Andecine Labradorite
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Labradorite, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Zircon, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Dangle Earrings
Labradorite, Tourmaline, Sterling Silver, Silver
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21st Century and Contemporary American Stud Earrings
Zircon, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Black Diamond, Emerald, Quartz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Stud Earrings
Chalcedony, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Artisan Stud Earrings
Chalcedony, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Drop Earrings
Citrine, Morganite, Blue Topaz, Yellow Beryl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Cocktail Rings
Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Cocktail Rings
Blue Topaz, Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Stud Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Stud Earrings
Garnet, Sapphire, Tanzanite, Topaz, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Indicolite, Sterling Silver, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Blue Topaz, Topaz, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Band Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Turkish Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Topaz, Emerald, 14k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1980s Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Band Rings
Tsavorite, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
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21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Labradorite, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Labradorite, White Diamond, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow 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.