5 Carat Kashmir

On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry. 

Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.

Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.

America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.

The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.

You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.

Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).

The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (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.)  

Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.

Vintage three-stone rings are pieces of jewelry adorned with three individual gemstones.

In 2001, De Beers launched the “Past, Present and Future” ring with a trio of diamonds and helped establish the three-stone ring as a staple jewelry piece. When it comes to modern engagement rings, many couples on the search for the perfect ring choose three-stone rings for their appeal and symbolism. When the Duchess of Sussex’s three-stone engagement ring was unveiled, it instantly piqued the interest of ring buyers and future fiancées.

Some popular gemstone cuts for three-stone rings include emerald, square and round. Three-stone rings can feature gemstones that are all the same type or a mix that varies in color, size and type. The three main size styles for these gemstones are graduated, slightly graduated and equal. Each of these styles differs in its carat weight. The rings can also be made from various metals such gold, silver, yellow gold or platinum.

Three-stone rings frequently have a slightly curved silhouette that makes them a great pairing for wedding bands or a foundation for a stacked design. You can add other rings such as an eternity band (an ideal choice for a wedding or milestone anniversary), a versatile band ring or a solitaire to contrast minimal pieces with more ornate statements.

The three-stone ring is an iconic accessory that will endure through time. Browse an assorted collection of vintage three-stone rings on 1stDibs, each featuring different gems and wedding-band styles.