Rare Vintage Cartier Red Ruby Ellipse Oval Cut 18k Gold Bypass Split Ring 51
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Heavy and well made ring. Comes with Cartier ring box and outer box.
1990s French Fashion Rings
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Red Ruby Ellipse Oval Cut 18k Gold Bypass Split Ring 51
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Heavy and well made ring. Comes with Cartier ring box and outer box.
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Cartier Diamond & Emerald 18k Yellow Gold Three Stone Dome Daphne Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
As to be expected in a piece of this age. Comes with Cartier ring box and outer box. All our photos are taken with a macro lens to show the true quality of our items.
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Deep Blue Sapphire Large Size Oval Cut Ellipse 18k Gold Bypass Ring 49
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Heavy, well made large size ring weighs 10.64g. Comes with original Cartier ring box and outer box.
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Pavé Diamond Mimi 18k White Gold Band Dome Ring 49
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
The quality is evident as soon as it is seen. Comes with Cartier ring box. All our photos are taken with a macro lens to show the true quality of our items.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Pavé Diamond Mimi 18k Yellow Gold Band Dome Ring 51
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
The quality is evident as soon as it is seen. Comes with Cartier ring box. All our photos are taken with a macro lens to show the true quality of our items.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Ruby Diamond Colise Oval Cabochon 18k Yellow Gold Dome Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
We also have the matching earrings to this ring in another listing. Comes with Cartier ring box and outer box.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Large Red Ruby Ellipse Oval Cut 18k Gold Bypass Split Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Ring weighs 10.41g. Heavy and well made ring. Comes with original Cartier ring box.
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Sugarloaf Blue Sapphire & Diamond Mimi 18k Gold Bypass Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Comes with original Cartier ring box which shows some signs of wear on the inside.
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Vintage Cartier Pink Red Ruby Oval Cut 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ellipse Ring 50
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Very bright and shiny. Ring weighs 8.24g. A heavy and well made ring. Comes with original Cartier ring box.
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Love Collection Small Model Pavé Diamond Band Ring 18 Karat White Gold
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
A few minor pinpoint marks throughout. Comes with original Cartier ring box. Current Retail Price: $8,700.00
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Emerald & Diamond Mimi 18k Yellow Gold Oval Cabochon Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Comes with original Cartier ring box. Some signs of wear on the box as shown in photos.
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Cartier Diamond And Blue Sapphire 18k Yellow Gold Three Stone Dome Daphne Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Comes with Cartier ring box and outer box. All our photos are taken with a macro lens to show the true quality of our items.
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier 1.36ct Baguette Pavé Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Band Dome Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Comes with Cartier ring box. All our photos are taken with a macro lens to show the true quality of our items.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Cartier 5.36 Carats Total Square Emerald Cut 3-Stone Engagement Ring
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Minimal signs of wear. *An authentic Cartier ring box can be provided upon request. Item Number: 1
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier Signed Art Deco Colombian Emerald Onyx & Diamond Platinum Ring
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A rare vintage original, Cartier signed. Comes with Cartier Box. Art Deco ring, circa 1930, bearing the French HP hallmark, centering an exceptional 4.50-carat center Colombian emera...
Onyx, Emerald, Diamond, Platinum
Cartier C2 18K White Gold Ring with Diamonds - Includes Cartier Box.
By Cartier
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Cartier C2 18K White Gold Ring with Diamonds - Includes Cartier Box.
Diamond, White Gold
Cartier Entrelaces Diamond White Gold Ring Box Papers
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Cartier Entrelaces ring features an open-band interlinked C design crafted in 18k white gold and set with 72 D-F VVS1-VVS2 diamonds weighing an estimated 1.40 carats.
Diamond, White Gold
CARTIER Oval Iolite 18k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring Box
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous authentic Cartier ring is crafted in 18k yellow gold and bezel-set with an oval purple iolite.
Iolite, Yellow Gold
Vintage Cartier 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold Ring with Original Cartier Box
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Cartier 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold Ring Signed Cartier and Numbered.
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Jeton Sauvage 18K WG Pavé Diamond Cocktail Ring with Box
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Accompanied by its original Cartier presentation box Ring Size: EU 52 (US 5.75) Approximate Weight: 18.6 grams 91 Diamonds ~ 2.80 carats in F-G color VS clarity Approximate Mea...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier Trinity 18k Multitone Gold 6 Band Ring Box Certificate
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous Cartier ring from the iconic Trinity collection features 6 interconnected bands crafted in 18k yellow, white, and rose gold and set with 30 brilliant-cut round D-E-F VV...
Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Authentic Cartier 18K Rose Gold Band Ring with Box and Certificate
By Cartier
Located in Guangzhou, CN
An elegant and timeless classic by Cartier. This sophisticated band ring is meticulously crafted in radiant 18K rose gold, showcasing the Maison’s signature clean lines and unparalle...
Cartier Panthère openwork ring diamonds and emeralds with box and papers
By Cartier
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Cartier Openwork Panthère Ring, geometric bracelet diamonds and emeralds with box and papers 18K White Gold (750/1000) Original retail 80.000€ 545 diamonds total 1.47ct Gold 27.5 g...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier 5 Row Pave Diamond Yellow Gold Band Ring Box Certificate
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous Cartier 5-row wide band ring is crafted in 18k yellow gold and pave-set with brilliant-cut round D-E-F VVS1-VVS2 diamonds weighing an estimated 2.0 carats.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Cartier Paris Nouvelle Vague Diamond Yellow Gold Fan Ring Box Papers
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Cartier Fan ring from the chic Paris Nouvelle Vague collection is crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with D-F VVS1-VVS2 brilliant-cut round diamonds.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Cartier Love Ring Full Diamond Rose Gold Size 53 Box And Papers
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
The ring is hallmarked and signed by Cartier, with a size of 53.
Diamond, Rose Gold
Cartier Diamond Love Ring 18K Yellow Gold With Box and Papers EU49
By Cartier
Located in Honolulu, HI
Ring Specifications: Brand: Cartier Collection: Love small model Metal: 18K Yellow Gold Ring Size: EU 49 Width: 4 mm Diamond Specifications: Shape: Round Brilliant Total Car...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Juste Un Clou Diamond White Gold Ring Box Size 55 B4092755
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
The white diamond is of excellent cut grade, with a D-E-F color grade and a very, very slightly included (VVS1) clarity grade. The ring is a box size 55 and features the iconic Carti...
Diamond, White Gold
1997 Cartier 18K Tricolor Gold Trinity Ring Size 4.5 with Box #18143
By Cartier
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Cartier 18K Tricolor Gold Trinity Ring Size 4.5 This elegant triple band ring by Cartier is crafted in beautifully detailed 18K yellow, white and rose gold.
18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Just un Clou Ring in 18k yellow gold with box & papers
By Cartier
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
The Cartier Juste un Clou ring, the iconic Love ring younger and easier-to-remove sister, was inspired by the humble nail.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier 18K Tricolor Gold Trinity Rolling Ring Size 7.5 (56) w/Box Papers #25479
By Cartier
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Cartier 18K Tricolor Gold Trinity Rolling Band Ring Size 7.5 (56) w/Box and Papers- An iconic Cartier design featuring three interlaced bands in 18K yellow, white and rose gold.
18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
CARTIER PARIS 18k Yellow Gold, Onyx & Diamond Modernist Ring w/Box 1970s Vintage
By Cartier
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Cartier Paris 18k Yellow Gold, Onyx & Diamond Modernist Ring 1970s Vintage Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer ring. The ring is ma...
Diamond, Onyx, Yellow Gold
C De Cartier Platinum F VVS2 .30ct Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring w/ Box
By Cartier
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Round Brilliant Cut - Prong Set - F Color - VVS2 Clarity - 0.30ct (exact) Material: Solid Platinum - Stamped PT950 Weight: 7.1 Grams Rin...
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier 1895 Round Diamond 0.88 tcw Engagement Ring in Platinum GIA COA Box
By Cartier
Located in San Diego, CA
Cartier 1895 Diamond Engagement Ring Style: Solitaire with Diamond Accents Ref. number: QF**** Metal: Platinum PT950 GIA: 2106981161 Size: 6.25 TCW: 0.88 tcw Main Diamond: Rou...
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier Love Ring in 18k yellow gold with 3 diamonds with box & papers
By Cartier
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Cartier Love ring , classic, yellow gold 750/1000 with box and papers The LOVE collection began with the iconic bracelet created in New York in 1969.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Love Collection Polished Platinum 5.5 mm Band Ring with Box Size 57
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Ring size: 57 (U.S 8) Iconic 'Love' band ring from Cartier is the perfect everyday piece.
Platinum
Vintage Cartier Solid Gold 4.64ctw AGL No Heat Oval Sapphire Diamond Ring w/ Box
By Cartier
Located in Montclair, NJ
Material: Solid 18k Yellow Gold w/ White Gold Top Weight: 11.03 Grams Ring Size: 6.0 (Fitted on a finger. We can custom size this ring - Please contact us priory to purchase for sizi...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Maillon Panthere Full Pave Set Diamond White Gold 3-Row Ring Box Papers
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Comes with original box and paperwork.
Diamond, White Gold
Cartier Juste Un Clou Small Model Band Ring in 18 Karat Rose Gold with Box
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This iconic Cartier Juste un Clou ring is crafted in 18 karat rose gold and designed to resemble a nail bent into a circle to form a ring band. The smooth, rounded rose gold shank wr...
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Cartier Love Band Ring with Single Round Diamond 18 Karat White Gold with Box
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Ring Size: 6.5 (US), 53 (EU) This stunning Cartier Love ring in 18 karat white gold with a singular diamond is a symbol of timeless elegance and sophistication.
White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Cartier Small Model Love Band Ring with 8 Diamonds in 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Box
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Ring Size: Cartier Size 53 / US 6.25 The Cartier Love Collection has long been synonymous with timeless romance and refined elegance, and this 18 karat yellow gold band ring is no e...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Pavé Diamond Set Ring
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
Colour: F-G, Clarity: VS Marked: 'Cartier' '750' '48' & Serial Number Box: The Vintage Jeweller Ring Box Documents: Cartier Certificate of Authenticity
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Vendome Louis Cartier 18KT Tri-Colour Gold Diamond Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Braintree, GB
The architectural construction emphasises the contrast between the three gold colours. The ring is accompanied by its original fitted Cartier presentation box.
White Gold
Cartier 3 Round Diamond Love Band Ring in 18 Karat White Gold, Size 52 with Box
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Ring Size: 52 EU / 6 US Celebrate timeless love with the Cartier Love band ring, meticulously crafted in luminous 18-karat white gold.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier Moonstone Large White Gold Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
This beautiful ring comes with an original Cartier box. Details: Ring Size: 5 1/4 US, European 50 Weight: 19.3 grams Width: 10mm Stamped Hallmarks: Cartier 750 50 K97838 *Free...
Moonstone, 18k Gold
Cartier Entrelacés C de Cartier 18K YG Diamond Double C Wide Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Accompanied by its original Cartier presentation box Ring Size: EU 52 (US 6) Approximate Weight: 11.2 grams Diamonds - 1.40 carats in E - F color VS clarity Approximate Measur...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Lakarda Panthere Ring 18k YG 2000
By Cartier
Located in SYDNEY, AU
Specifications: Brand: Cartier Model: Lakarda Panthère Ring Year: 2000 Material: 18k Yellow Gold, Garnet, and Onyx Weight: 23.2 g Ring Size: Cartier 56 Box: Yes Papers: Yes
Cartier rose gold 3 Diamond Love ring 63
By Cartier
Located in Addlestone, GB
Signed Cartier Model Number: B4087563 Come with Cartier box Ring size: 63 US: 10.5 UK:V 5.5mm wide Presented in good condition RRP: £3950
Diamond, Rose Gold
Cartier Engagement Ring.GIA 1ct Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring Platinum
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Whether given as a symbol of love or acquired as a treasured addition to a fine jewelry collection, this ring stands as a timeless emblem of luxury. Accompanying the ring are all th...
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier Chalice Large Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Chalice Diamond Large Ring by Cartier. With 127 Round Brilliant cut, total weight 6.60ct E color VVS1 clarity This absolutely gorgeous ring comes with a Cartier servic...
Diamond, White Gold
Cartier Princess Cut Diamond Eternity Platinum Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
Platinum Princess Cut Diamond Eternity Band Ring by Cartier. With 32 round brilliant cut diamonds VVS1 clarity, E color total weight approximately 1.72ct This ring comes with Cartie...
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier Sorbet Diamond Tourmaline Sapphire White Gold Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Tourmaline Sapphire Ruby Sorbet Ring by Cartier. With 10 round brilliant cut diamonds VVS1 clarity, G color total weight approx. .25ct Sapphire, Ruby and Tour...
Diamond, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Cartier 3.27 carat Solitaire Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
Tested platinum, signed 'Cartier Paris', French, circa 1950, accompanied by GIA report #6224797950, accompanied by Cartier box.
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier Diamond Emerald Onyx Yellow Gold Panther Panthere Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
With Round brilliant cut diamonds VVS1 clarity, E color total weight approx. 1.50ct. This ring comes with an original Cartier box. Details: Ring Size: European 49 US 4 3/4 The ring ...
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Yellow Gold
Cartier Le Baiser Du Dragon Ruby Diamond Gold Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Le Baiser Du Dragon Diamond Ruby Ring by Cartier. With 56 round brilliant cut diamonds VVS1 clarity, E color total weight approx. 1.68ct This ring comes with Cartier...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Cartier GIA Certified 3 Carat Asscher Cut Diamond 1895 Solitaire Ring
By Cartier
Located in Chicago, IL
Included with this extraordinary piece are the original Cartier valuation for insurance, the GIA grading report, as well as the authentic Cartier presentation boxes.
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier Panther Panthere Diamond Lacquer Tsavorite Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
This ring comes with Cartier box, certificate of authenticity and a sales receipt.
Diamond, Tsavorite, Yellow Gold
For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the most well known and internationally revered jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.
Perhaps 1847 was not the ideal time to open a new watchmaking and jewelry business, as the French Revolution was not kind to the aristocracy who could afford such luxuries. Nevertheless, it was the year Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) — who was born into poverty — founded his eponymous empire, assuming control of the workshop of watchmaker Adolphe Picard, under whom he had previously been employed as an assistant. Of course, in the beginning, it was a relatively modest affair, but by the late 1850s, Cartier had its first royal client, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the jeweler to design brooches, earrings and other accessories.
Under the leadership of Louis-François’s son, Alfred, who took over in 1874, business boomed. Royalty around the world wore Cartier pieces, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the Maharaja of Patiala and King Edward VII, who had 27 tiaras made by the jewelry house for his coronation in 1902 and issued Cartier a royal warrant in 1904. (Today, the British royal family still dons Cartier pieces; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, regularly sports a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.)
Cartier’s golden years, however, began when Alfred introduced his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, to the business. The brothers expanded Cartier globally: Louis reigned in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London, ensuring their brand’s consistency at their branches across the world. The trio also brought in such talents as Charles Jacqueau and Jeanne Toussaint.
One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, a large number of people were using only pocket watches.) Louis designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying.
Cartier’s other famous timepieces include the Tank watch, which was inspired by the linear form of military tanks during World War I, and the so-called mystery clocks. Invented by watchmaker and magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and later crafted exclusively for Cartier in the house’s workshop by watchmaker Maurice Couët, the mystery clocks were so named because the integration of glass dials on which the clocks’ hands would seemingly float as well as structures that are hidden away within the base give the illusion that they operate without machinery.
On the jewelry side of the business, Cartier’s internationally renowned offerings include the Tutti Frutti collection, which featured colorful carved gemstones inspired by Jacques’s trip to India and grew in popularity during the Art Deco years; the panthère motif, which has been incorporated into everything from brooches to rings; and the Love bracelet, a minimal, modernist locking bangle inspired by medieval chastity belts that transformed fine jewelry.
While the Cartier family sold the business following the death of Pierre in 1964, the brand continues to innovate today, renewing old hits and creating new masterpieces.
Find contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, engagement rings, necklaces and 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.