9K Yellow Gold Lab Blue Sapphire Victorian Ring
Located in Seattle, WA
Give your fingers some edge with this striking lab blue sapphire ring. With its 9k yellow gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings
Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
9K Yellow Gold Lab Blue Sapphire Victorian Ring
Located in Seattle, WA
Give your fingers some edge with this striking lab blue sapphire ring. With its 9k yellow gold
Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 8.94cttw. Emerald, Blue Sapphire and Diamond Drop Cluster Ring
Located in New York, NY
carats Approx. Emerald Weight: 5.44 carats Approx. Blue Sapphire Weight: 1.92 carats Diamond Shape: Round
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have an 18ct yellow gold cluster ring from the Victorian era. The ring is set with an oval
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
Aquamarine, Blue Sapphire, Kyanite and Diamond Victorian Split Shank Dome Ring
Located in New York, NY
. Vibrant Diamond and Blue Sapphire Accents: The shanks of the ring are elegantly studded with blue
Aquamarine, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Kyanite, 18k Gold, Rhodium, Sterling...
Victorian Style Ring With Pear Shape Blue Sapphires & Pave Diamond Grill
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
14kt Gold:5.8g; Diamond:1.33ct Sapphire:2.65Cts Ring Size US-7.25
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold, Silver
Victorian Sapphire, Pearl and Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a Victorian 15ct yellow gold sapphire, pearl and diamond ring. The ring is crafted in a
Diamond, Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 27cttw. Blue Sapphire, Aquamarine/Diamond Ring Size 7 in 18K/SS
Located in New York, NY
Introducing our extraordinary Victorian Dome Ring, a masterful creation that seamlessly blends the
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Aquamarine, Rhodium, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold
Victorian 18k Yellow Gold 12.43ct Blue Sapphire Diamond Ring, 1880
Located in New York, NY
its center is a captivating 12.43-carat antique cushion-cut blue sapphire, radiating a deep and
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Blue Sapphire and Light Brown Diamond Victorian Cluster Ring in 18k/925 Gold
Located in New York, NY
Introducing our captivating Victorian Cluster Ring, a true masterpiece that combines the deep
Brown Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Victorian 6.10 Cttw Blue Sapphire/Tsavorite/Diamond Ring Size 7 In 18K/SS
Located in New York, NY
Experience refined craftsmanship with this Gemistry Victorian Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, and Diamond
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
c.1890 Victorian Era Natural Blue Sapphire & Diamond Antique Ring Silver & 14K
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Step back into the elegance of the Victorian era with this breathtaking sapphire and diamond ring
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Antique Allsopp Brothers ring. 10k Blue SAPPHIRE victorian prong set. Allsop Bro
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
: Gold Allsopp Brothers ring. Antique. One of a kind ring. Blue sapphire set into victorian claw
Blue Sapphire
Victorian 3.3 Cttw Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite/Diamond Ring Size 7 In 18K/SS
Located in New York, NY
Dive into the mystique of the Victorian 3.3 Cttw. Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, and Diamond Full Face
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Natural Blue Sapphire Victorian Style Ring in Solid 9K Yellow Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
This Victorian vintage style ring features intricate floral carving details encircled the oval blue
Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Sapphire and Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
masterfully converted into a ring with a shank added characteristically typical of the Victorian era by the
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 0.60 Carat Unheated Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a 15ct yellow gold sapphire and diamond cluster ring from the Victorian era. The central
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 5.32 Cttw London Blue Topaz, Sapphire/Diamond Ring Size 7 In 18K/SS
Located in New York, NY
Discover refined elegance with this Gemistry Victorian London Blue Topaz, Sapphire, and Diamond
Diamond, Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Victorian 4.85 Cttw. Pearl, Blue and Pink Sapphire/Diamond Ring Size 7 In 18K/SS
Located in New York, NY
Introducing our exquisite Victorian Blue and Pink Sapphire Diamond Split Shank Floral Ring, a
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rhodium, Sterlin...
Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a Victorian 18ct yellow gold sapphire and diamond five stone ring. The ring holds three
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 7.5 Cttw Tanzanite/Blue Sapphire/Diamond Dome Ring Size 7 In 18k/SS
Located in New York, NY
seamlessly blends the richness of tanzanite, the sparkle of diamonds, and the allure of blue sapphires. The
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
10K Rose Gold Victorian Sapphire and Seed Pearl Ring
Located in Big Bend, WI
Victorian 10K rose gold ring featuring 2 oval blue sapphires. The sapphires weigh 1.14 carats
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian Style Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Victorian style sapphire ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The feature antique style heart shaped
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 1.19 Carat Sapphire and 1.28 Carat Diamond Twist Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive Victorian sapphire and diamond ring has been crafted in 18k white gold. The antique ring displays
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
$144,000Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Victorian-Era Burma Oval-Cut Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Sapphire Ring is a time capsule to a bygone era of elite jewelry crafting. Description: ✔ Stone: Sapphire
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum, Silver
Victorian 15kt Gold and Silver Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring, Circa 1890s
Located in Braintree, GB
A fine late 19th-century Victorian sapphire and diamond ring crafted in 15kt gold with a silver
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Silver, Gold
Ruby Sapphire Diamond Victorian Gold Textured Signet Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Victorian handmade late 1800's to early 1900’s signet style pinkie ring with textured top set with
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Victorian 6.50 Cttw Emerald/Sapphire/Tsavorite/Diamond Double Finger Ring Size 7
Located in New York, NY
Experience refined Victorian-inspired artistry with this Gemistry Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite
Sapphire, Tsavorite, Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Sterling Silver, 1...
Antique Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Tricolor Yellow Rose White Gold Ring
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Antique 14K rose, yellow, and white gold ring with ribbed scroll sides featuring a sapphire center
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold
$1,539 / item
18K White Gold Dark Blue Sapphire Cluster Ring
Located in Chesham, GB
Our classic floral design ring is made from 18K White Gold and handset with natural dark blue
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Victorian Diamond and Sapphire Ruby and Yellow Gold Marquise Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique Victorian 4.34 carat diamond and 1.26 carat sapphire, 0.85 carat ruby and 17
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
$552Sale Price|20% Off
Snake Ring Black Enamel Blue Sapphire Diamond Ruby Eyes
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Snake Ring Black Enamel Blue Sapphire Diamond Ruby Eyes A Victorian-inspired double-snake ring in
White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass...
Blue Sapphire & Diamond Vintage Style Poison Locket 14K Yellow Gold Ring
By Unbranded
Located in Oakton, VA
This exquisite ring is crafted from yellow gold. Featuring a natural blue sapphire and round
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Natural Blue Sapphire Vintage Victorian Style Three Stone Ring in Solid 9K Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
This ring showcases three natural blue sapphires, each with a captivating deep blue hue and a
Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 1890s 3.11 Carat Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Trilogy Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Victorian sapphire ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The scrolling, pierced decorated setting is
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 1.63 Carats Diamond Sapphire Platinum 14 Karat Yellow Gold Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
with a blue and white pattern of sapphires and diamonds, this five stone antique band ring is a
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow ...
Antique 1.97 Carats deep blue sapphire and diamond cluster ring
Located in Uccle, BE
Antique cluster ring circa 1900. Ring set with a center deep blue sapphire of 1.97 Carats and 10
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
4.32 Carat Ceylon Royal Blue Sapphire Ring in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
mesmerizing beauty of this royal blue sapphire. The sapphire, a regal emblem of rich sophistication, boasts a
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, White Gold
16.45ct Royal Blue Ceylon Sapphire & Diamond Halo Heirloom Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
This masterpiece is centered around a monumental 16.45-carat natural oval-cut sapphire from the
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
10k Blue Sapphire solitaire belcher setting ring. 10k Victorian Belcher set claw
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Color: Gold Beautiful round Blue Sapphire ring. Belcher claw solitaire ring. Wide shank. Condition
Antique Victorian 18k Yellow Gold Silver Top Sapphire and Diamond Statement Ring
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite example of 19th-century craftsmanship, this antique Victorian ring is fashioned in 18k
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Ruby, Blue Sapphire and Old Cut Diamond Triple Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
A highly unique antique ruby, blue sapphire and old cut diamond triple cluster ring set in 18k gold
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Blue Sapphire Diamond Vintage Style Filigree 14K White Yellow TwoTone Gold Ring
By Unbranded
Located in Oakton, VA
A delightful Victorian style blue sapphire and diamond filigree ring. The three mixed shape blue
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,592Sale Price|20% Off
2.15 Carat Natural Blue Sapphire Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Cluster Ring
By Roshe Jewels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
2.15 Carat Natural Blue Sapphire Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Cluster Ring This unique ring is a
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1.51 Carat No Heat Blue Sapphire Antique Gold Ring Fine Estate Jewelry
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Beautiful! Finely detailed Blue Sapphire Ring. Centering a securely nestled Hand set 1.51
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 9k Gold
Roman + Jules Classic 3.32ct Gem Quality Blue Sapphire and Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Los Gatos, CA
. Vivid Intense Bright Medium Dark Blue Ceylon Sapphire 3.32 cts in weight 8.96mm x 8.20mm x 5.3mm
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Blue Sapphire and Old Cut Diamond 18ct Yellow Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
You can't help but fall in love with this magnificent Late Victorian blue sapphire and diamond five
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Estate 14 Karat White Gold Oval Blue Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Addison, TX
Estate 14 Karat White Gold Oval Blue Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring. The ring feature a lovely
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
$4,488Sale Price|25% Off
Victorian 1860 Ancient Revival Ram Ring in Solid 22Kt Yellow Gold With Sapphire
Located in Miami, FL
most probably made in England during the middle of the Victorian era, back in the 1860. The ring has
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Natural Sapphire 18K Gold Diamond Statement Ring
Located in Shanghai, CN
-carat cornflower blue sapphire at its heart—its deep, saturated hue radiating regal charm and unrivaled
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Marquise Orange Citrine & Blue Sapphire Diamond Vintage Style White Gold Ring
By Unbranded
Located in Oakton, VA
Elevate your elegance with our Marquise Citrine Sapphire Diamond Cocktail Ring. The radiant
Citrine, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Natural Cabochon Blue Sapphire and Pearl Vintage Style Ring in Solid 9K Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
Sapphire Color: Blue Shape: Round Size: 6 mm. Number: 1 Weight: 1.55 Carat (approx.) ACCENT STONE(S) Stone
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
White Yellow Pink Diamond Blue Sapphire Pink Spinel Starstruck Ring, Joke Quick
By Joke Quick
Located in Dallas, TX
-cut blue sapphires totaling 0.43 carats, four no heat Burmese brilliant-cut blue sapphires totaling
Pink Diamond, Sapphire, Spinel, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, ...
Natural Kyanite Sapphire Diamonds Ring 3.82 Carat Vivid Blue 14 Karat
Located in New York, NY
Kyanite Blues, Victorian Inspired Classic Three's 2.78ct natural Round cut Kyanite ring. Vibrant
Diamond, Sapphire, Other, 14k Gold, White Gold
Old Cut Diamond and Sapphire ‘Target’ Ring
Located in London, GB
, surrounded by a halo of blue sapphires and a halo of round diamonds in a beautiful open back setting. Ring
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Cabochon Sapphire and Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a very pretty Victorian sapphire and diamond cluster ring. The ring features a central
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Blue Sapphire and Old Cut Diamond Three-Stone 18ct Gold Ring, circa 1890
Located in London, GB
Hand carved Late Victorian three stone ring set with a 1.41ct old cut diamond and two beautiful
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
AGL Certified Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold and Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 6.5 Metal Type: Platinum Weight: 7.6 grams AGL CERTIFIED Document No
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum
The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.
Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.
The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.
Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs.
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.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.