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Sardonyx Ring

10K Yellow Gold Art Deco Sardonyx Ring, Circa 1940s, Size 9.25
10K Yellow Gold Art Deco Sardonyx Ring, Circa 1940s, Size 9.25

10K Yellow Gold Art Deco Sardonyx Ring, Circa 1940s, Size 9.25

Located in Palm Desert, CA

Evoking the elegance of a bygone era, this 10 karat gold Art Deco sardonyx ring dates to the 1940s and showcases timeless geometric styling.

Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Onyx, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique sardonyx and diamond ring
Antique sardonyx and diamond ring

Antique sardonyx and diamond ring

Located in New York, NY

A Victorian half-hoop ring comprised of banded agate with diamond accents, in 15k gold. * Free shipping * Includes letter of authenticity for insurance purposes * Please do not hesi...

Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Agate, Diamond, 15k Gold

Vintage Sardonyx 15 Carat Gold Signet Ring
Vintage Sardonyx 15 Carat Gold Signet Ring

Vintage Sardonyx 15 Carat Gold Signet Ring

Located in Chipping Campden, GB

A superb signet ring, set with a sardonyx stone and modelled in 15 carat yellow gold.

Category

Vintage 1960s British Signet Rings

Materials

Gold

Vintage Sardonyx and 9 Carat Gold Ring
Vintage Sardonyx and 9 Carat Gold Ring

Vintage Sardonyx and 9 Carat Gold Ring

Located in Chipping Campden, GB

Sat within simple shoulders is a gorgeous sardonyx stone with a deep burnt orange underside and a pale white coating to the top.

Category

Vintage 1970s British More Rings

Materials

Gold

Vintage Carved Sardonyx Intaglio 10k White Gold Ring
Vintage Carved Sardonyx Intaglio 10k White Gold Ring

Vintage Carved Sardonyx Intaglio 10k White Gold Ring

Located in Towson, MD

Vintage 10K white gold carnelian sardonyx intaglio signet ring with a carved helmeted warrior portrait in the Art Deco style.

Category

20th Century Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Carnelian, Onyx, 10k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Sardonyx and 15 Carat Gold Signet Ring
Victorian Sardonyx and 15 Carat Gold Signet Ring

Victorian Sardonyx and 15 Carat Gold Signet Ring

Located in Chipping Campden, GB

A superb signet ring, set with a sardonyx stone and modelled in 15 carat yellow gold.

Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Signet Rings

Materials

Gold

Antique 10k Yellow Gold Sardonyx Female Profile Cameo Ring
Antique 10k Yellow Gold Sardonyx Female Profile Cameo Ring

Antique 10k Yellow Gold Sardonyx Female Profile Cameo Ring

Located in New York, NY

This antique ring is crafted in 10k yellow gold and features a finely carved Sardonyx cameo depicting an English woman wearing a hat and scarf.

Category

Antique 19th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Engraved 1888 Sardonyx Intaglio Ring 14k Yellow Gold
Antique Engraved 1888 Sardonyx Intaglio Ring 14k Yellow Gold

Antique Engraved 1888 Sardonyx Intaglio Ring 14k Yellow Gold

Located in South Pasadena, CA

Antique Sardonyx intaglio ring with engraving on the underside of the head that reads "Engine co 20 to Lieut J.P.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Late Victorian Signet Rings

Materials

14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Sardonyx Signet 18k Yellow Gold Ring Circa 1910
Antique Sardonyx Signet 18k Yellow Gold Ring Circa 1910

Antique Sardonyx Signet 18k Yellow Gold Ring Circa 1910

Located in South Pasadena, CA

Antique Sardonyx Signet 18k Yellow Gold Ring Circa 1910. The Antique Sardonyx signet ring made in 18k yellow gold from around1910 is a basic example of these style of rings made dur...

Category

Vintage 1910s English Victorian Signet Rings

Materials

Chalcedony, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Sardonyx 18 Carat Gold Masonic Signet Ring
Art Deco Sardonyx 18 Carat Gold Masonic Signet Ring

Art Deco Sardonyx 18 Carat Gold Masonic Signet Ring

Located in Chipping Campden, GB

A superb masonic signet ring, set with a brilliant shield cut sardonyx and modelled in 18carat yellow gold.

Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Signet Rings

Materials

Gold

Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Edwardian Sardonyx Seal Signet Ring
Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Edwardian Sardonyx Seal Signet Ring

Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Edwardian Sardonyx Seal Signet Ring

Located in Brighton, GB

Antique Sardonyx Signet Ring 18ct Gold Stamped Circa 1900 Step into elegance with this exquisite Edwardian signet ring, crafted from 18ct yellow gold.

Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Signet Rings

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 14KT Yellow Gold Sardonyx Intaglio Signet Ring, Circa 1940
Vintage 14KT Yellow Gold Sardonyx Intaglio Signet Ring, Circa 1940

Vintage 14KT Yellow Gold Sardonyx Intaglio Signet Ring, Circa 1940

Located in Napoli, IT

Magnificent vintage gent signet ring, 1940 circa Substantially hand crafted of solid 14 KT gold – weighs 18.3 grams Large sized with a current finger size UK size: Z+2 ½ - US size: 1...

Category

Vintage 1940s European Retro Signet Rings

Materials

14k Gold

Edwardian c1905 Sardonyx Shield 9K Yellow Gold Hallmarked Mens' Signet Ring
Edwardian c1905 Sardonyx Shield 9K Yellow Gold Hallmarked Mens' Signet Ring

Edwardian c1905 Sardonyx Shield 9K Yellow Gold Hallmarked Mens' Signet Ring

Located in MELBOURNE, AU

Of desirable signet design, this Antique Edwardian Gents’ Ring is meticulously crafted in 9K Yellow Gold The front panel is set with shield-shaped Sardonyx (11mm x 8mm) Split sho...

Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Signet Rings

Materials

Yellow Gold

18K Ring Intaglio Engraved Sardonyx Depicting Horse, English, Circa 1850
18K Ring Intaglio Engraved Sardonyx Depicting Horse, English, Circa 1850

18K Ring Intaglio Engraved Sardonyx Depicting Horse, English, Circa 1850

Located in Northampton, MA

This late Georgian / early Victorian 18K rose gold ring holds a rectangular-cut deep brown sardonyx gemstone that has been artfully carved -or etched, rather- to depict a horse trott...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Signet Rings

Materials

Agate, 18k Gold

Retro 18K Yellow Gold Sardonyx Wide Band Ring, Size 8.75, 1990s
Retro 18K Yellow Gold Sardonyx Wide Band Ring, Size 8.75, 1990s

Retro 18K Yellow Gold Sardonyx Wide Band Ring, Size 8.75, 1990s

Located in Palm Desert, CA

This bold and elegant ring is crafted in 18 karat yellow gold and showcases a striking sardonyx stone as its centerpiece.

Category

1990s Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

Onyx, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

14ct Gold Sardonyx Signet Ring w/ Armorial Intaglio Crest, Early 20th Century
14ct Gold Sardonyx Signet Ring w/ Armorial Intaglio Crest, Early 20th Century

14ct Gold Sardonyx Signet Ring w/ Armorial Intaglio Crest, Early 20th Century

Located in London, England

A distinguished signet ring, set in 14ct yellow gold and set with a striking armorial intaglio crest carved in layered bluey grey and black sardonyx, a hardstone traditionally favour...

Category

20th Century German Signet Rings

Materials

14k Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Gold Forget Me Not Sardonyx Cameo Sliding Mourning Ring
Antique Victorian 15K Gold Forget Me Not Sardonyx Cameo Sliding Mourning Ring

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.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Agate, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

A 19th Cent. Gold Chiseled Ring set with a Roman Sardonyx Intaglio. Sphinx
A 19th Cent. Gold Chiseled Ring set with a Roman Sardonyx Intaglio. Sphinx

A 19th Cent. Gold Chiseled Ring set with a Roman Sardonyx Intaglio. Sphinx

Located in London, GB

The combination of an authentic ancient gem with high-quality period orfèvrerie is precisely the kind of piece that was assembled by cultivated 19th-century collectors and remains hi...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Classical Roman Signet Rings

Materials

Agate, Gold

Recent Sales

Georgian Sardonyx Cameo Ring
Georgian Sardonyx Cameo Ring

Georgian Sardonyx Cameo Ring

Located in New York, NY

C.1820. Georgian sardonyx cameo ring. The carving was done in three strata.

Category

Antique 1820s British Georgian More Rings

Materials

Agate, 18k Gold

Renaissance Rose Gold Sardonyx Cameo Ring
Renaissance Rose Gold Sardonyx Cameo Ring

Renaissance Rose Gold Sardonyx Cameo Ring

Located in Chicago, IL

Ring with Renaissance cameo Probably Northern Italy, cameo late 16th-early 17th century; ring: second half 18th century Gold, sardonyx cameo (layered orange and translucent white)...

Category

Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Fashion Rings

Materials

Agate, Rose Gold

Victorian 18k Sardonyx Cameo Ring
Victorian 18k Sardonyx Cameo Ring

Victorian 18k Sardonyx Cameo Ring

Located in Narberth, PA

An exquisite hard stone sardonyx cameo ring from the Victorian (ca1880) era!

Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

18ct Yellow Gold Sardonyx Cameo Ring
18ct Yellow Gold Sardonyx Cameo Ring

18ct Yellow Gold Sardonyx Cameo Ring

Located in Glasgow, GB

A 19th-century sardonyx cameo ring set in 18ct yellow gold. The cameo, depicting a bearded man with an aquiline nose and short hair, is set in a modern ring shank marked with UK hall...

Category

20th Century British Classical Roman Signet Rings

Materials

Agate, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Sardonyx Signet Monogram Ring 18ct, Chased Shoulders
Vintage Sardonyx Signet Monogram Ring 18ct, Chased Shoulders

Vintage Sardonyx Signet Monogram Ring 18ct, Chased Shoulders

Located in Shepton Mallet, GB

A beautiful example of a red sardonyx Monogram signet ring. The monogram is made up of the letters G R L.

Category

Mid-20th Century European Victorian Signet Rings

Materials

18k Gold

A Victorian Sardonyx Gold Cameo depicting John Locke
A Victorian Sardonyx Gold Cameo depicting John Locke

A Victorian Sardonyx Gold Cameo depicting John Locke

Located in London, GB

The black and white Cameo is set in a substantial 18k Gold Ring mount, hallmarked for 1881. John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher whose writings were influential in the ...

Category

Antique 1880s British Signet Rings

Materials

Agate, 18k Gold

Vintage Cameo Round Gold Ring
Vintage Cameo Round Gold Ring

Vintage Cameo Round Gold Ring

Located in PARIS, FR

18K gold sardonyx cameo ring depicting a woman in the gothic revival style Cameo circa 1880 Diameter : 18mm Ring size : 55 FR Eagle's head hallmark Gross weight : 7.73g Ring from...

Category

Antique 1880s European Gothic Revival Fashion Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ancient Sardonyx Rhombus Beads with 24k Granulated Gold Ring Beads and Clasp
Ancient Sardonyx Rhombus Beads with 24k Granulated Gold Ring Beads and Clasp

Ancient Sardonyx Rhombus Beads with 24k Granulated Gold Ring Beads and Clasp

Located in Bloomington, IN

Thirty-five rhomboid tabular sardonyx/agate beads alternating with pairs of granulated gold ring beads.

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier American Artist Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Agate, 24k Gold

Baby Hand-Carved Cameo Ring in Sardonyx Shell & 18-Karat Gold by Cindy Sherman
Baby Hand-Carved Cameo Ring in Sardonyx Shell & 18-Karat Gold by Cindy Sherman

Baby Hand-Carved Cameo Ring in Sardonyx Shell & 18-Karat Gold by Cindy Sherman

By Cindy Sherman, Liz Swig

Located in New York, NY

"Baby" hand carved sardonyx shell and set in 18-karat light pink gold cameo ring by Cindy Sherman.

Category

2010s Italian Natural Specimens

Materials

Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Large Rectangular Sardonyx Ring
14 Karat Yellow Gold Large Rectangular Sardonyx Ring

14 Karat Yellow Gold Large Rectangular Sardonyx Ring

Located in McLeansville, NC

14k yellow gold large rectangular sardonyx ring. A vintage men's or women's ring with a rectangle-shaped sardonyx that measures 20.5x14.9mm.

Category

Vintage 1940s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gentleman's Antique Gold Sardonyx Ring, circa 1890
Gentleman's Antique Gold Sardonyx Ring, circa 1890

Gentleman's Antique Gold Sardonyx Ring, circa 1890

Located in Toronto, Ontario

Antique gold sardonyx ring, circa 1890. Wonderful engraved coat of arms and coronet above, approximately 10.05 mm square, plain polished gold taperd mount.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Gold

Beautifully Carved Sardonyx 10K Yellow Gold Ring
Beautifully Carved Sardonyx 10K Yellow Gold Ring

Beautifully Carved Sardonyx 10K Yellow Gold Ring

Located in New York, NY

Embrace the timeless allure of our ring, meticulously crafted in 10k yellow gold and adorned with a beautifully carved sardonyx gemstone.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

10k Gold, Yellow Gold

18th Century Carved Sardonyx Cameo Gold Ring
18th Century Carved Sardonyx Cameo Gold Ring

18th Century Carved Sardonyx Cameo Gold Ring

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1750 High Karat Gold and Carved Sardonyx cameo ring, somewhat crude, ancient in form, with well carved detailed Cameo depiction of a Roman Soldier.

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Unknown More Rings

Materials

Agate, 22k Gold

Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Sardonyx Signet Ring
Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Sardonyx Signet Ring

Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Sardonyx Signet Ring

Located in Brighton, GB

Antique Sardonyx Signet Ring 18ct Gold Circa 1880 Fabulous, Victorian Oval Shaped Signet Ring.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Signet Rings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Sardonyx 10k Rose Gold Rectangular Tablet Ring
Antique Sardonyx 10k Rose Gold Rectangular Tablet Ring

Antique Sardonyx 10k Rose Gold Rectangular Tablet Ring

Located in McLeansville, NC

Stones: sardonyx rectangular tablet 13.5 x 9.5 mm Ring Size 8.25 Rise Off Of Finger: 2.7 mm Length: 15.6 mm Weight: 2.6 grams Stamps: 10k (tested) *antique SKU: R3870 A Couple...

Category

Vintage 1970s Fashion Rings

Materials

Onyx, 10k Gold, Rose Gold

Gentleman's Antique Sardonyx Gold Signet Ring, Austria, circa 1890
Gentleman's Antique Sardonyx Gold Signet Ring, Austria, circa 1890

Gentleman's Antique Sardonyx Gold Signet Ring, Austria, circa 1890

Located in Toronto, ON

Antique Gold Gents Signet Ring, Sardonyx, Austria C.1890. Nice large size, un engraved sardonyx, approximately 14 mm cushion, finely carved shoulders, plain shank base.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Signet Rings

Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Shield Sardonyx Signet Ring, Circa 1900
Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Shield Sardonyx Signet Ring, Circa 1900

Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Shield Sardonyx Signet Ring, Circa 1900

Located in Brighton, GB

Antique Sardonyx Signet Ring Circa 1900 18ct Gold Makers Mark HC A classic signet ring set with a shield-shaped sardonyx stone in solid 18ct yellow gold.

Category

Early 20th Century European Edwardian Signet Rings

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 9ct Yellow Gold, Chester 1935 Hallmarked, Sardonyx Signet Ring
Vintage 9ct Yellow Gold, Chester 1935 Hallmarked, Sardonyx Signet Ring

Vintage 9ct Yellow Gold, Chester 1935 Hallmarked, Sardonyx Signet Ring

Located in Brighton, GB

Antique Sardonyx Signet Ring 9ct Gold Stamped Hallmarked Chester 1935 Makers Mark H G & S This 9ct yellow gold signet ring is a true masterpiece, with a rectangular-shaped sardon...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Signet Rings

Materials

9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Art Deco 9 Karat Yellow Gold Sardonyx Signet Ring, Dainty
Vintage Art Deco 9 Karat Yellow Gold Sardonyx Signet Ring, Dainty

Vintage Art Deco 9 Karat Yellow Gold Sardonyx Signet Ring, Dainty

Located in NEWARK, GB

A sweet, Dainty vintage 9kt yellow gold, Sardonyx signet ring. It is a delicate take on the signet ring with knife edge shoulders and a slim gold band.

Category

Early 20th Century British Art Deco Signet Rings

Materials

Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Sardonyx and Enamel 'Forget Me Not' 9 Carat Gold Ring
Victorian Sardonyx and Enamel 'Forget Me Not' 9 Carat Gold Ring

Victorian Sardonyx and Enamel 'Forget Me Not' 9 Carat Gold Ring

Located in Chipping Campden, GB

The 'forget me not' flower id intricately carved from a sardonyx stone. Around the carving sits a halo of delicate pearls and the shoulders of this ring feature enamel detail.

Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian More Rings

Materials

9k Gold

Victorian Blue Sardonyx 14K Yellow Gold Antique Heraldry Intaglio Signet Ring
Victorian Blue Sardonyx 14K Yellow Gold Antique Heraldry Intaglio Signet Ring

Victorian Blue Sardonyx 14K Yellow Gold Antique Heraldry Intaglio Signet Ring

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Centering an octagonal-shaped blue sardonyx tablet measuring 10.5 x 14.0 mm Opaque with a top layer of light grayish blue and a bluish black base layer Top layer is carved down to th...

Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Signet Rings

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Deco Men’s Sardonyx Cameo Ring Triple Profile 10 Karat Gold Vintage
Antique Deco Men’s Sardonyx Cameo Ring Triple Profile 10 Karat Gold Vintage

Antique Deco Men’s Sardonyx Cameo Ring Triple Profile 10 Karat Gold Vintage

Located in Torrance, CA

Stylish vintage men's hardstone cameo ring (circa 1920s to 1930s) crafted in 10 karat white gold.

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Agate, 10k Gold, White Gold

18k Georgian Portrait Cameo Ring in Sardonyx of an African-British Male
18k Georgian Portrait Cameo Ring in Sardonyx of an African-British Male

18k Georgian Portrait Cameo Ring in Sardonyx of an African-British Male

Located in Baltimore, MD

This is a spectacular, one of a kind, cameo portrait signet ring collector's item made of sardonyx, a variety of banded onyx and a form of chalcedony quartz of reddish brown.

Category

Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Signet Rings

Materials

18k Gold

14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Sardonyx Roman Soldier Cameo Ring, circa 1940
14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Sardonyx Roman Soldier Cameo Ring, circa 1940

14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Sardonyx Roman Soldier Cameo Ring, circa 1940

Located in McLeansville, NC

1940's 14 karat yellow and white gold sardonyx Roman soldier cameo ring. A rectangular, carved sardonyx cameo stone depicting the profiles of four Roman soldiers set in an engraved, ...

Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Onyx, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Deco Men's Sardonyx Cameo Warrior Ring Vintage 14 Karat Gold Vintage
Antique Deco Men's Sardonyx Cameo Warrior Ring Vintage 14 Karat Gold Vintage

Antique Deco Men's Sardonyx Cameo Warrior Ring Vintage 14 Karat Gold Vintage

Located in Torrance, CA

Finely detailed Art Deco era men's ring (circa 1920s to 1930s), crafted in 14 karat white gold. Hardstone cameo is carved in the form of a Roman Soldier and measures 18.5mm x 12.5m...

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Carnelian, 14k Gold, White Gold

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Sardonyx Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact sardonyx ring you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. You’re likely to find the perfect sardonyx 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. Creating a sardonyx ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Glorious Antique Jewelry Collection are consistently popular. While most can agree that any sardonyx ring from our collection can easily elevate most outfits, but the choice of a Agate version from the 8 available is guaranteed to add a special touch to your ensemble. Today, if you’re looking for an oval cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes emerald cut and hexagon cut alternatives. Finding a sardonyx ring for sale for men should be easy, but there are 38 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as women, too.

How Much is a Sardonyx Ring?

Prices for a sardonyx ring can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $340 and can go as high as $22,642, while this accessory, on average, fetches $1,000.

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.

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 ringsvintage 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.