Antique Gold Opal Ring

Opal Cabochon

Black Opal Engagement Rings

Antique Art Nouveau Ring

Victorian Gold Ring Band

14k White Gold Edwardian Ring

1919 Gold Engagement Ring

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Gold Opal Ring

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian 18K Gold Garnet and Opal Ring

Unavailable

Victorian 18K Gold Garnet and Opal Ring

Located in New York, NY

34 diamond cut garnet and 16 opal stones mounted on 18k Gold. Unsigned. Box not included.

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Asprey London 1889 5 Opal and 9 Carat Gold Ring Fully Hallmarked Stamped Signed

Sold

$2,975

Victorian 0.86 CTW Opal Cabochon Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Halo Ring

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Centering an oval-shaped opal cabochon measuring 6.0 x 8.0 mm Translucent white in body color with spectral play-of-color - bezel set With a halo surround of old mine cut diamonds w...

Category

1880s Victorian Antique Gold Opal Ring

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Edwardian Emerald and Diamond 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Three-Stone Ring

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Edwardian Emerald and Diamond 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Three-Stone Ring

Located in Chipping Campden, GB

The central emerald is so bright and beautiful and measures approx 25pts. Sat either side it are two bright shimmering old mine cut diamonds each measuring approx 5pts. The ring is m...

Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Gold Opal Ring

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Diamond, 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Five-Stone Panel Ring

$651

Art Deco Diamond, 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Five-Stone Panel Ring

Located in Chipping Campden, GB

In classic Art Deco style this five stone diamond ring is made up of squares and panels of platinum. The old European cut diamonds total 25pts and are set upon an open work gallery. ...

Category

1920s British Art Deco Antique Gold Opal Ring

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Platinum

Minimal Natural Multi Sapphire Band Ring in 18k Yellow Gold

$320Sale Price / item|20% Off

Minimal Natural Multi Sapphire Band Ring in 18k Yellow Gold

By VR Jewels

Located in New York, NY

Minimal Natural Multi Sapphire Band Ring in 18k gold symbolizes the everlasting love between a couple. It shows the infinite love you have for your partner. The round shape represent...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Antique Gold Opal Ring

Materials

Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

$1,351

Antique 1920s Platinum, Diamond Eternity Ring, Wedding Band, Anniversary Ring

Located in Brighton, GB

Antique Eternity Ring Platinum Circa 1920s Step back in time with this exquisite platinum eternity ring, beautifully crafted in the 1920s. It is fully set with dazzling natural d...

Category

Early 20th Century Antique Gold Opal Ring

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

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Antique Gold Opal Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact antique gold opal ring you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. You’re likely to find the perfect antique gold opal ring among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 18th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 20th Century. An antique gold opal ring from Romae Jewelry, Allsopp Brothers and Archibald Knox — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. A cabochon version of this piece has appeal, but there are also oval cut and old european cut versions for sale. When shopping for an antique gold opal ring, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Antique Gold Opal Ring?

The price for an antique gold opal ring starts at $165 and tops out at $65,656 with these rings, on average, selling for $1,780.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

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.

The Legacy of Opal in Jewelry Design

Opals were discovered in 400 BC, and since then five types have been found throughout the world. Before you start shopping for mysteriously beautiful vintage opal rings and other opal jewelry, learn about the different varieties of the gem — and find out which historical figure was reportedly willing to trade his kingdom for a single stone.

Here is a little riddle for you: the month of October has two birthstones, but only one of them encompasses the colors of other birthstones. If you guessed opal, you’re right! (The other gemstone associated with the month of October is tourmaline.)

Opals are such unusual gemstones that there are too many old-wives tales associated with them, like if you’re a blond, wearing an opal necklace will protect your locks from losing color. Opals were also very fashionable in the early 19th century, up until the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Anne of Geierstein in 1829. The title heroine wears an opal and succumbs to an untimely death. However, the British monarchy, and in particular Queen Victoria, did not let this story get in their way, and they frequently gifted opals to friends and family members. October babies should disregard the noise and proudly wear their opals!

There are five types of precious opals: boulder opal, fire opal, crystal/water opal, black opal, and white/light opal. Each variety is distinguished by its color.

So, where does the name come from? The word opal is thought to originate from the Roman opalus or from the Sanskrit úpala (“precious stone”) or from the Greek opallios (“to see a color change”). So while there have been many names for the stones, opals were first discovered in 400 BC in Ethiopia. But the early reference that comes up most often in history books is from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, who wrote about it in 75 AD. In his text he refers to it as opali. The Romans were big fans of opal, Mark Antony was so enamored by it that, as the story goes, he was willing to trade a portion of his kingdom for a single opal.

There's a wide variety of antique and vintage opal jewelry on 1stDibs (and you won't have to trade your kingdom for it).

Finding the Right Rings for You

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.