Carrera Y Carrera Promesa

Legendary Spanish jewelry house Carrera y Carrera is based in Madrid but its sculptural and wholly distinctive pieces are known all over the world. Devotees of the company’s luxurious rings, necklaces, bracelets and other adornments have included royalty and a range of high-profile pop culture figures, and its artisans’ expertise in jewelry design spans a history of more than 130 years.

The origins of Carrera y Carrera can be traced to a small shop in 1885 founded by Madrid native Saturio Carrera. A student of lapidary — the practice of carving and shaping stones and minerals — Saturio established a modest jewelry business, and later, his son, José, who studied jewelry design in Paris, took up the family business and opened a new shop near the old center of Spain’s capital city. José passed the firm onto his nephews, and Carrera y Carrera garnered international acclaim when the Spanish royal family awarded them their first royal commission in 1960 to craft a bridal tiara to be presented to Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón on her wedding day. This tiara — the house’s most prestigious piece to date — raised Carrera y Carrera’s profile significantly.

During the 1970s, the luxury house first presented their designs at the epicenter of international jewelry, Baselworld. Carrera y Carrera became a household name for Americans of means thanks to a distribution partnership that landed its offerings in the Cellini boutique at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria. Celebrities such as Sofía Vergara, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna have all worn custom Carrera y Carrera jewels on the red carpet, and the brand’s work has been exhibited at the Armoury Chamber in the Kremlin. Each of the brand’s unique designs for watches and other jewelry — which frequently draw on animal forms, mythology and art — are still made by hand, just as its founder intended.

Find vintage Carrera y Carrera jewelry today on 1stDibs.

If you’re shopping for antique and vintage band rings, you likely know that this particular kind of ring is among the most versatile in jewelry.

You don’t need a special occasion to dazzle friends with a flashy sapphire band ring or to make a statement with a wide band ring — this accessory knows no boundaries, and many different iterations have materialized over the years. Whether you’re seeking an unadorned modern sterling-silver band ring for everyday wear or dual gold wedding bands for the big day, there are lots of options waiting for you.

On 1stDibs, there are enduring antique wedding bands to be found dating from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Jewelers who were active during the reign of Queen Victoria — specifically, the Romantic period — designed rings with large colorful gemstones and decorative motifs, while the jewelry of the latter era was all about the exquisite diamond, platinum and pearl creations made by such famous names as Cartier and Boucheron. Matching wedding bands, which may reduce the stress of wedding-band shopping if you prefer a traditional route, afford you and your partner the chance to have the engagement ring and wedding bands in the same metal and design.

And because band rings aren’t necessarily relegated to black-tie events, they’ve come a long way, design-wise. David Yurman’s band rings, for example, are well known for their integration of mixed metals, and the celebrated jewelry designer’s powerful silver and gold bracelets, rings, pendants and earrings frequently express his iconic industrial-cable motif.

A simple and chic band ring goes with anything, from the evening gown you’ve chosen for a weekend gala to the jeans and vintage tee you’ve thrown on for a casual lunch with colleagues. Browse a distinctive collection of contemporary and vintage diamond band rings, gold band rings and other accessories on 1stDibs today.