Ring with ruby and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.15ct 18k gold 3.8 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold ring with ruby and diamond 0.15ct G/H SI - ring size US 7.5 - EU 17.75 (56) Detailed description The top of the ring is 10.4 mm wide and 4.6 mm high. Weight: 3....
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Eternity ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 18k pink gold 2.5 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k rose gold eternity ring with brilliant-cut diamond up to 1.50 ct – F/G – VS/SI – ring size US 7.25 – EU 17.5(55) Detailed description The top of the ring is 3.0 mm wide and 1.8...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Choker with rose cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 14k gold and silver 4.6 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k red gold necklace with a gold and silver centerpiece set with rose-cut diamonds up to 0.40 ct – G/H – SI - 45 cm long Detailed description The necklace is 45 cm long and 0.7 mm...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Pendant witj jade and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.20ct 18k gold 15.2 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold pendant set with jade and brilliant-cut diamonds up to 0.20 ct – F/G - VS/SI – 15.2 grams Detailed description The pendant measures 6.1 cm high by 3.6 cm wide. Tot...
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold
Necklace and pendant with rose cut diamonds up to 0.80ct 14k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold necklace with a gold and silver pendant set with rose-cut diamonds up to 0.80 ct – G/H – SI – 50 cm long Detailed description The necklace is 50 cm long and 1.3 mm ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 4.0 gram
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold entourage ring set with a central old European cut diamond up to 0.15 ct G/H - VS/SI, surrounded by single-cut diamonds up to 0.25 ct G/H - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 -...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.35ct 14k bicolour gold 4.2 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k two-tone gold ring set with a brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.35 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 8.5 - EU 18.5 (58) Detailed description The top of the ring is 1.3 cm wide by 1.0...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Pearl necklace with ruby and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.80ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
Pearl necklace with 18k white gold clasp and pendant set with a sapphire and brilliant-cut diamond, totaling approximately 0.80 ct F/G-VS/SI - length 40 cm Detailed description: Pe...
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
Ring with emerald and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 8.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold entourage ring set with emerald and brilliant-cut diamond 0.40 ct - G/H - SI - ring size US 4.75 - EU 15.5 (48) Detailed description The top of the ring is 1.2 cm w...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Art Deco Platinum Ring with 0.58ct Octagonal Diamond, Circa 1920s
Located in Rotterdam, NL
A refined Art Deco platinum ring dating to the 1920s, set with a total of twenty-two bright diamonds. The elegant design reflects the geometric and balanced aesthetic characteristic ...
Diamond, Platinum
Necklace and pendant with rose cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 14k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k rose gold necklace with gold and silver pendant set with rose cut diamonds and old cut diamonds. 1.00 ct - F/G, G/H - SI - 45 cm long detailed description: the necklace is 45 c...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.60ct 3.0 grams 14k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring set with a central brilliant cut diamond 0.50 ct G/H-VS and side stones brilliant cut diamonds 0.10 ct G/H-VS/SI- ring size US 5.75 - EU 16.25(51) detailed descr...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Earrings studs with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.80ct 18k white gold 3.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold entourage stud earrings set with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.80ct - F/G - VS/SI detailed description the size of the stud is 8.5 mm wide weight: 3.0 grams set w...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Ring with sapphire and old European cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 14k gold 3.7 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold entourage ring set with a sapphire in the center. 0.90ct and an entourage of old European cut diamonds up to. 1.00ct - G/H - SI - ring size U.S. 7.25 - EU. 17.5 (55) ...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Victorian pendant with rose cut diamonds up to 1.10ct 14k yellow gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold with silver pendant set with rose cut diamond total approximately 1.10ct – G/H - SI Detailed description the size of the pendant is 4.3 cm high and 1.3 cm wide to...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
RETRO brooch with old mine cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 18k gold and platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
RETRO 18k rose gold and platinum brooch in the shape of a peacock, set with old mine-cut diamonds up to 1.00 ct – G/H – SI Detailed description: The brooch measures 7.1 cm long and...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Brooche with blue enamel and rose diamonds 18k gold with silver 13.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k gold with silver brooch with blue enamel and set with rose cut diamonds total approx. 0.20 ct G/H - SI/P - 3.5 cm x 2.3 cm detailed description The brooch is 3.5 cm wide and 2....
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Ring with amethyst and single cut diamonds up to 0.12ct 18k gold 6.8 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with amethyst and single cut diamond. 0.12ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 8 - EU. 18.25(57) detailed description: The top of the ring is in an oval shape ...
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold
Early Victorian Ring with rose cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 7.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold ring set with rose-cut diamonds up to 0.40 ct – G/H - SI - ring size US 9.25 - EU 19.25 (61) Detailed description The top of the ring is 1.0 cm wide and 4.3 mm high...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 2.16ct 18k white gold 8.7 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with a brilliant-cut diamond up to 2.16 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7 - EU 17.25 (54) Detailed description: The top of the ring is 3.0 cm wide. Ring si...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Victorian brooch with rose cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 14k yellow gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
Victorian 14k yellow gold and silver brooch with rose diamonds up to 0.40ct - G/H - SI detailed description: the size of the brooch is 3.5 cm long by 1.7 cm wide weight 5.6 grams...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Art Deco 1920's Sapphire 0.70ct Diamond Toi Moi in 14K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
The sleek curves and open design embody the bold sophistication of early 20th-century craftsmanship. Origin: The Netherlands, 1920's Stones: Sapphire & Diamond 0.70ct (G-SI) M...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
18k white gold earrings set with pearl, aquamarine and brilliant cut diamonds
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold earrings set with pearl, aquamarine and brilliant cut diamonds. 0.20ct - F/G - VS/SI detailed description: the size of the earring is 7.0 cm by 2.1 cm wide weight 9...
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Earrings with pearl and old mine cut diamonds up to 0.80ct 14k gold and platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold with platinum clip-on earrings set with a pearl and an old mine cut diamond totaling 0.80ct – G/H – SI Detailed description: The dimensions of the clip-on earrings a...
Pearl, Diamond, Platinum, 14k Gold
Pendant with coral and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.03ct 19.0 grams 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold pendant set with a coral cut into the shape of a woman's head with a hat and a brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.03 ct – F/G – VS/SI Detailed description: The pendant m...
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Necklace with chrysophrase and brilliant cut diamond - 16.2 gram, 14k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold necklace set with chrysophrase and brilliant cut diamonds. 0.15ct - F/G - VS/SI - 45 cm long detailed description: necklace is 45 cm long and 1.5 mm wide size of ce...
Chrysophrase, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
200 Carat Blue Sapphire and Opal Diamond Charm Yellow Gold Necklace
Located in GOES, NL
Multi gemstone necklace that shimmers with a spectrum of rare precious stones, charms and diamonds, such as; • Ethiopian opal • Sapphire • Lapis • Tanzanite • African Amethyst • Am...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Diamond, Opal, Peridot, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k yellow gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.40ct – G/H - SI - ring size US 7 – EU 17.25(54) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.2 cm wide and 8...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Rose-Cut Diamonds and Turquoise Floral Brooch, 19th-Century
Located in Rotterdam, NL
An antique Victorian floral brooch set with rose cut diamonds and turquoise cabochon stones. The eleven rose cut diamonds - which are reminiscent of seeds - are haloed by twenty love...
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold
RETRO 18k rose gold earrings with ruby and old European cut diamond up to 0.26ct
Located in The Hague, ZH
RETRO 18k rose gold stud earrings set with ruby verneuille and old European cut diamonds totaling 0.26ct G/H - VS/SI Detailed description The dimensions of the earring are 2.2 cm...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Necklace with pearls and rose cut diamonds 18k gold and silver 12.4 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold necklace with a gold and silver centerpiece set with pearls and rose diamonds - 40 cm long detailed description: the length of the necklace is 40 cm long by 2.1 mm ...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.33ct 14k white gold 5.9 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold entourage ring set with a brilliant-cut diamond up to 1.33 ct - K, F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5 (55) Detailed description: The top of the ring has a dia...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Ring with pearl and old mine cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 18k gold 12.1 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with a pearl and an old mine-cut diamond up to 1.00 ct - F/G - SI - ring size US 6 - EU 16.5 (52) Detailed description: The top of the ring is 1.6 cm wide a...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique Dutch Gold and Silver Rose Cut Diamond Floral Brooch Pendant
Located in Rotterdam, NL
This is an antique 19th century rose cut diamond pendant which can also be worn as a brooch. This oval-shaped brooch pendant is created with many bright rose cut diamonds set in a se...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Victorian pendant with rose cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 14k yellow gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold with silver pendant set with rose cut diamond total approximately 0.30ct – G/H - SI Detailed description the size of the pendant is 2.5 cm high and 0.9 cm wide to...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
Earrings with Cat's Eye and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.40ct 18k gold 6.0 gram
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold earrings set with Cat's Eye and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.40ct – F/G – VS/SI Detailed description: The size of the earrings is 2.2 cm long by 1.1 cm wide Total ...
Diamond, Cat’s Eye, 18k Gold
14k yellow white gold earrings with sapphire 1.40 carat & diamonds 0.24 carat
Located in Heemstede, NL
A timeless expression of elegance and refinement. These exquisite earrings feature two richly hued oval-cut sapphires, delicately encircled by an entourage of brilliant-cut diamonds,...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Diamonds and Gold with Silver Earrings, 19th Century
Located in Rotterdam, NL
An antique 19th century pair of yellow gold earrings set with rose-cut diamonds crafted in a silver setting. These antique Dutch dangle earrings have a beautiful design with leaves a...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Antique Dutch 14K Gold Red Coral & Diamond Necklace, Circa 1880
Located in Rotterdam, NL
On either side, the clasp is accented with crescent-shaped silver elements known as “krabben” (crabs), each adorned with three old-cut diamonds, adding further sparkle and refinement...
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold
ART NOUVEAU brooch with old mine and rose cut diamond up to 0.15ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolor gold brooch set with old mine cut and rose cut diamonds. 0.15ct - F/G - SI detailed description: The size of the brooch is 5.5 cm long by 9.8 mm high weight: 3.5 grams...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.50ct - 5.1 grams - 14k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring with brilliant cut diamonds totaling approximately 0.50ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 8.5 - EU 18.5(58) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.2 cm wide...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Victorian ring with old mine cut diamonds up to 0.50ct 14k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k gold and silver ring with old mine-cut diamonds, totaling approximately 0.50 ct – G/H - SI - ring size US 7 – EU 17.25 (54) Detailed description The top of the ring is 2.2 cm w...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Brooch with ruby and rose cut diamonds up to 0.50ct 18k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k gold brooch set with ruby and rose-cut diamonds up to 0.50 ct – F/G – SI Detailed description The brooch measures 4.2 cm by 3.9 cm wide Weight: 12.5 grams Set with: - 4 x ...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
RETRO ring with old mine cut and single cut diamonds up to 0.90ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k two-tone gold ring set with old mine-cut and single-cut diamonds up to 0.90 ct - F/G - P2, VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5(55) Detailed description: The top of the ring is ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ring with blue topaz and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.60ct 14k gold 11.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring set with topaz and brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.60ct – F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6 - EU. 16.5 (52) detailed description: The top of the ring is 8.5 mm wide ...
Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold
Ring with ruby and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.60ct 14k pink gold 6.1 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k rose gold ring set with ruby and brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.60 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7 - EU 17.25 (54) Detailed description: The top of the ring is 8.0 mm wide a...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Necklace and pendant with old European cut diamond up to 0.50ct 14k gold 2.4 gr
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold necklace with a solitaire pendant set with an old European cut diamond up to 0.50 ct - N/O - VS - 50 cm long Detailed description: The necklace is 50 cm long and 0.9...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Ring with emerald up to 5.00ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 4.00ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold entourage ring set with a central emerald up to 5.00 ct and an entourage brilliant-cut diamond totaling 4.00 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 6.5 - EU 17(53) Detailed ...
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
Ring with sapphire up to 1.30ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.30ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold marquise ring set with sapphire up to 1.30ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.30ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size US 8.5 - EU 18.5(58) detailed description: The top o...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
14K 1.11 Carat Total Diamond Halo Engagement Ring, N/VS Center Stone
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Absolutely glowing, this diamond ring features a large 0.87 carat center stone surrounded by a halo of smaller, sparkling diamonds, with even more diamonds on either side of the ring...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-Century 18 karat Yellow Gold Ring with Diamonds
Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette
The "Mid-Century 18kt Yellow Gold Ring with Diamonds" is a piece of jewelry that combines elements of mid-20th-century design aesthetics with the elegance of high-quality materials a...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ring with sapphire up to 3.60ct and diamonds up to 3.60ct 14k gold 17.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold ring set with a central sapphire of up to 3.60 ct, surrounded by a drop and brilliant-cut diamond of up to 3.60 ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size US 6.5 - EU 17(53) Deta...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Necklace and pendant with pearl and old mine cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold necklace with a gold and silver pendant set with a pearl and an old mine-cut diamond 1.50 ct - F/G - VS/SI - 45 cm long Detailed description The necklace is 45 cm l...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
Ring with brilliant cut diamond up to 0.34ct 4.8 grams 14k yellow gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold ring set with brilliant cut diamond total approximately 0.34ct - H - SI - ring size US 6.5 - EU 17 (53) detailed description: the front of the ring is 7.7 mm wide ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ring with sapphire and old mine cut diamonds up to 0.65ct 14k gold and platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k gold with platinum three-stone ring set with a central sapphire up to 0.65ct and an old mine cut diamond up to 0.70ct – K/L – SI/Piq - ring size U.S. 7 – EU 17.25(54) detailed d...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Platinum
COCKTAIL Ring with opal, ruby and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.50ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold ring with a heart-shaped pink opal, ruby, and brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.50 ct – G/H - VS/SI - ring size US 5.5 - EU 16 (50) Detailed description The top of the ...
Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 14k Gold
Estate Giant Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Diamond Screw Back Bubble Earrings in 18K Gold
By Mikimoto
Located in GOES, NL
These exceptional Mikimoto earrings are a true celebration of timeless luxury and craftsmanship. Set with brilliant diamonds and exquisite Akoya pearls, they embody the brand’s legen...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
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.