ring 18k Gold. Very elegant ring with unusual round cornered squares ring. The ring features one single diamond that we...
Diamond, 18k Gold
.40 Carat Total Weight Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.8 grams Diamond Details: Weight: .40ct, total weight Cut: Old European Clarity: F-G Color: VS Band Width: 1...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified .82 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 4.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.1 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #:6217737664 Weight: .82 carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color: ...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.70 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #:5211795078 Weight: 1.60carat Cut: Old European brilliant Color: ...
Diamond, Platinum
Art Deco 0.50ct Diamond Solitaire Ring, c.1920s
Located in London, GB
Dating back to the 1920’s Art Deco period is this classic solitaire ring set with a single 0.50 carat diamond at it’s centre. The diamond has a colour of G and a clarity of VS2 and i...
Diamond, 18k Gold
GIA Certified 1.09 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 5.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 2101770995 Weight: 1.09 carat Cut: Antique Step C...
Diamond, Platinum
GIA Certified 1.20 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 7.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.0 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA REPORT #: 6214425690 Weight: 1.20 Carat Cut: Old European ...
Diamond, Platinum
1920s Antique 1.12 Carat Diamond and White Gold Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique 1920s 1.12 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold solitaire style engagement ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunnin...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco Platinum Old European Cut Diamond Ring, Circa 1920s
Located in Braintree, GB
A striking Art Deco diamond ring crafted in platinum, dating to the 1920s. The design centres on a prominent old European cut diamond, framed by a bold, architectural arrangement of ...
Diamond, Platinum
Dattelbaum & Friedman Art Deco 18K Gold Antique Orange Blossom Wedding Band Ring
By Orange Blossom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring a raised orange blossom motif fully around With grooved detail on flowers and foliates Stamped for 18 karat gold With maker's mark for Dattelbaum & Friedman Circa: 1920s Ri...
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
18k White Gold 1925 Antique Art Deco Diamond Ring
By Non Branded
Located in Lexington, KY
This stunning antique diamond ring comes from the 1925 Art Deco period and was made in 18k white gold. The bright white Old European cut diamond perfectly rests in the center of the ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Circa 1920s Platinum Filigree .50ct Old European Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1920s Item Details: Ring Size: 6 (Sizable) Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.9grams Diamond Details: Center Diamond weighs .50ct, Old European Brilliant, ...
Diamond, Platinum
Pomellato 8.50ct Lapis Lazuli & Brown Diamond Ring in 18k Rose Gold
By Pomellato
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pomellato has built its reputation on exactly this kind of confident, color-driven design, and this signed ring shows the house at its most striking. A deep cushion cut lapis lazuli,...
Brown Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Art Deco Platinum Burma Sapphire Diamond Cocktail/Engagement Ring
Located in Zurich, CH
Stunning Art Déco platinum Burma sapphire diamond cocktail/engagement ring. Handcrafted in platinum and set with an oval, non heated Burmese sapphire of circa 4.2 carats surrounded...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Art Deco Inspired 1 Carat Diamond Sapphire Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Center Stone: Diamond Cut: Old European Weight: 1 Carat Color: L Clarity: SI Accent Stone: 92 Diamonds Cut: Old Mine and Old European Cuts Weight: Approximately 0.8 Carats Color: H C...
Diamond, Platinum
Dainty Vintage Diamond Cocktail Ring 14K White Gold
Located in Montgomery, AL
We always love these elongated vintage rings! Ring Details Material: 14K White Gold Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Length: 17.6mm Head Height: 2.8mm Weight: 2.9 Grams Finger Size: 4...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco Diamond Cluster Ring, circa 1920s
Located in London, GB
Intricately designed, this cluster ring has a combined weight of 0.95 carat and the diamonds are all old cuts. In the centre is a 0.25 carat and the rest of the weight is in the clus...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
GIA .89 Carat Art Deco Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 7.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.6 grams Center Diamond Details: GIA LAB REPORT #: 6224882577 Weight: .89ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color:...
Diamond, Platinum
.65 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 5.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.7 grams Center Diamond Details: Weight: .65ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: I Clarity: VS1 Side Diamond ...
Diamond, Platinum
.40 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 4.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.8 grams Center Diamond Details: Weight: .40ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: I Clarity: VS Finger to Top...
Diamond, Platinum
.30 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.65 grams Center Diamond Details: Weight: .30ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: F Clarity: VS Finger to To...
Diamond, Platinum
Art Deco 2.09ct Diamond Solitaire Ring, c.1920s
Located in London, GB
Sitting at the heart of this timeless Art Deco solitaire ring is a stunning 2.09 carat old cut diamond. The diamond truly sparkles with a colour of J and clarity of SI1, and is claw ...
Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, White Gold
1.15 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.13 grams Center Diamond Details: Weight: 1.15ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: O/P Clarity: VS1 Finger t...
Diamond, Platinum
.40 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 5.5 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.16 grams Center Diamond Details: Weight: .40ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: G-H Clarity: VS Finger to T...
Diamond, Platinum
.50 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 9 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 4.33 grams Center Diamond Details: Weight: .50ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: G-H Clarity: VS/SI Finger to ...
Diamond, Platinum
Art Deco Amethyst Solitaire Filigree Vintage Ring in 18K White Gold
Located in Boston, MA
Aston Estate Jewelry Presents: A solitaire ring from the 1920s. Crafted in 18k white gold, this piece features a 6.00 carat marquise-cut amethyst as the primary stone. The amethys...
Amethyst, 18k Gold, White Gold
.51 Carat Art Deco Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 5.75 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 2.5 grams Center Diamond Details: Weight: .51ct Cut: Old European brilliant Color: F Clarity: VS1 Finger to To...
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 0.32 Carat Emerald and Diamond, 15k Yellow Gold Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique 0.32 carat emerald and 0.08 carat diamond, 15 karat yellow gold and silver set ring; part of our antique emerald jewelry collection. This stu...
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Silver
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.
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.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Ready to rock? Some of our favorite jewelry designers and dealers share indispensable advice for choosing that most important ring.
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.