22k Emilio
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, 22k Gold
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Pink Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Blue Diamond
2010s American Artist Dangle Earrings
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Link Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Ruby
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Turkish Byzantine Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Bronze
2010s American Classical Greek Fashion Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold, Silver, Mixed Metal
2010s Unknown Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Gold
2010s American Artisan Fashion Rings
Opal, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold, Gold
2010s Solitaire Rings
Rubelite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modernist More Rings
Onyx, Rhodocrosite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Artisan Figurines and Sculptures
Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Artist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Byzantine Engagement Rings
Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Emerald, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Solitaire Rings
Emerald, 22k Gold
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.