ALEX SEPKUS 18K Yellow Gold 4.32ct Sapphire Ring AS08-112525
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Southampton, PA
This Alex Sepkus ring is a timeless piece that is designed to continually make a statement.
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire
ALEX SEPKUS 18K Yellow Gold 4.32ct Sapphire Ring AS08-112525
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Southampton, PA
This Alex Sepkus ring is a timeless piece that is designed to continually make a statement.
Sapphire
Alex Sepkus "Candy" Dome Ring with Blue and Purple Sapphires in Platinum
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
This ring is of heirloom quality you love and expect from Alex Sepkus. 6 round purple and blue sapphires and 9 bezel set white brilliant cut round diamonds sparkle in antiqued plat...
White Diamond, Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, Platinum
Alex Sepkus Blue Sapphire and Diamond 18K Gold Cocktail Ring 1.99 Carat
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From the studio of Alex Sepkus in New York - 18 karat yellow gold ring with stunning oval shaped vivid blue sapphire and set with 10 brilliant cut white diamonds.
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus "Candy" Dome Ring with Blue Sapphires and Green Tsavorite Garnets
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
This ring is of heirloom quality you love and expect from Alex Sepkus. 3 blue sapphires, 3 green tsavorite garnets and 9 bezel set white brilliant cut round diamonds sparkle in 18 ...
White Diamond, Garnet, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus "Little Windows" Dome Ring with Blue Sapphires in 18 Karat Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From the studio of Alex Sepkus in New York - 18 karat yellow gold "Little Windows" dome style ring with 4 medium blue sapphires and 9 brilliant white diamonds.
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Orchard Ring with Blue Sapphire and Green Tsavorite, 18 Karat Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From the studio of Alex Sepkus in New York - 18 karat yellow gold "Orchard" ring with four round blue sapphires, three round green tsavorite garnets, and eight brilliant cut white di...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Alex Sepkus Dome Ring with Pink and Orange Sapphires in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From the studio of Alex Sepkus in New York - 18 karat yellow gold dome style ring with shimmering pink and orange sapphires.
White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus "Candy" Dome Ring with Pink and Orange Sapphires in 18 Karat Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
This ring is of heirloom quality you love and expect from Alex Sepkus. 6 bezel set pink and orange sapphires and 9 bezel set white brilliant cut round diamonds sparkle in 18 karat ...
White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus "Five Seed" Dome Ring with Blue Sapphire and Diamonds in 18k Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From the studio of Alex Sepkus in New York - 18 karat yellow gold "Five Seed" dome band style ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus "The Big Sleep" Dome Ring with Blue Sapphire in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From the studio of Alex Sepkus in New York - 18 karat yellow gold "The Big Sleep" dome band style ring with two blue sapphires.
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
ALEX ŠEPKUS Estate 18k Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A beautiful sapphire and diamond ring by jeweler, Alex Šepkus.
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Old Pathway Sapphire and Diamond Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
18k Gold Alex Sepkus Asymmetrical Face Ring with 6 Sapphires weighing .32ctw and 5 Diamonds weighing .09ctw.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Gold Sapphire and Diamond Dome Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
Alex Sepkus 18K Sapphire, and Diamond "Little Windows Dome Ring with .9 white diamonds (0.14ct), 4 sapphires (approximately .27ct.), Any size up to 8 3/4 can be accommodated for this...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Diamond and Sapphire Band
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
Alex Sepkus Ring in 18kt Yellow Gold with Round Bezel set Sapphires .36cts and Round Bezel set Diamonds .06ctw Finger size 7-can be sized to fit.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Old Pathway Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
18ky Gold Alex Sepkus Assymetrical Face Ring with 6 sapphires weighing .32 carats and 5 diamonds weighing .09 carats.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Sapphire Eastern European design diamond gold Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
Classic Alex Sepkus design inspired by Eastern European design. Beautiful salon sapphires with diamonds. Can be sized to fit.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Sapphire Ruby Diamond Gold Eternity Band Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Stamford, CT
Authentic Alex Sepkus Eternity band ring with nice full cut diamonds, Sapphires and Rubies. 4 genuine fine red cabochon Rubies, approx. total weight .10cts, VS, 2 to 2.2mm 10 ful...
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus 1.58 Carat Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Gold Dragon Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an oval cut sapphire weighing 1.52 carats, deep cornflower blue Flanked by two round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.06 carat, eye-clean and white Sapphir...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Tsavorite, Sapphire and Diamond "Orchard" Ring 18k Yellow Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
Alex Sepkus "Orchard" Ring crafted in 18K Yellow Gold and set with three Tsavorite Garnets (green, 0.23ctw), four blue sapphires (0.20ctw), and eight white diamonds (0.09ctw), Ring m...
Diamond, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus 'Little Pool' Diamonds and Sapphires Ring 18K Yellow Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
18K Yellow Gold, Diamond and Sapphire "Little Pool" Ring The ring features 2 diamonds. (0.02ctw.), 4 sapphire. (BLUE/PURPLE/VIOLET) (0.18ct.), Size 6 3.9 Grams
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus 18K Sapphire Diamond Summer Flowers Dome Ring Size 6.25-6.5 #23410
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Alex Sepkus 18K Sapphire and Diamond Summer Flowers Dome Ring Size 6.25-6.5- This exquisite piece by Alex Sepkus is finely crafted in 18K yellow gold and features a whimsical mosaic...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Carved Collection Gemstone and Yellow Gold Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Litchfield, CT
This highly detailed ring from renowned designer Alex Sepkus is set with sapphires, rubies, and diamonds.
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Estate 3.66 Carat Green Tourmaline Little Windows 18k Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A vintage, original Alex Sepkus tourmaline ring from the Little Windows collection, was crafted while the late artist’s hands still guided every detail.
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Blue Sapphire Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Gold Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band style ring bezel set throughout with round brilliant cut diamonds and cabochon rubies and sapphires weighing approximately 0.70 carat total With deeply engraved Byzantine motif...
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Contemporary 1.80 Carat Diamond Multi-Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Oval form with thirteen round brilliant cut diamonds, weighing approximately 0.20 carat, G color and VS clarity Accented with nine round cut sapphires weighing approximately 1.60 ca...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Blue Sapphire Emerald Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Bubble style ring bezel set throughout with round brilliant cut diamonds, cabochon rubies, emeralds and sapphires weighing approximately 0.65 carat total With negative space motif a...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Sapphire and Diamond Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
18k Alex Sepkus Constellation Dome ring has .18ct Diamonds and .72ct multi-color Sapphires.
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Yellow Gold and Sapphire Candy Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
Sapphires and Diamonds have never looked better than In Sepkus’ “Candy” Dome ring. The Ring displays 9 White Diamonds at (0.12ct) each and 6 Sapphires at approximately (0.50 ct.) eac...
White Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
18K, Sapphire and Diamond Ring, 8 sapph and/or tsav (Any mix of color) (app. 1.00ct.), 7 dias. (0.12ct.), Any size up to 8 3/4
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Sapphire and Diamond 'Candy' Ring 18K Yellow Gold
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
18K Yellow gold 6 Sapphires .50ctw 9 Diamonds .12ctw 'Candy' Ring
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Sepkus Platinum Sapphire and Ruby Scroll Detail Domed Band Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Montclair, NJ
Excellent condition. Signed for Designer Alex Sepkus. Stock Number: JO-7100945
Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum
Alex Sepkus Blue Sapphire and Diamond 18 Karat Gold Cocktail Ring 1.75 Carat
By Alex Sepkus
Located in SOLVANG, CA
From the studio of Alex Sepkus in New York - 18 karat yellow gold ring with stunning oval shaped vivid blue sapphire and set with 10 brilliant cut white diamonds.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Red Tourmaline Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Dallas, TX
Stunning Alex Sepkus Ring in 18kt Yellow Gold. Center bezel set 7.04ct Red Tourmaline, .50cts bezel set diamonds and.16ct red bezel set sapphires.
Diamond, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Candy Band
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fun and flirty, the 18k gold ring is one of the most popular styles from famed designer Alex Sepkus.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Alex Sepkus Purple Sapphire Gold Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Greenwich, CT
Cocktail ring, centering on a cushion-cut natural purple sapphire weighing approximately 7.12 carats, in a wide hand-engraved 18k yellow gold mounting with small round diamond accent...
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unique 1.49 Carat Cornflower Blue Sapphire Platinum Alex Sepkus Ring
By Alex Sepkus
Located in Pikesville, MD
Hand made by high-end New York jewelry designer, Alex Sepkus, this platinum solitaire brushed and carved ring features a gorgeous and uniquely colored 1.49 carat round cornflower blu...
Sapphire, Platinum
$4,500Sale Price|25% Off
1ct Emerald in Forget Me Knot Style Ring
Located in Brisbane, AU
*Custom design to order * Our showstopper natural Emerald "Forget Me Knot" ring is smothered in diamonds set in a combination of 22ct yellow gold and platinum Please message our...
Diamond, Emerald, 22k Gold, Platinum
$1,048Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.066 in L 16.5 in
3 CTW Blue Sapphire Station Chain Necklace Gift for Mom in 14k Solid Yellow Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
3 CTW Blue Sapphire Station Chain Necklace Gift for Mom in 14k Solid Yellow Gold studded with round cut blue sapphire. This stunning piece of jewelry instantly elevates a casual look...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
FACTORY-DIRECT PRICING, 1.37 Carat Natural Diamond White Gold Mini band Ring 14K
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
1.37 Carat Natural Diamond White Gold Mini band Ring 14K Ring Size 6.5, Average Color G Average Clarity I
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
$3,400
W 1.07 in D 0.32 in L 1.78 in
Antique Russian Locket Pendant natural Ruby Demantoid solid 14K Gold / 10gr
Located in SE
Antique Pendant / Locket in solid 14K Yellow Gold decorated with engraved floral ornament and natural Rubies and Demantoid Garnets. Removable bezels with original glass inserts ins...
Garnet, Ruby, 14k Gold
Antique 18ct Yellow Gold 1920s French Hallmarked Dome Shaped 0.85ct Diamond Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Diamond Band 18ct Yellow Gold French Stamped Circa 1920s This 18ct yellow gold band with a single French diamond is a classic and timeless piece of jewellery. The slightl...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$14,853
W 0.75 in L 11.82 in
Antique Belle Époque Diamond Platinum Collier De Chien Choker Collar Necklace
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Flexible diamond "collier de chien" made out of platinum and set with rose diamonds. Nine oval links alternate with nine double bows to form an exquisite choker. The collar is modell...
Diamond, Platinum
$1,480Sale Price / item|20% Off
W 0.27 in L 17 in
Everyday Emerald Ruby Minimalist Chain Necklace Gift for Mom in 18k Yellow Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Everyday Emerald Ruby Minimalist Chain Necklace Gift for Mom in 18K Gold studded with pear cut emerald and ruby. This stunning piece of jewelry instantly elevates a casual look or dr...
Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ancient Greek Alexander the Great Lion Coin Blue Sapphires 18K Gold Pendant
By Steven Battelle
Located in Soquel, CA
A rare and unusual, authentic, silver "stater" coin minted in Babylon (one of Alexanders conquered territories) 322-312 BC, depicts a lion walking on one side, and the god "Baal" (an...
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Cartier Trinity De Cartier Diamond, White Gold and Ceramic Ring
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
18k white gold, ceramic and diamond Cartier Trinity de Cartier ring featuring 100 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately .45cts. This is the small model, US size 4, and ...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Emerald and Diamond Drop Necklace
By Diamond Scene
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful emerald and diamond necklace with an very important look. 12.05 carats of fine green emeralds. 28.04 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds. 18k white gold The de...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Chanel Black Caviar Jumbo Classic Flap Bag with Silver Hardware
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag is crafted in durable black caviar leather, offering a textured, supple surface that holds its structured silhouette beautifully. Its iconic flap d...
Vintage A. Tillander Diamond Platinum Tiara
Located in London, GB
An A. Tillander diamond platinum tiara, circa 1910. This exceptional diamond tiara by A. Tillander is beautifully handcrafted in platinum. The tiara is composed of intertwining, sc...
Diamond, Platinum
Art Deco 1.75 Ct Diamond Plus 2.20 Ct Platinum Plaque Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Art Deco Dazzler Beautiful Art Deco period Platinum made Diamond plaque ring Artfully hand crafted as unique during 1920's in a dazzling plaque design to display Diamond opulence Cen...
Diamond, Platinum
$795Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Small Medium
Chic 1960s Pucci Style Bell Sleeve Olive Print Silk Vintage 60s A Line Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1960s colorful olive print Pucci style 3/4 bell sleeve A-Line dress! Features a burgundy maroon background with olives printed throughout in yellow, green, pink, blue, teal and ...
Wide Vintage Diamond Platinum Bracelet Art Deco Revival
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An exquisite wide vintage diamond platinum bracelet in Art Deco revival style. The workmanship of this vintage bracelet is outstanding. There are multiple skillfully crafte...
Diamond, Platinum
Emilio Jewelry GIA Certified Natural Pink Heart Stud Diamond Earrings
By Emilio!
Located in New York, NY
From the Museum Vault at Emilio Jewelry located on New York's iconic Fifth avenue, The focal point of these magnificent earrings feature 2 heart shape natural Fancy light Pink diamo...
Pink Diamond
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.
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.
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.