1920s Diamond and White Gold Cluster Engagement Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Diamond Quality Feature Diamond Color G Clarity VS2 Cut Old European round Content 0.17 carat Dimensions 3.26mm x 3.23mm x 1.92mm Supporting Diamonds Color (average grades) F/G Cla...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1910s Antique Diamond and Yellow Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Diamond Quality Color (average grades) G/H Clarity (average grades) VS2 - SI2 Cut Old European round Content (total) 0.36 carat Dimensions Length of setting 3.75cm/0.14" Width of se...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 13.41 Carat Amethyst and 0.20 Carat Diamond Platinum Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Amethyst Quality Cut Oval Faceted Content 13.41 carats Dimensions 18.59mm (length) x 12.94mm (width) x 8.50mm (depth) Diamond Quality Color (average grades) H Clarity (average grade...
Amethyst, Diamond, Platinum
Antique 4.33 Carat Diamond and Platinum Solitaire Ring Circa 1915
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this 4 carat antique engagement ring. Diamond Quality Feature Diamond Color M Clarity VVS1 Cut Round Brilliant...
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 0.48ct Diamond Twist Ring, 18k Yellow & White Gold, Circa 1910
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Diamond Quality Color (average grades) G/H Clarity (average grades) VS2/SI2 Cut Old European round / Eight-cut Content (total) 0.48 carat Dimensions Length of Setting 8.9mm/0.35" Wi...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s 1.45 Carat Diamond 1.58 Carat Sapphire Platinum Twist Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this fine platinum sapphire and diamond ring. Diamond Quality Color H Clarity P1 Cut Old European round Conten...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Antique 0.70 Carat Burmese Ruby and Diamond, Platinum Ring Circa 1915
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Ruby Quality Origin Burmese (Burma) Cut Cushion Content 0.70 carat Dimensions 5.35mm (length) x 4.39mm (width) x 2.63mm (depth) Diamond Quality Color (average grades) G Clarity (ave...
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1920s Antique 1.53 Carat Diamond and Platinum Twist Engagement Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this antique two stone diamond twist ring. Diamond Quality Feature Diamond One Color I Clarity SI1 Cut Old Eur...
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1.09 Carat Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring Circa 1900
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Diamond Quality Color K Clarity SI1 Cut Old European Content 1.09 carats Dimensions 6.49mm (length) x 6.20mm (width) x 4.23mm (depth) Number of Diamonds 1 Dimensions Height of sett...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique 18K Yellow Gold 0.42ctw Old Cut Diamond 5 Stone Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
Total diamond weight, estimated: 0.42ctw Gross weight: 3.1g Ring size: UK – J.5 US – 5 EU – 49.25 mm Hallmarks: ‘18’ (18 karat gold), circa 1905 This ring can be resized within ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1920s 2.42 Carat Emerald Diamond Gold Cocktail Cluster Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Emerald Quality Color Green Cut Carved cabochon Content 2.42 carats Dimensions 9.39mm x 8.67mm x 5.70mm Diamond Quality Color (average grades) G Clarity (average grades) VS2 Cut T...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique 0.60ct Diamond Twist Ring, 18k Yellow Gold, Circa 1900
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Dimensions Length of setting 1.2cm/ 0.5" Width across setting 1.4cm / 0.6" Ring Size UK Size J 1/2 USA Size 5 This ring may be professionally adjusted in size on request to meet you...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 0.54ct Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring, Circa 1900
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Diamond Quality Color (average grades) G Clarity (average grades) VS2/SI1 Cut Old European Content 0.54 carat Dimensions Length of setting 7.54mm/0.3" Width of setting 1.24cm/0.49" ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 9.07 Carat Jadeite and 2.84 Carat Diamond, Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Jadeite Quality Color Green Cut Cabochon Content 9.07 carats Dimensions 14.79mm x 11.21mm x 6.10mm Diamond Quality Color (average grades) I Clarity (average grades) SI2 Cut Old Euro...
Diamond, Jade, Platinum
Antique French 2.00 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Platinum Set Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Diamond Quality Feature Diamond Colour G Clarity VS2 Cut Old European Round Content 1.60 carats Dimensions 7.84mm (length) x 7.79mm (width) x 4.13mm (depth) Supporting Diamonds Colo...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1.20 Carat Basaltic Sapphire 1.59 Carat Diamond, 18k Yellow Gold Five Stone Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sapphire Quality Origin Basaltic Color Blue Cut Cushion Content 1.20 carats Diamond Quality Feature Diamond One Color I Clarity VS2 Cut Old European Content 0.91 carat Dimensions 6....
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Antique Art Deco 18K White Gold Old Cut Diamond Fleur De Lys Panel Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
Total diamond weight, estimated: 0.6ctw Principal diamond weight, estimated: 0.39ct Gross weight: 2.3g Ring size: UK – J ½ US – 5 EU – 49.5 mm Hallmarks: none, tests as approxim...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold 1.58tgw Sapphire, Diamond and Ruby Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
Total sapphire weight, estimated: 0.58ctw Total diamond weight, estimated: 0.46ctw Total ruby weight, estimated: 0.54ctw Total gem weight, estimated: 1.58ctw Gross weight: 8.61g...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1.90 Carat Pink and Blue Sapphire 18k Yellow Gold Twist Ring Circa 1905
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this stunning gold sapphire ring. Sapphire Quality Color Pink/Blue Cut Cushion Content 1.90 carats Dimensions...
Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Victorian Engagement Ring. 2.20TCW Old Euro Diamond Silver 18K Yellow Gold JSI2
Located in New York, NY
Whether acquired as an investment, a romantic token, or a personal indulgence, this Victorian-era masterpiece is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history, radiating beauty and so...
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Art Deco 1.53 Carat Diamond and 18k White Gold Cocktail Ring Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Diamond Quality Feature Diamond Color G Clarity VS2 Cut Round Brilliant Content 0.65 carat Dimensions 5.73mm (average diameter) x 2.85mm (depth) Supporting Diamonds Color (average g...
Diamond, White Gold
Antique 0.39ct Ruby and 0.63ct Diamond 15k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring, circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this fine kite shaped diamond and ruby ring. Ruby Quality Cut Kite Faceted Content 0.39 carat Dimensions 5.39m...
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Sapphire and Diamond Twist Ring in 18k Yellow Gold
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sapphire Quality Colour Blue Cut Cushion Content 0.60 carat Diamond Quality Feature Diamond One Colour H Clarity SI2 Cut Old European Content 0.51 carat Dimensions 5.13mm (length) x...
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique 1890s Cabochon Cut Ruby and Opal Yellow Gold Trilogy Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Ruby Quality Color Reddish pink Cut Cabochon Content 0.75 carat Opal Quality Color White Cut Cabochon Content 0.85 carat Dimensions Length of Setting 7.07mm/0.28" Width of Setting ...
Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$10,922
Bespoke Edwardian 1910 French Cut Sapphire & Diamond Ring - Size 5
Located in London, GB
Bespoke Edwardian 1910 French Cut Sapphire & Diamond Ring The ring has been appraised by Grays Jewellers French cut Sapphire & Diamond Ring Edwardian - dated 1910 Set in yellow & ...
Diamond, Sapphire
Antique 9 Carat Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Large Finger Size Dress Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
This beautiful, well preserved Late Victorian Ring consists of 3 deep blue Sapphires, Clarity eye-clean, Oval Cut, Claw Set, along with 6 Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds, Grain Set over...
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$3,200
Diamond Solitaire Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant and Classic 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring Featuring 1 European Cut Diamond 0.85 Carat, VS, J-K; Ring Size/Finger Size 4.5; 2.5 DWT or 3.89 Grams.
Diamond, 14k Gold
Unavailable|$479
Victorian 15 Carat Gold Pearl Panel Ring
Located in Farnham, GB
The ring is closed back. UK size J US 4 5/8 Lovely clean condition - light age related wear to the pearls.
Pearl, 15k Gold
Unavailable|$6,516
Gold and 1.40 Carats Diamonds French Antique Toi et Moi Ring
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Color is good also, i think I/J. Ring size 6 USA or 52 France Total weight: 4.10 grams.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Edwardian Double Sapphire and Ruby Diamond Daisy Cluster Ring in 18ct Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Diamond Details: Cut: Old European Cut Carat: 0.40ct total Clarity: SI2-I1 Colour: H-J Ring Size: UK N 1/2 or US 7 Condition: Very good, slightest signs of wear due to age and use D...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Art Deco 18ct White Gold Patriotic Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond Eternity Ring
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
Reasonable offers will always be considered. RING SIZE - UK J / US 4¾ / EU 48⅜ MEASUREMENT - 20mm diameter MATERIALS - 18ct white gold / diamonds/ rubies/ sapphires WEIGHT - 3.1g...
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Edwardian Sapphire and Diamond Bezel Set Five Stone Ring in 18ct White and Yello
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Sapphire Details: Cut: Oval Cut Carat: 1.30ct Diamond Details: Cut: Early Brilliant Cut Carat: 0.60ct total Clarity: SI2-I2 Colour: J-K Ring Size: UK L or US 5.75 Condition: Good...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late Victorian No Heat Burma Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Comes with a gem certification for the No Heat Ruby showing the origin as Myanmar(Burma-Mogok). Enquire for ring resize options. Ruby Details: Cut: Cushion Cut Carat: 0.80ct approx...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Carnelian and 9 Carat Gold Crested Seal Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Antique Black Opal and 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5 Stone Diameter: 8mm Weight: 3.6g
Opal, Gold
Sold|$438
Antique Opal and 9 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The opal has good flecks of colour running through and changes with different light. Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5 Stone Dimensions: 12 x 9mm Weight: 2g
Opal, Gold
Art Deco Diamond and 18 Carat Gold Three-Stone Twist Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Set in a platinum twist setting and ring modelled in 18 Carat gold. Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5 Widest Point: 6mm Weight: 1.8g
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Edwardian Diamond and 18 Carat Gold Gypsy Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The simple style of this band is very wearable and the diamond adds a little sparkle and glam to the ring. Ring Size: J or 5 Weight: 7.5g
Diamond, Gold
Antique Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 2.7 grams UK Ring Size: J Face Diameter: 12mm x 9mm Pearl: 4.5mm Marked: '18' Period: Victorian Box: The Vintage Jeweller Ring Box
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$787
Antique Carved Shell Cameo Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 3.7 grams Ring Dimensions: 21mm x 12mm x 5mm Ring Size: J Marked: '15ct' Period: Victorian Box: Plain Gift Box
Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$328
Art Deco 18 Carat Gold Band
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
An 18ct god band makes the perfectly classic wedding band or a great everyday wear piece. Ring Size: J or 4 3/4 Band Width: 3mm Weight: 2.8g
Gold
Vintage Pave Set of Ruby and Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Modelled in platinum. Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Antique Pink Tourmaline and Diamond 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The tourmaline measures 75pts and the old European cut diamonds total 70pts, all set in platinum and the band is modelled in 18ct gold. Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5 Cluster Dimensions: 1...
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold
Art Deco Unusual Sculptural Sapphire Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
UK ring size J US size 4.5 This very sculptural style is illustrated in 'Boucheron: Four Generations of a World Renowned Jeweller' by Gilles Nerret pp.134 and 154
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Victorian Horseshoe and Riding Crop Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 1.0 grams Ring Size: J (49) Face Dimensions: 13.5mm x 13.5mm Band Width: 1mm Tested As: 15ct Yellow Gold Period: Victorian (Remodelled) Box: The ...
Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$2,588
Vintage Spinel Five-Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 2.3 grams Ring Size: J 1/2 (49.5) Band Width: 3mm - 1.5mm Face Dimensions: 12mm x 5mm Total Spinel Weight: Approx. 3.90ct Tested As: 18ct Gold Box...
Spinel, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Diamond and Demantoid Garnet 18 Karat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Total diamond weight: 45 points Ring size: J or 5
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold, Platinum
Edwardian Diamond and 18 Carat Gold Four Stone Band
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Made in Birmingham, England. Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5 Band Width: 6mm Weight: 3.37g
Diamond, Gold
Edwardian Opal and Ruby 18 Carat Gold Band
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
On each side of the opals there sits a ruby measuring 5pts which adds a wonderful sparkle to the piece. Ring Size: J 1/2 or 5 Band Width: 5.5mm Weight: 3grams
Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold
Edwardian 0.70 Carat Old Cut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 2.4 grams Ring Size: J 1/2 (50) Face Dimensions: 14mm x 6.5mm Band Width: 2.5mm Total Diamond Carat Weight: Approx. 0.70 carats Diamond Details: C...
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Sold|$2,930
Victorian Diamond Hand Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 2.5 grams Ring Size: J (49) Band Width: 2mm Face Dimensions: 13mm x 9.5mm Total Old Cut Diamond Weight: Approx. 0.21ct (0.07ct each) Diamond Detai...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Sold|$616
Victorian Seed Pearl Horseshoe Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 2.0 grams Ring Size: J (49) Band Width: 1mm Face Dimensions: 13mm x 8mm Tested As: 9ct Band and 15ct Head Period: Victorian (Remodelled) Box: The...
Pearl, Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 3.4 grams UK Ring Size: J Face Diameter: 12mm x 12mm Pearl: 6mm Total Diamond Weight: Approx. 0.50ct Tested As: 18ct Gold Period: Victorian Box: ...
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$2,396
Victorian Old Cut Diamond Clover Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 2.1 grams Face Dimensions: 11mm x 7mm Ring Size: J 1/2 (50) Band Width: 1mm Total Diamond Weight: Approx. 0.50ct Diamond Details: Colour: G-H, Cl...
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Sold|$14,709
Victorian Old Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
The diamonds are all a bright white colour and this would make a fabulous engagement ring. Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 4.2 grams Ring Size: J 1/2 (49) Face Dimensions: 15mm ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Sold|$5,752
French 18th Century Chrysoberyl Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 8.0 grams Ring Size: J (49) Band Width: 2mm Face Dimensions: 19mm x 19mm Chrysoberyl Dimensions: 1 (7mm), 8 (6mm x 5mm) Marked: French Eagle's He...
Chrysoberyl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Sold|$712
Ruby and Diamond Pheasant Bird Ring
Located in London, GB
This piece started life as an antique stick pin but has been remodelled into a more practical ring befitting todays fashion trends. Condition: Used (Very Good) Weight: 1.3 grams R...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
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.
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Zircon is a magnificent and underrated natural gemstone that has been worn and adored for centuries.
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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.