Antique Mourning Ring
$1,500
Antique Mourning Ring
Located in New York, NY
Antique Mourning Ring A yellow gold mourning ring with 20 pearls.
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Mourning Ring
Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
$1,500
Antique Mourning Ring
Located in New York, NY
Antique Mourning Ring A yellow gold mourning ring with 20 pearls.
Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Georgian Mourning Ring, hallmarked 1821
Located in London, GB
This mourning ring is an unusual and rare piece of history from the Georgian period.
18k Gold
Georgian 1790s Mourning Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful 15ct rose gold mourning ring from the late Georgian era. The piece has been set with a centralised round window that features a small locket of hair and a border ...
Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
Late Victorian Pearl Mourning Ring, c.1902
Located in London, GB
A rare piece of history, this Mourning ring dated back to c.1902. A trio of pearls adorn the face of the piece, the central on being 3mm whilst the flanking pair are 2.25mm a piece.
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
Antique Chalcedony Mourning Ring, hallmarked 1914
Located in London, GB
With hallmarks dating to 1914, this mourning ring features a unique chalcedony central stone.
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Victorian Black Enamel 9 Carat Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A very fine Victorian black enamel mourning ring. The ring holds a lock of hair within a glazed panel.
Gold, Enamel
Antique Rose Diamond and Pearl Mourning Ring, circa 1770.
Located in London, GB
Georgian hair, diamond and pearl mourning ring. Set with twenty eight round rose cut diamonds in closed back grain settings with a combined approximate weight of 0.14 carats, further...
Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold, Silver
The William Hewer Mourning Ring, circa 1715-1716
Located in London, GB
The William Hewer mourning ring. A smoothly conforming D-shape mourning ring, set with a piece of oval faceted glass to centre in a closed back bezel setting, leading to decoratively...
Yellow Gold
Victorian Antique Black Enamel and Yellow Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This fine and impressive antique Victorian mourning ring has been crafted in 14k yellow gold.
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Georgian Black Enamel and Pearl 18 Carat Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A very fine 18carat gold Georgian black enamel and seed pearl mourning ring. Fully hallmarked London 1824. Ring Size:P or 7 3/4 Weight: 4.8g
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Museum Quality Georgian Enamel Amethyst Mourning Ring
Located in London, GB
One other of George Nassau's commissioned mourning rings can be seen in the V&A Museum's collection.
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
Georgian 1800s Hair Locket Black Enamel Mourning Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful 15ct yellow gold mourning ring from the late Georgian era. The ring has been set with a central rectangular window that features a small locket of hair with a bor...
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early Eighteenth-Century Gold Mourning Ring with Monogram and Vanitas Device.
Located in London, GB
Early Eighteenth-Century Gold Mourning Ring with Monogram and Vanitas Device England, dated 1725.
Antique Victorian 9 Karat Rose Gold Double-Heart Hairwork Mourning Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful victorian double-heart mourning ring with braided hairwork in band. #R0018 Metal: 9K Rose Gold Weight: 4.7 Grams Ring Size: 7.75 *Unfortunately this ring cannot be si...
9k Gold
Georgian 1770s Enamel and Hair Miniature Mourning Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful 18ct yellow gold Georgian mourning ring. The face of the ring features a wonderful hair work urn which sits underneath a willow tree and is set on an ivory plaque.
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
English Victorian Mourning Ring with Seed Pearls & Rose Cut Diamond
Located in Denver, CO
This Victorian era mourning ring features a rose cut diamond center stone measuring approximately 0.02 carat surrounded by four seed pearls set in a forget-me-not design.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Victorian Mourning Ring with Purple Glass Stones
Located in Worcester, GB
Victorian Mourning Ring with Purple Glass Stones A striking example of Victorian mourning jewellery, this ring features a central cluster of twelve purple glass (paste) stones, each...
Gold
An 18k Gold and Diamond and Glass Urn Mourning Ring
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18k gold navette shaped mourning ring featuring a silver urn set with rose cut diamonds and one large old cut diamond set on a blue glass panel with a border of rose diamonds set ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Georgian Enamel Mourning Ring, English, circa 1781
Located in London, GB
Georgian 'urn' blue enamel mourning ring. Set centrally with a crystal covered rounded marquise shape plaque in a closed back rubover setting, encompassing fine hairwork beneath feat...
Enamel
Georgian Mourning Ring in Original Box, Circa 1760
Located in Lewisburg, PA
A rare and evocative Georgian mourning ring (circa 1760–1780), featuring a finely rendered figural scene of a woman leaning on a pedestal—a classical allegory of grief and remembranc...
Gold
Antique 1897 Enamel Hair 9ct Gold Mourning Ring
Located in London, GB
This exceptional late Victorian mourning ring, hallmarked for Chester, 1897, is a beautifully preserved example of sentimental jewellery from the era.
Gold, 9k Gold, Enamel
Antique White Paste, Enamel and 18k Yellow Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This stunning, fine and impressive antique Georgian mourning ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold.
Yellow Gold, Enamel
9 Karat Gold and Black Enamel 'MEMORIE' Mourning Ring
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
This really delightful yellow gold and black enamel band was made to be a mourning ring on the death of someone's grandfather.
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Georgian Oval Mourning Ring Painted en Grisaille 1790's
Located in Firenze, IT
Period: 1790’s Dimensions: 33 x 18 mm Ring size: 6 ½ Weight: 8 gr The Georgian mourning ring dates back to the 1790s and consists of an oval frame containing a grisaille miniature ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Georgian 10k Yellow Gold Sepia Memorial Miniature Mourning Ring
Located in New York, NY
Dating to the late 18th century, this evocative Georgian mourning ring reflects the refined sentimentality of the era.
Rock Crystal, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 18k gold mourning ring, Black enamel, Agate, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
Such a wonderfully beautiful and unique antique mourning ring. Being a lover of mourning jewels this ring does not disappoint, everything about it is a work of art.
Agate, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique Georgian 14K Gold Mourning Ring with Braided Hair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique mourning ring. In 14 karat yellow gold. With braided hair under a beveled bezel-set glass bezel.
Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Georgian Gold, Diamond, Seed Pearl, and Blue Enamel Mourning Ring
Located in Princeton, NJ
A true antique Georgian period (late 18th century) 10 karat yellow gold, diamond, seed pearl, and blue enamel mourning ring.The central urn motif set with one pear shaped old mine cu...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Seed Pearl Mourning Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Seed Pearl Mourning Ring. This incredible ring is in good condition but is missing the hair that lines the inside of the ring.
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Georgian 18K Yellow Gold Mourning Ring with Black Enamel, Circa 1810
Located in Firenze, IT
Size: 9 Weight: 4.75 gr. This ring is a late English Georgian mourning band, made of yellow gold and black enamel, to commemorate M.
Enamel
Antique Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Engraved Black Enamel Mourning Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Engraved Black Enamel Mourning Ring. This gorgeous ring has engraved and enameling going around the entire ring.
Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian Yellow Gold Amethyst Pearl & Rose Cut Diamond Mourning Ring
Located in New York, NY
A striking Victorian mourning ring crafted in yellow gold, rich with symbolism and antique character.
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1776 Georgian Era White Enamel Mourning Ring of 20k Gold
Located in Lewisburg, PA
A rare and historically evocative Georgian mourning ring dated 1776, crafted in 20 karat gold and adorned with white enamel, a color traditionally associated with remembrance and pur...
Gold, Enamel
Georgian 1800s Memorial Black and White Enamel Mourning Ring Size L (51.5)
Located in London, GB
Here we have a stunning yet sentimental 18ct yellow gold mourning ring taken from the Georgian era. The prominent use of black filled enamel here indicates the deceased was married a...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian Carved Bog Oak 9ct Gold Mourning Ring Portrait Sculpture Q / 8
Located in SYDNEY, AU
A beautifully preserved example of Victorian mourning jewellery, this rare bog oak ring dates from the mid-to-late 19th century (c.1850s–1890s).
9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique Georgian Mourning Ring, 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Blue Enamel and Hairwork
Located in NEWARK, GB
This beautiful antique Georgian era, late 18th century mourning ring is truly a beautifully crafted piece.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1.00 Carat Total Weight Pearls Yellow Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 6.5 Metal Type: 9 Karat Yellow Gold Weight: 4.0 grams Center: Hair Side Stone Details: Shape: Natural Seed Pearls Total Carat Weight: 1.00 carat total...
Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Pearl and Enamel 9 Carat Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This 18 carat gold and black enamel ring has the words 'in memory of' across the front of it and is set with 9 pearls. The inside of the band is engraved with 'dear Emily Nov 27th 18...
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Hairwork Floral Chased Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique hairwork and gold ring, comprising brunette hairwork, set in a 15 karat yellow gold band. This unusual ring is adorned with beautiful floral and foliate chasing around t...
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Georgian 15K Yellow Gold Diamond and Pearl Cluster Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Georgian diamond, pearl, silver, and yellow gold ring, comprising one Peruzzi cut diamond, and eight half pearls, in silver and 15 karat yellow gold. This arresting Georgian ring...
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Gold Mourning Ring Enamel Inscription " Dear Father Died April 1885"
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This elegant and solid gold and enamel band ring has been handcrafted around 1880 out of 15 carat gold. It is of modernistic elegance with its two narrow enamelled lines. The ring be...
Gold, Enamel
Antique 1830 Mourning Ring Gold Enamel Natural Half Pearls Flowers Garnet
Located in Munich, Bavaria
The gold ring is set with ten natural half pearls within a wavy black enamelled surround. Inside the pearl surround the ring is decorated with a garnet that might have replaced a loc...
Garnet, Natural Pearl, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Georgian Diamond Agate 18K Yellow Gold Silver Antique Urn Cameo Mourning Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an oval shaped agate tablet measuring 12.0 x 10.5 mm Semi-translucent cream to brown in color - carved with urn cameo Grooved with detail throughout - representing mourning...
Agate, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
c1864 9K Gold, Black Enamel & Garnet Victorian Memento Mori Mourning Ring, FW.
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
Mourning Jewellery has a long & fascinating history, going back to as far as Middle Ages, nowadays these pieces are exceptionally rare, unrivalled in value & highly collectable T...
Garnet, 9k Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian 18K Gold Black Enamel and Pearl Hinged Locket Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
The broad shoulders of the ring are, too, adorned with black enamel and set with a seed pearl.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
C1820 18K Onyx Forget Me Not Mourning Ring w Intricately Carved Shoulders
Located in Baltimore, MD
A c1850 18ct gold ring set with an onyx that has a finely carved intaglio of a pansy. Victorian's loved symbolism. The Victorian secret message which is a pun on the word Pansy me...
Onyx, 18k Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Gold Forget Me Not Sardonyx Cameo Sliding Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique sardonyx, and gold ring, comprising one panel of carved sardonyx, set in 15 karat yellow gold, to a 15 karat gold band concealing hairwork. This unique ring is ever so b...
Agate, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 1850s 18K Gold Black Enamel “In Memory Of” Engraved Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian black enamel and yellow gold ring, comprising black enamelled panels, reading “In Memory Of”, with engraving and carved floral edges, in 18 karat yellow gold. This mean...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian 1840s 18K Gold Diamond, Pearl and Black Enamel Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique yellow gold, pearl, black enamel and diamond ring, comprising of one sparkling old mine cut diamond set in centre of a black enamelled panel, four larger pearls, two small...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Victorian 18k Gold, Black Enamel & Old Cut Diamond Mourning Ring, C 1884
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
Dec 3rd 1884 Total item’s weight: 4.5gr. Ring’s size: M (6 US) ~~~ This truly unique piece comes in a vintage box, accompanied by valuation certificate Mourning pieces deserv...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
A Gold And Enamel Mourning Ring For Lord Nelson By John Salter, England, 1806
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Dr William Nelson, the admiral's brother, ordered 58 mourning rings for family and friends and every admiral and post-captain who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar .
Gold, Enamel
Antique 18th Century Mourning Ring Karat Gold Hair Dated 1795 K. + R. Burnaby
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This fine and simple morning ring was made in 1795 out of 9 karat gold, glas and hair. The ring is inscribed on the reverse with the date September 12 1795 and two names of the same...
Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 14K Yellow Gold Love Knot Mourning Ring with Secret Compartment Size 7
Located in Webster, SD
This gorgeous antique love knot ring is 14k yellow gold. It features a hinged compartment in which one can have a secret message engraved. This compartment originally would have hel...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s Georgian Mourning Braided Hair Ring
Located in Santa Monica, CA
An antique Georgian mourning ring, circa 1850, from the antique fine jewelry collection at Bracken Jewelers in Santa Monica, California.
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgian Enamel Glazed Locket Front Mourning 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This lovely mourning ring has a decorative band and has enamel around the locket holding plaited blonde hair.
Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late Georgian Mourning Band Ring Size U (63)
Located in London, GB
Here we have a wonderful 15ct yellow gold mourning ring from the late Georgian era. This piece has been expertly enamelled in black, white and gold around the mid section of band and...
Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgian pearl mourning 9k yellow gold silver ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A touching relic from the Georgian era, this antique mourning ring features a delicate cluster of six luminous pearls arranged at the center of the design.
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Unavailable
Turquoise Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Zurich, CH
A William IV period mourning ring. 14 carat yellow gold, English made.
Unavailable
Black Enamel Wide Mourning Ring
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous black enamel wide mourning ring. The ring has 'in memory of' gothic script.
18k Gold
Unavailable
Georgian Old Mine Cut Diamond Mourning Ring
Located in Austin, TX
Georgian enamel and old mine cut diamond mourning ring with black and white urn detail on shank.
Diamond, Enamel, Gold
Unavailable
Memento Mourning Ring in Rose Gold 14 Karats
Located in PARIS, FR
Memento mourning ring in rose gold 14 karats. Memento mourning ring in navette shape.
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Unavailable
White Enamel Mourning Ring, circa 1768
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
This white Enamel Mourning Ring records the death of a 17 day old baby .The circular bezel contains a image of an urn made from snippets of the hair of the baby.
15k Gold
Victorian 14k Enamel & Woven Hair Mourning Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A unique mourning ring from the Victorian (ca1880s) era! Crafted in 14k yellow gold, this ring features a rectangular-shaped centerpiece, which features a thin black enamel border.
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Georgian Black and White Enamel Mourning Ring
Located in Melbourne, AU
A yellow gold mourning ring (tests as 14ct) being 8mm wide with black enamel to the recessed centre a fine white enamel border either side to raised double gold borders showing faint...
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable
Georgian 10k Onyx Mourning Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A wonderful gold mourning ring from the late Georgian (ca1812) era!
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian English Enameled Woven Hair Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
This rare English mourning ring from the Victorian (ca1879) era is quite an unusual piece!
18k Gold
Georgian Natural Pearl, Enamel and Diamond Mourning Ring 18k Gold
Located in Joelton, TN
A beautiful late Georgian Natural Pearl and Enamel set mourning ring, 18ct yellow gold. The ornate, unique long and slender shank featuring a large shell and round panel ring.
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
Regency Mourning Ring for the Right Honourable John Lord Henniker
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mourning rings are prized by collectors in part because they bear such a wealth of information about when, where, and why they were created.
Pearl, 18k Gold
Victorian Black Enamel, Seed Pearl and Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Madison area, WI
- Victorian Mourning Ring - 19th century - 18k yellow gold, seed pearl, enamel Lovely and simple, this striking little ring features a black enameled heart inset with a delicate...
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
George III 22ct Gold and Enamel Mourning Ring, 1795
Located in Glasgow, GB
A George III 22ct yellow gold black and white enamel memorial mourning ring. The ring bears the inscription 'JONATṈ GODWIN·OB:21·JULY·1795·AE:80.' to the exterior of the band.
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
William IV 18ct Gold and Enamel Mourning Ring, 1837
Located in Glasgow, GB
A William IV 18ct yellow gold and black enamel memorial mourning ring. The band reads 'IN MEMORY OF' within gold foliate border, and is inscribed to the interior 'Owen Rees, Esq Ob ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early Victorian English Mourning Ring with Enameling and Woven Hair
Located in Narberth, PA
This rare English mourning ring from the Victorian era (ca1852) is quite an unusual piece!
18k Gold
Victorian Heavy 15 Carat Mourning Ring Dated Chester, 1885
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
To read more please click continue reading below- This fabulous, 15ct Yellow Gold Mourning Ring is dated Chester 1885. Mourning jewellery mirrored the lives and times of the people...
Crystal, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 18ct Gold Rose Cut Diamond Forget Me Not Mourning Ring, Circa 1869
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
The mourning ring depicts one of the most common symbols of the period, the forget-me-not flower.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Georgian Mourning Ring with Real Hair 18k gold
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant Georgian mourning ring set in 18k gold. The oval head is set in funereal black enamel which morphs into a very dark blue in strong sunlight.
18k Gold
George I 18ct Gold Rock Crystal, Hair-Work, & Enamel Mourning Ring
Located in Glasgow, GB
A George I 18ct yellow gold, rock crystal, hair-work, and black enamel mourning ring. The gold ring bears the inscription "W : DEWE · OB: 22 · NOV, 1725 · AET: 58", within a black en...
Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique Georgian Silk Pearl Mourning Ring 18 Carat Gold, circa 1750
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This wonderful antique Georgian mourning ring is all original from the 18th Century and features a large front gallery layered with a fine piece of golden silk that shimmers beautifu...
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique rose cut diamond and ruby Giardinetti Mourning ring, Europe circa 1760
Located in Magdeburg, DE
This wonderful representation of the two elements together shows how closely life and death are linked, which is why this ring can be seen as both a Giardinetti and a Memento Mori/ M...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Victorian Enamel Hair Yellow Gold Mourning Ring
Located in Pleasant Hill, CA
Featuring (6) seed pearls and black enamel in a buckle motif, on a 9k yellow gold band, 7.50 X 1.0 mm to 4.6 mm, around the band features (5) oval and cross shaped openings displayin...
Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-Victorian Pale Blue and Black Enamel Mourning Ring for Edward Clay Tayler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This 18k ring is unlike any mourning piece I've seen. Impeccable black and pale blue enamel travels around the entire band, and inside a tiny oval glass-fronted locket protects a loc...
18k Gold
Victorian Diamond Mourning Black Enamel Rosecut .70 Carat 18K Gold Navette Ring
Located in Crownsville, MD
Gorgeous black enamel, rosecut diamonds totaling .70 ctw set in 18K solid yellow gold navette shaped mourning ring. Victorian era antique, late 1800s. Gold is unmarked but acid teste...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique Mourning / Georgian Gold Sheaf of Wheat Ring
Located in Houston, TX
It's a stunning Georgian mourning ring. The top is oval and contains brunette hair work in the form of a wheat sheaf.
Diamond, 14k Gold
Georgian Emerald Diamond Memorial 18 Karat Ring Dated 1770
Located in Napoli, IT
Georgian Mourning ring Sweet petit mourning ring from the Georgian period – dated 1770 Crafted of solid 18 KT gold - acid tested Lovely close back crown set with a little step cut ...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Georgian Boxed Gold Mourning Spinning Ring
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This is a genuine Georgian 18ct Yellow Gold mourning ring with original box. On the front of the ring is a fabulous Enamel urn with intricate Gold details.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Georgian Diamond Enameled Urn Mourning Hair Locket Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
Crafted in 18kt rose gold, the ring is richly detailed, and serves as a fine example of the mourning jewelry tradition.
Diamond, 18k Gold
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.
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.
Ancient Egyptians referred to the vibrant stone as the “gem of the sun.”
There are many ways to showcase a diamond, from traditional prongs to a smooth, streamlined bezel. Here’s everything you need to consider.
The vintage bombé ring is bursting with color and timeless style.
Zircon is a magnificent and underrated natural gemstone that has been worn and adored for centuries.
Givers of fine gems enjoy surprise more than receivers, and women more than men. Find out what else our survey of 3,000 Americans revealed.
If diamonds don’t seem right, what about a magnificent sapphire, ruby or emerald?
Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.