Sold|$2,350
1940 Quartz Fumé Gold Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
Elegant 18K rose Gold Ring. It is centered with an approximately 10 carat Quartz Fumé of stunning color Italy, 1940 circa CONDITION: Pre-Owned - Excellent METAL: 18k gold RING SIZE:...
Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold
Sold|$3,100
Rose Diamond & Colored Stone Index Ring
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau Index Ring set with Rose Diamonds - Faceted Rubies & Faceted Emeralds. Set in 14kt Rose Gold. Size 5 1/2
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold
Sold|$29,600
PAUL BRIANCON Art Nouveau Snake Ring
Located in London, GB
Paul Briançon and René Lalique formed the Lalique Company in 1885. This is a superb example of a serpent ring of the Art Nouveau period with its subtle combination of green enamel a...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Sold|$7,281
Antique Burmese Ruby Five-Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a gorgeous five-stone ruby ring. This antique piece has been crafted from a rich 18ct yellow gold and features five emerald-cut rubies of Burmese origin set across the f...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 18K Gold and Silver and 1.0 Carat Emerald and 1.50 Carat Diamond Halo
Located in New York, NY
Victorian 18k Yellow Gold Colombian Emerald and Diamond Halo Ring c.1850. The very picture of opulence unrestrained, the halo ring has been a prized piece of jewelry throughout the...
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Silver, 18k Gold
10 Karat White Gold Aquamarine Filigree Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
Filigree Style Ring set with Step Cut Aquamarine 0.9 Carat 10 Karat White Gold. This Ring was made in size US#7
Aquamarine, 10k Gold, White Gold
10 Karat Yellow Gold Peridot Filigree Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
Filigree Style 10 Karat Yellow Gold Ring set with Step Cut Natural Peridot 1.78 Carat. This Ring was made in size US#7
Peridot, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
10 Karat Rose Gold Amethyst Filigree Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
Filigree Style Ring set with Step Cut Amethyst 1.55 Carat on 10 Karat Rose Gold. This Ring was made in size US#8
Amethyst, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
Amethyst 10 Karat Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
Victorian Style Ring set with Step Cut Amethyst 0.56 Carat in the center. And 4 pcs. Amethyst 0.11 Carat. This Ring was made in 10K Rose Gold size US#7
Amethyst, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
Gold Victorian Regard Ring Hallmarked Birmingham, 1875
Located in Baltimore, MD
The Victorian Regard ring is a romantic acrostic ring set with six gemstones in which the initial letter of each spells the word 'Regard': Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, and...
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, 15k Gold
10 Karat White Gold Blue Topaz Filigree Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
Filigree Style Cocktail Ring set with Step Cut Blue Topaz 2.10 Carat. This Ring was made in 10K White Gold size US#6
Topaz, 10k Gold, White Gold
Antique Victorian 10 Karat Yellow Gold Aquamarine Cocktail Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Victorian cocktail ring with a beautiful aquamarine center stone. #R0242 Metal: 10K Yellow Gold Weight: 2.4 Grams Ring Size: 6 1/4 (sizable) This ring can be sized for a $30 fe...
Aquamarine, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 18k rose gold ruby diamond snake ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Victorian snake ring, crafted in 18k rose gold, features a vibrant ruby, sparkling diamond, and emerald eyes, symbolizing timeless elegance and charm. Center stone: Cushion cut...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian 2.2 Carat Aquamarine 10K Yellow Gold Silver Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Center Stone: Aquamarine Cut: Emerald Weight: Approximately 2.2 Carats Color: Blue Metal: 10K Yellow Gold and Silver Era: Victorian Circa: 1900s Hallmarks: 10K Purity Marks Size: 6.5...
Aquamarine, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Victorian 2.51 carat sapphire diamond 10k yellow gold ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Victorian ring showcases a beautifully saturated emerald cut sapphire whose elongated silhouette gives the piece an unmistakable elegance. The sapphire’s rich depth is subtly hi...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Art Deco Ostby Barton 14k White Gold Green Amethyst Hand Engraved Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
–Stone(s)– (1) Natural Genuine Amethyst - Emerald Cut - Bezel Set - Green Color - 10x8mm (approx.) Material: Solid 14k White Gold Weight: 3.1 Grams Ring Size: 4.0 ( fitted on finge...
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1820 18K Victorian Mourning Ring Hand Carved Engraved Floral Design Pearl Halo
Located in Addison, TX
Description: Here we have a unique 1820 Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Mourning Ring. This ring features a halo of natural seeds pearls highlighting the encapsulated hair displayed in th...
Pearl, 18k Gold
1820 18K Victorian Mourning Ring Hand Carved Engraved Floral Design Pearl Halo
Located in Addison, TX
Description: Here we have a unique 1820 Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Mourning Ring. This ring features a halo of natural seeds pearls highlighting the encapsulated hair displayed in th...
Pearl, 18k Gold
Tiffany & Co. Antique Art Deco Cambodian No Heat Sapphire and Diamond Ring, GIA
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Centering this beautiful three stone Tiffany & Co ring is an approximately 2.50CTS Cambodian No Heat Blue Sapphire GIA certified flanked on either side by Old European Cut diamonds w...
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
18K Gold Art Nouveau Ring with Sapphire and Diamond
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A superb 18 carat gold French turn of the 19th century cluster ring with an emerald cut light blue unenhanced Sri Lanka sapphire (app. 5.13 carat and 14 old cut diamonds surround and...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bague Marguerite ancienne en émeraude et diamants
Located in PARIS, FR
Bague Marguerite ancienne en or rose 18 carats (750 millièmes) du milieu du 19ème siècle, centrée d'une émeraude taille coussin d'env. 0,20 carat dans un entourage de diamants taille...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Bague Marguerite en émeraude et diamants du milieu du 19ème siècle
Located in PARIS, FR
Bague Marguerite ancienne en or 18 carats (750 millièmes) et argent du milieu du 19ème siècle, centrée d'une émeraude à pans coupés d'env. 0,30 carat dans un entourage de diamants ta...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Colorful Antique Multi-Gemstone Eternity Band
Located in Baltimore, MD
Delightful multi-stone Georgian eternity band containing a variety of gems including diamond, ruby, emerald, turquoise, amethyst and sapphire. The closed back 18K gold setting is typ...
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, 1...
Antique Emerald and Diamond Ring, 18-Karat, English, circa 1900
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Antique 18-karat emerald and diamond ring, English, circa 1900. The cushion shape ring centring a natural slightly bluish green color emerald weighing approximately 1.35 carat, VS (T...
Gold
.75ctw Round Cut Synthetic Emerald & Diamond Ring, 14k Yellow Gold Halo Bypass
Located in Greensboro, NC
This ring is a size 6 1/4, but it can be re-sized up 2 sizes for a $25 fee or down 2 sizes for a $20 fee. Once a ring is re-sized, we guarantee the work but we are unable to offer a ...
Yellow Gold
19th Century Flaming Heart Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
19th century flaming heart emerald and diamond ring The heart aflame symbolizes the burning passion of undying love.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
A 19th Century 2.10cts emerald and diamond dress ring.
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
A 19th Century emerald and diamond dress ring, second half of the 19th century.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver
19th Century 15ct Sugerloaf Cabochon Emerald and Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
Sugerloaf emerald Regal 19th century sugerloaf cabochon emerald and rose cut diamond cluster ring, rose cut diamond weight app 08-1.0ct total, emerald approx. 15 ct, 18K gold shank,...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
French Belle Epoque 19th Century Emerald 18 Karat Yellow Gold Oval Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Antique jewel - French work from the end of the 19th century. Our opinion : This antique emerald ring is very feminine and very flat on the finger.
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Iberian (Georgian) Emerald and Diamond Navette Shaped Ring 19th Century
Located in OVIEDO, AS
Antique Emerald and Diamond Navette Shaped Ring 19th Century..
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver
19th Century Emerald Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clover Shape Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat yellow gold. Charming antique ring, it is formed of a clover whose leaves are made of 3 round emeralds set with claws, and the tail of a small pattern adorned with a...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Emerald Diamonds 18 Karat Rose White Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat rose and white gold. Beautiful antique ring, it is decorated with an oval emerald in closed setting, surrounded by rose- cut diamonds. Weight of the emerald : 1 cara...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Sold|$8,700
Antique Persian Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Geneva, CH
Early 19th Century. Ring size: 6 1/4. We are reknown for curating unfindable jewels.
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold
Sold|$2,700
Antique Emerald Diamond Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Elegant Georgian basket set emerald band ring in 18K gold and silver. The emerald is flanked on each side by three diamonds. It is a size 10.
Diamond, Emerald, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
Sold|$1,356
Antique Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
This antique ring features one square emerald in the center and 2 smaller tapered emeralds on each side separated by single cut diamonds. Total weight of emeralds is approximately 0....
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Sold|$3,890
Antique Five Stone Emerald Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Lovely Victorian five stone emerald ring set in 18K yellow gold can be worn alone or stacked with other rings. The ring is a size 6 1/2.
Emerald, 18k Gold
Sold|$2,985
Estate Emerald & Diamond Ring, circa 1840
Located in San Francisco, CA
A gorgeous piece of history at your fingertips. This incredible antique emerald ring circa 1840 features a well saturated 0.55 carat emerald surrounded by a halo of 8 old single cut ...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$8,900
Antique Russian Emerald Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Moscow, 1880s The ring is prong-set with a cushion cut emerald (7.9 x 7.4 x 2.8 mm, approximately 1 carat), framed by ten old European and old cushion cut diamonds, (average 3.5 x...
Emerald, Diamond
Sold|$5,876
Antique Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Centering upon a rectangular-cut emerald, within an old European-cut diamond surround, mounted in silver and gold, circa 1850 Size: 6 1/2 Weight: 5,2gr.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Silver
Antique Fleur De Lys Gold Ring with Emerald and Diamonds, France, late 19th cent
Located in Chorzów, PL
The central point of the ring is a teardrop-shaped emerald, intensely green in color and an impressive weight of 0.50 carats.
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Sold|$2,820
French Antique Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
US Size : 6, Free resize, please contact us. Authentic antique ring – French work of the 19th century. Our opinion : A superb antique rose gold ring, feminine and refined typic...
Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
Very Rare Antique Russian Emerald Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
This antique Russian ring dated ‘1871’, features a very rare Russian (the Ural Mountains) lush bluish green emerald (3.24 Ct) surrounded by bright white old mine cut diamonds. The r...
Emerald
Victorian Antique Emerald Diamond Cluster Engagement Ring
Located in Banbury, GB
Dandelion Antiques Code AT-0853 Brand Unsigned Date Circa 1850 __________________________________ Metal ...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Victorian Colombian Sugarloaf Emerald and Diamond Ring, circa 1890s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
A beautiful Colombian Sugarloaf Emerald and Diamond Ring, ca. 1890s The sugarloaf emerald cabochon of ca. 5 carats, is of very saturated colour and transparency and is an excellent ...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Platinum Engraved Emerald Full Eternity Band Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Antique Platinum Engraved Emerald Full Eternity Band Ring sweetest emerald eternity! The item comes without the box in the photos but will be presented in an Howard’s Antique gift...
Emerald, Platinum
2.85 Carat Oval Cabochon Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
18 kt., one oval cabochon emerald ap. 2.85 cts. 40 baguette & tapered baguette diamonds ap. 2.45 cts., ap. 6.8 dwts. Size 5 3/4. Cabochon emerald: deep green, good color saturati...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold
Vintage 0.97ct Three-Stone Emerald-Cut Amethyst Ring, Platinum
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite three-stone ring showcases three stunning emerald-cut amethysts, each elegantly set in prongs, with a combined total weight of 0.97 carats. The rich purple hues of the...
Amethyst, Emerald, Platinum
Antique Georgian circa 1800 Emerald Diamond Heart Shaped Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
This antique heart-shaped ring from the late 1700s – early 1800s features a natural emerald of an excellent color, clarity, and saturation. The emerald is set in a closed back settin...
Diamond, Emerald
Victorian 18 Karat Gold Columbian Emerald Diamond Cluster Antique Ring
Located in Banbury, GB
An impressive Victorian emerald and diamond cluster ring made in 1880 with very elegant scrolling decoration to the shoulders. The emerald is a top gem quality Columbian emerald, the...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Antique Victorian Five Stone Emerald Diamond 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in London, GB
Our antique Victorian five stone ring, features a stunning trio of antique diamonds, flanked by a pair of bright green emeralds, all set in a luxurious 18ct gold band. The exquisite ...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold
Antique Late 1800s Emerald Gold Ring with London Assay Marks
Located in Bay Harbor Islands, FL
Lively emerald ring, set with 5 graduated emerald cut emeralds weighing approximately 1.80 carats. The prongs are set with 8 small old mine cut diamonds. This 18k gold ring was made ...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 15ct Gold, Early Victorian Emerald & Pearl Daisy Cluster Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Daisy Cluster Ring 15ct Gold Circa 1870 This stunning early Victorian daisy cluster ring is a true treasure. Crafted from 15-carat gold, it features a beautiful arrangemen...
Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
French Napoleon 3 1850s Emerald Diamond Duchess Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
US Size : 5,5 ; Free resize, please contact us. Authentic antique ring - French work of the second half of the 19th century.
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Gemstone Ring Emerald Diamond 18 Karat Gold Platinum
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian emerald & diamond engagement ring (circa 1880s to 1900s) crafted in 18 karat yellow gold and platinum. One emerald cut emerald measures 5mm x 3.5m...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold, Emerald and Enamel Snuff, Poison, Locket Ring
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold, Emerald and Enamel Snuff, Poison, locket Ring. Extremely rare lover piece. Age-related condition. Hallmarked. Inner diameter: 19mm. US Ring Size: ...
Emerald, 18k Gold
Hexagonal Crystal Emerald Beryl 20 Carat Ring 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Laguna Hills, CA
Emerald Hexagonal Beryl Crystal ring consists of superior green color set in ring. Natural Crystal is set in hexagonal shape and is measured as 1 inch wide x .80 " in height. The ri...
Beryl, Crystal, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 18K Gold Emerald Old Cut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
Navette means ‘little boat’ in French. The rings of this silhouette became popular in the 19th century.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k 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.
No one liked emeralds and emerald jewelry more than Elizabeth Taylor (or her alter ego, Cleopatra). Emeralds were first discovered in Egypt around 330 BC. The stone’s name originated from the ancient Greek word for green, “smaragdus.” According to the Gemological Institute of America, “Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when 16th-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spaniards, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.”
There are numerous myths attributed to the emerald’s spiritual powers, like placing an emerald under your tongue will allow you to see the future. But be careful not to swallow the birthstone for May, or that future won’t be so bright!
There are many important (read: large) emeralds in museum collections around the world. The Patricia Emerald, named after the miner’s daughter, is a 632-carat dihexagonal (or 12-sided) crystal that was discovered in Colombia in 1920 and now resides at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington has in its possession the Hooker Emerald, a 75.47-carat Colombian stone. That emerald had been acquired in the 16th or 17th century by Spanish conquistadores and shipped to Europe. It later belonged to Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1876–1909), who wore it on his belt buckle. Purchased at auction by Tiffany & Co. in 1911, the Hooker Emerald was set into a tiara and featured in the New York World’s Fair “House of Jewels” exhibit in 1940. Today, it is part of a brooch, also designed by the jewelry house.
On 1stDibs, find a range of antique and vintage emerald jewelry and watches that includes emerald rings, emerald necklaces and other accessories.
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.”
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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.
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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.