Damiani Large Diamond Gold Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Large Ring by Damiani. With round brilliant cut diamonds total weight approx
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Damiani Large Diamond Gold Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Large Ring by Damiani. With round brilliant cut diamonds total weight approx
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Damiani Eden Snake Ring with Diamonds
By Damiani
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted 18k rose gold with Round Brilliant cut Diamonds weighing a total of 0.96 carat
Diamond, 18k Gold
Damiani 18K White Gold Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in North Miami Beach, FL
Damiani 18K White Gold Diamond Ring Diamonds 1.9ctw Size 7 Retail $12,790.00
Diamond, White Gold
Damiani 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in North Miami Beach, FL
Damiani 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Ring 5 Diamonds Size: 10
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$12,800Sale Price|20% Off
Damiani 18K Yellow Gold Diamond & Ruby Ring
By Damiani
Located in Chicago, IL
Elegant ring by Damiani, crafted in solid 18K yellow gold and set with natural diamonds and rubies
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Damiani 18K White Gold 3.25ct Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
Damiani ring. At the top, inset Diamonds with a total weight of 3.25 carats allow it to effortlessly catch
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Damiani Diamond Double White Gold Band Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Double Band Ring by Damiani. With 2 round old European cut diamond E-G color
Diamond, 18k Gold
Damiani 18K White Gold Diamond Flower Ring
By Damiani
Located in North Miami Beach, FL
Damiani 18K White Gold Diamond Flower Ring Diamonds 0.31ctw Made in Italy Retail $4400
Diamond, White Gold
Damiani Diamond Flower White Gold Cocktail Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Flower Ring by Damiani. With Round brilliant cut diamonds VS1 clarity, G
Diamond, 18k Gold
Damiani Eden Diamond White Gold Band Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Eden Band Ring by Damiani. With Round brilliant cut diamonds VS1 clarity, G
Diamond, 18k Gold
Damiani Madeira Mirror Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Madeira Mirror Diamond Cocktail Ring by Damiani. With Round brilliant cut diamonds
Diamond, White Gold
Damiani 1.36 Carat Diamond Cocktail White Gold Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold 1.36ct Diamond Cocktail Ring by Damiani. With Round Brilliant cut diamond E-G color
Diamond, 18k Gold
Damiani 18K White Gold Onyx and Diamonds Ring
By Damiani
Located in North Miami Beach, FL
Damiani 18K White Gold Onyx and Diamonds Ring Diamonds 0.42ctw Made in Italy Size 4 Retail
Diamond, Onyx, White Gold
Damiani D.Side Brad Pitt Platinum 4-Diamond Band Ring
By Damiani
Located in Southampton, PA
This simplistic band ring from Damiani has a classically elegant design perfect for a man or woman
Diamond, Platinum
$7,199Sale Price|20% Off
Damiani Emerald 1.06ctw & Diamond 0.53ctw Cocktail Band Ring 18K White Gold
By Damiani
Located in New York, NY
This Damiani cocktail band ring is crafted in 18K white gold, set with dazzling white round cut
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Damiani Sapphire and Diamond 18 Carat White Gold Wide Cocktail Ring
By Damiani
Located in London, GB
This is an exquisite Italian-made diamond and blue sapphire dress ring by Damiani. This gorgeous
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
$7,840Sale Price|20% Off
Damiani Emerald 0.70Ctw & Diamond 0.95ctw Cocktail Ring 18K White Gold Size 7.5
By Damiani
Located in New York, NY
This Damiani cocktail ring, crafted in 18K white gold, features dazzling round-cut white diamonds
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
GIA 0.51ct Natural Round Brilliant Cut F/VVS1 Solitaire Diamond Damiani Ring
By Damiani
Located in Aventura, FL
Cut Style: Damiani Solitaire Diamond Ring Diamond shape: Bright Carat Weight: 0.51 carat Color Grade
Diamond, Platinum
GIA 0.52ct Natural Round Diamond F/VVS1 Damiani Solitaire Platinum Wedding Ring
By Damiani
Located in Aventura, FL
Measurements: 5.19 - 5.24 x 3.17 mm Cutting Style: Round Brilliant Cut Style: Damiani Solitaire Diamond Ring
Diamond, Platinum
$6,399Sale Price|20% Off
Damiani Round Cut Diamond Open Ring 18K White Gold 1.26Cttw Size 5.5
By Damiani
Located in New York, NY
This luxurious Damiani ladies diamond cocktail ring showcases 1.26 carats of dazzling bright round
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Damiani Damianissima Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring in 18k White Gold Size 6
By Damiani
Located in Aventura, FL
Damiani "Damianissima" ring in 18k white gold with approximately 0.31 carat round brilliant
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
NEW Mikawa For Damiani 18K White Gold Diamond Pearl Bypass Cocktail Ring 2.40ctw
By Damiani
Located in Winter Springs, FL
An elegant bypass ring by MIKAWA for Damiani done in 18K white gold and set with approximately
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Damiani 1.85ct Pave Diamond Ring Wedding Band 18K White Gold F Color VS Clarity
By Damiani
Located in Aventura, FL
Make a bold statement with this luxurious pavé diamond band ring, expertly crafted in solid 18K
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Damiani Diamond Set Princess Cut & Round Diamonds In 18ct White Gold
By Damiani
Located in London, GB
This elegant Damiani ring features a total weight of 3.0ct round brilliant cut diamonds and
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Damiani Metropolitan ring in 18 kt. yellow gold with diamond
By Damiani
Located in Abano Terme, IT
anello Damiani della collezione Metropolitan Dream è realizzato in oro giallo 18 kt.. Ha un design
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Damiani and Brad Pitt Yellow Gold Band Ring with Diamonds
By Damiani and Brad Pitt
Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette
Damiani and Brad Pitt Yellow Gold Band Ring. This exquisite piece is a collaboration between the iconic
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Damiani Bocciolo ring in 18 kt rose and white gold.
By Damiani
Located in Abano Terme, IT
Questo anello è un capolavoro della arte orafa di Damiani. Fa parte della collezione Bocciolo e
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Damiani Gomitolo ring in 18 kt. gold with diamond _ Iconic Italian design
By Damiani
Located in Abano Terme, IT
Anello Damiani della collezione Gomitolo in oro giallo 18 kt., con design avvolgente a fascia larga
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond Butterfly Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in Geneva, CH
Diamonds mounted on rose Gold 18K. Diamonds: 7.26 carats. Total weight: 20.00 grams.
Diamond, Rose Gold
Diamond Butterfly Sapphire and Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in Geneva, CH
Ring Diamonds, sapphires Metal: white gold Diamonds ct tot 7,1 ~ Sapphires ct tot 11,59 Gold gr tot
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
$1,523Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant Diamond Fashion Ring in 18k White Gold
By Damiani
Located in Bloomington, MN
Introducing this beautiful Diamond Fashion Ring, crafted in lustrous 18k white gold by Damiani
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Salvini Damiani Diamond Gold Wide Band Ring
By Salvini
Located in Firenze, IT
Signed: Salvini Damiani Size: 7 Weight: 14.2 gr. Material: White gold and diamonds. From Salvini
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$195,000
9 carat Burma Ruby and Diamond
By Damiani
Located in New York, NY
A true collectors item -- made by famed Italian Jewelry Designer Damiani this ring is SPECTACULAR
Ruby, 18k Gold
Bliss by Damiani Diamond Engagement Ring 18k White Gold 0.12 Cttw
Located in New York, NY
Damiani diamond engagement ring crafted in 18K white gold. Beautiful 0.12cts round cut diamonds
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$5,500
Damiani Diamond Gold Ring
By Damiani
Located in Calabasas, CA
18 karat yellow and white gold ring bead-set with 1.42 carats of round brilliant-cut diamonds
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$995
Brad Pitt Damiani Diamond Gold Band Ring
By Damiani
Located in Toronto, Ontario
This 18KT band is co-designed by Brad Pitt and Damiani. The design is unique consisting of two
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$2,412
Damiani Ring Belle Epoque Yellow Gold Diamond
By Damiani
Located in PARIS, FR
Belle Epoque by Damiani ring in yellow and white gold 750 thousandths (18 carats). Vintage model
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$6,244
Damiani Fiordi Diamonds and Sapphires White Gold Ring
By Damiani
Located in North Miami Beach, FL
. Damiani has won 18 Diamonds International Awards!!! This Ladies ring is made of 18k White Gold. The ring
White Gold
Unavailable|$3,327
Damiani 18 Karat Gold and 0.75 Carat Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in Bologna, IT
A spectacular vintage Damiani ring, crafted in 18K white gold throughout and set with seven round
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$2,180
Damiani 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Sapphire Wide Band Ring
By Damiani
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Damiani blue sapphire and diamond wide band ring crafted in 18-karat yellow gold. Signed Damiani
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$3,700
Damiani 1.75 Carat 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Damiani ruby and diamond cocktail ring in 18-karat yellow gold. Polished metal setting bezel set
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$2,960
Damiani 2.00 Carat 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Band Ring
By Damiani
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Damiani diamond wide band ring in 18-karat yellow gold. The band has 58 round and baguette cut
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$3,100
Damiani 1.25 Carat 18 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Damiani sapphire and diamond cocktail ring in 18-karat yellow gold. Polished metal setting bezel
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$5,000
Damiani 2.20 Carat Diamond and 18 Karat Gold "Band" Style Ring
By Damiani
Located in Calabasas, CA
Beautiful 18 karat yellow gold and diamond ring by the very famous Italian jewelry designers
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$3,200
Damiani 1.66 Carat 18 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald Diamond Band Ring
By Damiani
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Emerald and diamond band ring in 18-karat yellow gold by Damiani. Oval cut natural emerald center
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$17,580
Damiani Gomitolo diamond ring in 18k white yellow and rose gold
By Damiani
Located in Surfside, FL
Damiani Gomitolo diamond ring in 18k white yellow and rose gold set with 182 round brilliant cut
Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$4,712
Damiani Domina 0.5 Carat Diamond Platinum and Rose Gold Ring
By Damiani
Located in North Miami Beach, FL
0.5 Ct Diamond category IF (Internally Flawless), color G (Near Colorless) The ring comes in size 7
Rose Gold, Platinum
Damiani 10 Diamonds D.Side Wedding Band Ring 18K White Gold with Diamonds
By Damiani
Located in New York, NY
Measurements: Size: 7.25 - 55, Width: 3.9 mm Designer: Damiani Model: 10 Diamonds D.Side Wedding Band Ring 18K
White Gold
Unavailable|$1,395
DAMIANI Twenty Diamond Gold Unity Ring
By Damiani and Brad Pitt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
diamonds. Nice. It was co-designed by Damiani and actor Brad Pitt. This could be a wedding band, a promise
Diamond, White Gold
Unavailable|$1,490
DAMIANI 20 Diamond Gold Unity Ring
By Damiani and Brad Pitt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
New (retails for $3,000). This is a double-ring held together by 20 diamonds. It was co-designed
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$1,360
DAMIANI 10 Diamond Gold Unity Ring
By Damiani and Brad Pitt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
New (retails for $2,500). This is a terrific ring co-designed by Damiani and Brad Pitt. It has
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$1,390
DAMIANI 20 Diamond Gold Unity Ring
By Damiani and Brad Pitt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
New (retails for $3,100). This is a modern, romantic diamond and yellow gold ring from Diamani
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$1,850
Damiani and Brad Pitt, 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Ring
By Damiani and Brad Pitt
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Damiani 18 karat yellow diamond ring designed by Brad Pitt. Total of 0.2 carats of diamonds, E-G
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$9,200
White Gold White Diamond Yellow Diamond Ring Band
By Damiani
Located in San Francisco, CA
other set with white round brilliant cut diamonds, facing in opposite directions, on the ring. Bold
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$1,200
Damiani Brad Pitt Diamond Wedding Band in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Damiani and Brad Pitt
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Damiani and Brad Pitt diamond wedding band ring crafted in 18-karat yellow gold. Satin finish metal
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$1,360
DAMIANI Ten Diamond Gold Unity Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
. Two rings are joined together by ten diamonds with the smallest amount of space between the rings
Diamond, White Gold
Sold|$24,500
Damiani Diamond Ring
By Damiani
Located in Geneva, CH
Ring Diamonds Metal: white gold Diamonds ct tot 4,52 GH VVS-VS Gold gr tot 17,45 Total weight gr
Diamond, White Gold
When Enrico Grassi Damiani opened a goldsmith workshop in Valenza, Italy, in 1924, he established a brand that would completely change the jewelry industry. The seductive shapes that he sketched were translated into sculptural gold Damiani necklaces and rings and accented with diamonds and other precious stones, garnering the attention of Italy’s upper class. The jeweler’s designs, inspired by cityscapes as often as they were flowers and other natural-world forms, would find loyal patrons in the wealthy and now are celebrated as timeless works.
Even today, a ring Damiani designed during the early 20th century in tribute to Queen Margherita continues to inspire the Margherita collection with its daisies of diamonds and gold. One of Damiani’s 1920s designs was the Charleston necklace, a collier with a feather shape adorned with approximately 1,000 diamonds, inspired by revolutionary American-born French dancer and singer Josephine Baker, who’d taken to the stage sometimes clad in little more than pearl jewelry and a feather skirt.
For the next 40 years, Damiani maintained its status as the premier jeweler to Italy’s elite, adapting to restrictions on materials during World War II with pieces that saw an innovative integration of metal alloys and iron. After the war, Damiani’s son, Damiano Grassi Damiani, took over the family business and catapulted the Damiani name onto the international stage.
In the 1970s, Damiano led Damiani to become one of De Beers’s main partners, associating the Italian name with luxury and opulence in high-quality diamonds. He also introduced catalogues, which guaranteed fixed pricing, something radical for fine jewelry. In 1976, Damiani won the prestigious Diamonds International Award for its Shark bracelet, which Damiano’s wife, Gabriella Colombo Damiani, designed using two-toned gold and diamonds.
Following Damiano’s death in 1996, Gabriella took the helm, bringing on her three children — Silvia, Guido and Giorgio — to help oversee the company’s creative direction. In the 2000s, its expansion included new boutiques around the world as well as celebrity collaborations, such as the line of jewelry designed by actor Brad Pitt and goldsmiths in Valenza now available for customers as the D.Side.
Other celebrity partnerships included Sharon Stone, who collaborated on the Maji line to support clean water in Africa, and the Sophia Loren collection, which was inspired by the iconic style of the Italian actress. In 2009, Damiani designed the Harlequin Fantasy Bra for the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show. The garment took 15 artisans more than 800 hours to craft by hand using 2,355 colorless and cognac-colored diamonds.
Today, the company continues to innovate creatively on its heritage with an eye toward the future, from the timeless Belle Époque collection, inspired by the sketches of founder Enrico Grassi Damiani, to diamond-adorned Apple watch covers.
Find a collection of Damiani jewelry for sale 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 diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.
From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!
There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.
Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.
In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).
When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And 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.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond 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.