Victorian Sterling Silver Buckle Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
For buckle jewelry lovers here is a bright and perfect sterling silver buckle ring. The ring is
Antique 1870s British Victorian Band Rings
Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Buckle Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
For buckle jewelry lovers here is a bright and perfect sterling silver buckle ring. The ring is
Sterling Silver
Victorian 1898 gold diamond buckle ring
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
This beautiful 18 karat and diamond Victorian buckle ring is in great condition. Hallmarked Chester
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 14 Karat Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Wallkill, NY
A fantastic 14K Gold antique ring in the form of a buckle. There is a lovely engraved scroll design
14k Gold, Gold
Victorian 0.10ct Diamond Buckle Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
Dating to the Victorian era, this buckle ring is a wonderfully curious piece. Crafted in 18 carat
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 9k/Sterling Silver Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A gorgeous diamond buckle ring from the Victorian (ca1880s) era! Crafted in 9k rose gold and
Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rose Gold, 9k Gold, Gold
Mid Victorian Buckle Form Gold Mourning Memorial Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1850s Yellow Gold Buckle Form Mourning, Memorial Ring, measuring 3/16 inch wide with the
Gold
Circa 1890 Victorian Era Buckle Ring 18k Yellow Gold
Located in New York, NY
vintage, this piece captures the enduring appeal and artistry of Victorian buckle rings. Primary Material
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14K Gold Victorian Inspired Belt Buckle Ring
Located in Venice, CA
This 14k gold Victorian inspired ring is the perfect expression of everlasting love. Made popular
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$785Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Victorian 9K Yellow Gold Hairwork Mourning Buckle Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
gold band. This unusual ring is crafted in the form of a buckle, or belt. The edge of the buckle is
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian English 18K Gold Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Houston, TX
18K yellow gold buckle ring with hallmarks indicating ring was made in London in 1917. Features
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Sterling Silver Buckle RingFor buckle jewelry lovers here is a bright
Located in Stamford, CT
For buckle jewelry lovers here is a bright and perfect sterling silver buckle ring. The ring is
Sterling Silver
$2,960Sale Price|20% Off
18k Yellow Gold Buckle Fashion Ring with Diamonds, Victorian Era, Circa 1880
Located in New York, NY
wearable today as it was over a century ago. Victorian buckle rings are steeped in meaning, symbolizing
Yellow Gold
Unisex Antique Victorian 18k Gold & Platinum 1.24ctw Old Cut Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This magnificent, unisex, antique buckle band ring was crafted during the early Victorian era from
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Yellow Gold Diamond Victorian Starburst Buckle Band - 18k Old Mine Antique Ring
Located in Greensboro, NC
Size: 8 Sizing Fee: Up 2 sizes for $100 or Down 1 size for $80 Specific Year: 1886 Era: Victorian
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 9 Carat Gold and Braided Hair Buckle Memorial Band
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The buckle detail on this band is so fine and intricate with gorgeous engraving. The band holds a
Gold
Antique 18K Buckle Ring hallmarked for 1910
Located in Baltimore, MD
Our 18K late Victorian buckle ring is hallmarked Chester (for the Chester guild in England) for the
18k Gold
Retro Tri Color Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
A 1940's 14 Kt gold buckle ring carries forward the Victorian form so popular in the 1`870's along
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
Unavailable
Victorian Gold Buckle Ring
Located in New York, NY
The Victorians were a sentimental bunch. Buckle rings were usually given as a gift to symbolize
Unavailable
Victorian Turquoise Buckle Ring
Located in New York, NY
This 9k gold ring with engraved decoration is styled as a buckle-and-garter, and set with three
Turquoise, 9k Gold
Victorian Hinged 'Mizpah' Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This fantastic Victorian novelty ring features a hinged belt motif panel at the face which opens to
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable
Victorian Diamond Set Gold Buckle Ring
Located in London, GB
This buckle ring has a strong look. It was made in 1897 and has been set with an 80 point diamond
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique Victorian Belt and Buckle Ring 18 Carat Gold, Dated 1877
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Antique Victorian ring has been modelled in 18ct Yellow Gold to form the shape of a
18k Gold
Unavailable
Diamond, 14k Yellow Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Pleasant Hill, CA
Featuring (2) old mine-cut diamonds, 0.25 ct. tw., I, I-J, set in a 14k yellow gold Victorian style
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 18ct Yellow Gold Diamond Turquoise & Pearl Buckle Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
What a fabulous Item of Antiquity this beautifully preserved & very hard to source Buckle Ring is
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 9ct Rose Gold Thick Buckle Ring 375 Purity 1st World War
Located in Camelford, GB
a good thick shank hence ideal if resizing needed Style: Classic Victorian style buckle ring with
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Hallmarked 18 Carat Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire and Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
This beautifully preserved Antique (Victorian) Buckle Ring is set with a Diamond as the centrepiece
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Edwardian Hallmarked 3 x Sapphire 18ct Yellow Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
traditional Victorian/Edwardian 'Buckle Ring'. And in excellent condition. Finger size M/N but easily re-sized
Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late Victorian Buckle Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
hand made jewelry. Queen Elizabeth was herself a fan of buckle jewelry and her affinity for the style
18k Gold
Victorian Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
ring, made of 18 karat yellow gold, is extensively hallmarked inside the shank. The buckle design is
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
ring, made of 18 karat yellow gold, is extensively hallmarked inside the shank. The buckle design is
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Gold Buckle Motif Ring
Located in New York, NY
An antique gold buckle ring with engraved decoration, in 18k. Hallmarked Chester 1884. England.
18k Gold
Victorian 14K Gold Pearl Belt Buckle Ring
Located in Flushing, NY
Victorian 14K Gold Pearl Belt Buckle Ring Marked: K14 H 560 Approximate Dimensions: 7 (Ring Size
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Buckle Belt Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
gold Victorian buckle ring. The buckle has long been a symbol of everlasting love, fidelity and loyalty
Gold, 18k Gold
Walker & Hall Victorian Old Mine Diamond 18 Karat Gold Buckle Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band style ring designed as polished gold buckle Centering a star set old mine cut diamond
Diamond, 18k Gold
Victorian Hair Remembrance Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1871, 15k, England. This detailed English buckle ring was made as a remembrance and inset
15k Gold
Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Engraved Buckle Belt Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Buckle Ring 18ct Gold Hallmarked Birmingham 1863 Beautifully engraved Victorian buckle
Gold, 18k Gold
Victorian Buckle Memorial Ring 18 Karat Gold
Located in Stamford, CT
A pristine 18 Kt buckle ring with graphic gold letters that say "In Memoriam" inscribed in 1865 yet
Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Victorian Ruby & Diamond Set Yellow Gold Buckle Ring Circa 1910
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
This Victorian gold buckle ring is set with a ruby and a diamond. The buckle and the loops are well
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Victorian 18 Carat Yellow Gold Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This stunning ring, made of solid 18 carat yellow gold, is hallmarked inside the shank for London
Antique Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Stunning Victorian 18K gold buckle ring with hallmarks for Birmingham 1887. It is also called an
18k Gold
Victorian Gold and Silver Larger Size Shagreen Textured Buckle Ring, circa 1890
Located in Baltimore, MD
Large Victorian buckle ring in 9K but with a sterling silver buckle c1890. The contrast of the
Silver, Gold, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 18K Victorian Buckle Ring, Circa 1890 0.11ctw Old Mine Cut Diamonds
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A Victorian treasure, this antique buckle ring is set with a pair of old mine cut diamonds and
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Buckle Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Timeless Victorian buckle ring handcrafted in 18 karat yellow gold. The ring features 2 Old Mine
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Enamel Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Bold Victorian buckle ring in 18K gold and black enamel . This striking ring is engraved "Sarah
18k Gold
Antique Handmade Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1849, 18k, England. This early Victorian buckle ring is reminiscent of folk art. Made by a
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late Victorian Old Mine Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Buckle Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a wide band ring with dimensional buckle motif Comprised of raised fastener and grooved
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 18K Rose Gold Rose Cut Diamond Flexible Buckle Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 18K Rose Gold Rose Cut Diamond Flexible Buckle Ring. This unqieu
Diamond, Rose Gold
Victorian 1880 Flexible Buckle Ring with Fringes in 14 Kt Yellow Gold and Enamel
Located in Miami, FL
Flexible buckle ring from the Victorian era. Beautiful and unusual ring, created in the United
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 18K Buckle Ring Hallmarked 1915
Located in Baltimore, MD
Our 18K Victorian buckle ring is hallmarked for the Chester guild and made in the year 1915. We can
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique Gold and Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in New York, NY
An antique gold ring of buckle design, set with diamonds, in 18k. Birmingham, England
Diamond, 18k Gold
HM Birm 1919, 18K Chased Buckle Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
18K gold fully hallmarked chased ring in the form of a buckle. Buckle rings were popular in
18k Gold
Antique Georgian Gold and hair Buckle Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Elaborate Georgian buckle ring in 15K gold and plaited hair. The swirling gold work is amazing. The
15k Gold
Diamond Set Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1869, 9k, England. This Victorian buckle ring has a vintage elegance to its look. The folk
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Gold Buckle Ring with Diamonds and Repousse Border HM 1899
Located in Baltimore, MD
, hallmarked 1899 Chester. Victorian Diamond Buckle Ring. Buckle imagery was used in the Victorian and
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
White Gold Midcentury Buckle Ring with Diamonds
Located in Baltimore, MD
A fabulous Victorian buckle ring with a distinctly modern vibe. Made from white gold, with an
Diamond, White Gold
HM Sheffield 1895 18 Karat Wide Buckle Ring with Star Diamond
Located in Baltimore, MD
This sturdy and bold 18K Victorian buckle ring, hallmarked Sheffield, for the year 1895 with one
Diamond, 18k Gold
1910s 0.15 Carat Diamond and Pearl, 18 Carat Yellow Gold 'Buckle' Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
ladies buckle ring has been crafted in 18 k yellow gold. The pierced decorated, buckle design is
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Belt Buckle Ring 18 Karat White and Yellow Gold with .17 Carats Diamonds
Located in Fairfield, CT
This vintage buckle ring is a testament to exquisite craftsmanship, forged from a blend of 18 karat
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
A solid, warm tone, substantial 11.9 gram 15 Kt gold buckle ring, like all the buckle motif
Gold, 18k Gold
9k Victorian Buckle Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
with our captivating Victorian Buckle Ring. Intricately crafted and set in 9K gold, this exceptional
Gold, 9k Gold
Victorian Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
A solid, warm tone 15 Kt gold buckle ring, like the buckle motif bracelets of the Victorian era
Gold, 15k Gold
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Buckle Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Wonderful Victorian buckle ring fully chased with a floral motif. Buckle jewelry became popular
Sterling Silver
Decorated Victorian Buckle Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Made of 18 karat yellow gold and boasting a full compliment of hallmarks inside the shank, the ring
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Buckle 14K Engraved Memorial Ring
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Super sweet Victorian memorial buckle ring in 14K yellow gold. This sweet engraved, tooled
14k Gold
Victorian Buckle 14K Engraved Memorial Ring
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Super sweet Victorian memorial buckle ring in 14K yellow gold. This sweet engraved, tooled
14k Gold
Antique Mourning Buckle Ring, 9k Gold, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
A sweet antique, Victorian era mourning ring. So full of sentiment, these Mourning rings have
9k Gold
Victorian 18 Karat Gold Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A beautiful Victorian 18 karat yellow gold diamond ring with buckle motif. The buckle became a
Diamond, 18k Gold
Walker & Hall Victorian Old Mine Diamond 18 Karat Gold Buckle Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band style ring designed as polished gold buckle Centering a star set old mine cut diamond
Diamond, 18k Gold
Early Victorian Gold Filigree Buckle and Strap Ring
By Glorious Antique Jewelry Collection
Located in Stamford, CT
on the finger with a buckle and strap. This is a most unique ring, remarkable in design and
18k Gold
Antique Victorian Gold Buckle Form Mourning Memento Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1850 - 1870 14k Yellow Gold Buckle Form Mourning Ring, measuring 1/4 inch wide and is a 6 3/4
Gold, 14k Gold
Victorian Ruby and Pearl 18Carat Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
gold is beautifully crafted into a double buckle design. Fully Hallmarked Birmingham 1876. Ring Size
Pearl, Ruby, Gold
Antique Victorian Buckle Mourning Ring, 15k Yellow Gold, Hairwork
Located in NEWARK, GB
A stunning antique, Mid Victorian era mourning ring. Rich 15kt yellow gold band with cut out panel
Yellow Gold
Victorian 18 Karat Gold Engraved Belt Buckle Band Ring
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a Victorian engraved belt buckle ring. It is crafted in 18K gold. Circa 1890. Could be a
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Victorian 4.9g 18K Yellow Gold Wide Buckle Band Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian yellow gold buckle ring, comprising a yellow gold band in the form of a belt or a
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Signed Hermes Sterling Silver Deux Anneaux Ring
By Hermès
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A signed French designer sterling silver ring. By Hermes Paris. In the Deux Anneaux pattern. Marked to the shank HERMES. PARIS. Marked with French hallmarks to the reverse. Sim...
Sterling Silver
Estate Vintage English 18K Yellow Gold Engraved Wide Wedding Band
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Estate Vintage English 18K Yellow Gold Engraved Wide Wedding Band. This gorgeous engraved wedding band is wide and has beautiful engravings around the entire ring. It has e...
Yellow Gold
Unisex Diamond Celestial Dome Band Ring in 18kt Solid Yellow Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Unisex Diamond Celestial Dome Band Ring in 18K Gold featuring natural diamond of 0.031 carats. The gorgeous handcrafted ring goes with every style.. April birthstone diamond brings ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Fine Antique Renaissance Style Garnet 14K Gold Band Ring, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Ornate Renaissance style 14K yellow gold garnet set band ring Late 19th Century Marks: Marker's mark A within a shield, 14K Technique: Twisted gold wire work, granulation, cullet set...
Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Ruby & Diamond Band Ring, Hallmarked Birmingham 1890
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Gypsy Ring 18ct Gold Hallmarked Hallmarked Birmingham 1890 Step back in time with this exquisite 18ct yellow gold Victorian gypsy ring, a true embodiment of timeless eleg...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Tiffany & Co. George Washington Crest Intaglio 14k Gold Signet Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Exilus Acta Probat, George Washington Family Coat of Arms intaglio Tiffany & Co. 14K gold signet ring. The Crest is composed of a raven with wings elevated and addorsed proper atop a...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 18k Gold, Black Enamel & Old Cut Diamond Mourning Ring, C 1884
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
Although Mourning Jewelry has a long & fascinating history, going back to as far as Middle Ages, its popularity reached its peak during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 - 1901...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Rare Victorian Man in the Moon Ring, Heintz Bros.
Located in Riverdale, NY
Rare Original Condition Victorian Man in the Moon Ring from the 19th Century in 14K gold. Original moonstone carved smiley face set high into pronged settings which give the appearan...
Moonstone, 14k Gold
Antique Victorian Gold and Diamond Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
On a 14 Kt band with raised engraving of flowers and swirls, a .30 old European diamond is raised in a flower setting that is the focus of this ring. The borders are raised and uneng...
Diamond, 14k Gold
15ct Gold Fancy Victorian Faceted Oval Garnet Ring Hallmarked Birmingham 1890
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Garnet Ring 15ct Gold Stamped Hallmarked Birmingham 1890 Makers Mark E V Introducing a stunning 15ct yellow gold Victorian ring with a fancy signet-style design. This e...
Garnet, Gold, 15k Gold
1904 Art Nouveau Vintage Platinum and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Band
Located in Addison, TX
This Art Nouveau Vintage wedding band dates back all the way to 1904. It was was designed in platinum and 18 karat yellow gold! It can be used as a wedding band and with its versatil...
18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Buckle Ring Hallmarked Chester 1920
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Buckle Ring 18ct Gold Stamped Hallmarked Chester 1920 Makers Mark CyBS This antique plain gold buckle ring is a timeless piece of jewellery that symbolises everlasting ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 9ct Yellow Gold, Hand Engraved Buckle/Belt Ring, Hallmarked London 1981
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Buckle Ring 9ct Yellow Gold Hallmarked Birmingham 1981 Experience the charm of our Vintage 9ct Yellow Gold Buckle Ring, a stunning piece that perfectly combines elegance...
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,406Sale Price|20% Off
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
Vintage 9 Carat Gold Buckle Band
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The buckle detail on this band is so fine and intricate with gorgeous engraving. Modelled in 9 carat gold. Fully hallmarked London 1977. Ring Size: N 1/2 or 7 Band Width: 11mm Wei...
Gold
Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Edwardian Star Set Diamond Buckle/Belt Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Buckle Ring 18ct Gold Circa 1900 Makers Mark C G This antique gold buckle ring is a timeless piece of jewelry that symbolises everlasting love, fidelity, and loyalty. It...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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.
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.