Necklace with Tahiti pearl and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.12ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold necklace with a Tahitian pearl and brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.12 ct - F/G - VS/SI - 42 cm long Detailed description: The necklace is 42 cm long and 1.5 mm wide. ...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Earrings with peridot and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.58ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold earrings set with peridot and brilliant-cut diamonds up to approximately 0.58 ct - F/G - VS/SI Detailed description: The earrings are 2.7 cm high and 5.0 mm wide. ...
Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.31ct 18k gold 6.8 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold ring set with brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.31ct. - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6 - EU. 16.5 (52) detailed description the top of the ring is 9.1 mm wide wei...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.16ct 14k gold 4.7 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring with brilliant-cut diamond total approx. 0.36 carat F/G VS/SI - ring size U.S. 5.25 - EU. 16 (50) Detailed description: The top of the ring is 1.0 cm wide and 6...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Victorian Necklace and pendant with rose cut diamonds up to 0.50ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold necklace with a pendant set with rose-cut diamonds up to 0.50 ct - F/G - VS/SI - 45 cm long Detailed description The necklace is 45 cm long and 1.8 mm wide. The pe...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Key of Amsterdam Pendant Rose Gold and Diamonds
By Bonebakker
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The classic key of Amsterdam in the biggest size in 18 karat pink gold with elegant diamonds details. A unique and symbolic piece of jewelry that has such a prominent place in the ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Niessing 18k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring with Azurite & 1.10ct Diamonds
By Niessing
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold ring set with azurite and brilliant-cut diamonds up to 1.10 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 8 - EU 18.25 (57) Detailed description The front of the ring is 3.0 cm w...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Genuine 8.6 Carat Deep Purple Tanzanite and Diamonds Pendant
Located in GOES, NL
An impressive, true one -of-a kind precious Tanzanite pendant, set in 14K solid yellow gold, surrounded by sparkling natural diamonds. The dazzling giant tanzanite has a mesmerizing ...
Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold
Genuine Sparkling Citrine and Zambian Emerald Diamond Necklace
Located in GOES, NL
A sparkling giant citrine necklace with extremely rare and pure spessartine garnets. This necklace features genuine high grade bright yellow citrines, delicately strung together with...
Diamond, Citrine, Emerald, 18k Gold
Necklace and pendant with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.36ct 14k gold 2.8 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold necklace with a pendant set with brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.36 ct - F/G - VS/SI - 45 cm Detailed description The necklace is 45 cm long and 0.7 mm wide. The pend...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.20ct 14k gold 8.1 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold ring set with brilliant-cut diamonds totaling approx. 1.20ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 7.75 - EU. 18 (56) detailed description the top of the ring is 5.8 mm wi...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Necklace and pendant with Coral and brilliant cut diamonds 14k gold 15.7 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14 kt yellow gold necklace with pendant set with Corallium Rubrum and brilliant cut diamond, total approx. 0.25 ct F/G VS/SI - 60 cm detailed description the pendant is 4.3 cm hig...
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique Victorian Rose Cut Diamond Bow Pendant
Located in Rotterdam, NL
This antique Victorian drop-shaped bow pendant designed with rose cut diamonds is truly a treasure to behold. The pendant is created with rose cut diamonds set in a teardrop shape su...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.90ct Platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
Platinum ring with old European cut and single cut diamonds up to 0.50ct - ring size U.S. 6 – EU. 16.5(52) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.4 cm wide and 6.9 mm high ...
Diamond, Platinum
Necklace and pendant with brilliant and single cut diamond up to 0.80ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold necklace with pendant set with brilliant-cut and single-cut diamonds totaling 0.80ct - F/G - VS/SI - 40 cm long detailed description: necklace is 40 cm long and 1.7 ...
Diamond, 14k Gold
18k White Gold Cufflinks with Lapis Lazuli & Diamonds, 0.60ct
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold cufflinks set with lapis lazuli and single cut diamonds. 0.54ct – F/G – VS/SI Detailed description: The top of the button has a diameter of 1.7 cm wide Total weig...
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, White Gold
RETRO brooch with ruby and rose cut diamonds up to 0.10ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
RETRO 18k bicolour gold brooch set with ruby verneuille and rose-cut diamonds up to 0.10 ct - G/H - SI Detailed description: The brooch measures 6.5 cm long and 8.9 mm wide Weig...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Silver necklace with pendant set with a rose-cut diamond 0.50 ct
Located in The Hague, ZH
Silver necklace with pendant set with a rose-cut diamond 0.50 ct - H/I - SI - 38 cm long Detailed description The necklace is 38 cm long and 0.7 mm wide. The pendant measures 2.0 ...
Diamond, Silver
Necklace and pendant with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 18k gold 16.2 gram
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold necklace with pendant set with brilliant-cut diamonds total approx. 1.50ct - F/G - VS/SI - 45cm long Detailed description the length of the necklace is 45 cm long by...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Earrings with layered stone and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.70ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold stud earrings set with layered stone and brilliant-cut diamond total 0.70ct – F/G – VS/SI – 18.4 grams Detailed description: The dimensions of the stud are 2.8 cm l...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Earrings with chrysophrase and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.32ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolour gold drop earrings set with chysophrase and brilliant-cut diamonds up to 1.32ct – F/G – VS/SI Detailed description: The dimensions of the drop are 4.5 cm long by 9.1 m...
Chrysophrase, Diamond, 18k Gold
CHRIST Solitaire ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
CHRIST - 14k white gold solitaire ring set with brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.40ct - G/H - SI - ring size U.S. 7 - EU. 17.25(54) detailed description: the top of the ring is 6....
Diamond, 14k Gold
Earrings with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.10ct - 4.2 grams- 18k bicolour gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolour gold earrings set with brilliant cut diamonds up to approx. 0.10 ct - F/G - VS/SI detailed description: the size of the earring is 1.1 cm high and 1.1 cm wide Total w...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.45ct 18k gold 4.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with brilliant-cut diamond 0.45 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6 - EU. 16.5 (52) detailed description the top of the ring is 6.0 mm wide and 3.0 mm high ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
White gold ring with pear-cut yellow diamond
By Bonebakker
Located in Amsterdam, NL
18 karat white gold ring set with a 1.51ct-fancy yellow pear-cut diamond This ring with a 1.51 ct pear-cut fancy yellow diamond, surrounded by an entourage of white diamonds, is a u...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.49ct 18k gold 5.1 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolour gold ring set with brilliant-cut diamond 0.49 ct F/G - VS/SI - ring size 17.25 (54) detailed description The top of the ring is 7.6 mm wide by 6.9 mm high ring size U...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Necklace and pendant with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.62ct 14k gold 3.7 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold necklace with pendant set with brilliant-cut diamonds. 0.62ct - F/G - VS/SI - 45 cm long detailed description: necklace is 45 cm long and 0.7 mm wide dimensions of ...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Necklace with rose cut diamonds up to 2.50ct 14k gold 5.5 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold necklace set with rose-cut diamonds up to 2.50ct – G/H – SI – 40 cm long Detailed description the length of the necklace is 40 cm long by 0.7 mm wide the dimensions...
Diamond, 14k Gold
14k Yellow Gold Dangle Earrings with 0.25ct Brilliant Cut Diamonds
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold earrings set with brilliant cut diamonds. 0.25ct - F/G - VS/SI Detailed description: the earring is 3.1 cm high and 1.7 cm wide weight 9.3 grams set with - 2 x...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 18k Gold & Platinum Link Bracelet with Ruby & Diamonds, 1950
Located in The Hague, ZH
RETRO 18k gold and platinum link bracelet set with ruby and single-cut diamonds up to 0.40 ct – F/G – VS/SI – 19 cm long Detailed description The top of the bracelet is 1.8 cm wi...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Earrings with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.29ct 14k gold 4.4 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold earrings set with brilliant-cut diamond 0.49ct D-SI1; 0.50ct E-VVS1; 0.30 ct E/F-VS-SI Detailed description The earrings measure 2.0 cm by 1.1 cm Weight: 4.4 grams ...
Diamond, 14k Gold
18k Bicolour Gold Cocktail Ring with 1.40ct Sapphire & 2.20ct Diamonds
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolour gold ring set with sapphire 1.40 ct and taper, carre and brilliant cut diamond up to 2.20 ct -F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 6 - EU 16.5 (52) detailed description: the top...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.25ct 18k gold 2.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k gold ring set with brilliant-cut diamonds up to 0.25ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 5 - EU 15.75 (49) detailed description: the top of the ring is 6.0 mm wide, and is 5.1 mm ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Dangle earrings with sapphire and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.26ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold drop earrings set with sapphires (total approx. 1.18 ct) and brilliant-cut diamonds (total approx. 0.26 ct) – F/G – VS/SI Detailed description: Earring dimensions: 2...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
WEMPE pendant with black brilliant cut diamonds up to 3.20ct 18k gold 10.2 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
WEMPE 18k white gold pendant set with black brilliant cut diamond, approximately 3.20ct in total – 10.2 grams included: Wempe-Echtheitszertifikat Detailed description the size of t...
Diamond, 18k Gold
14k Yellow Gold Opal and Diamond Pendant Necklace, 1.50ct, 1990
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold necklace with pendant set with an oval cut opal in the center and an entourage of brilliant cut diamonds up to. 1.50ct - G/H - VS/SI - 45 cm long detailed descriptio...
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Coral necklace with 18k gold lock set with diamond 0.35ct
Located in The Hague, ZH
Coral necklace with gold intermediate links and bicolour gold lock set with brilliant cut diamonds 0.35 ct F/G VS/SI - 85 cm long detailed description: Total length is 85 cm. Cora...
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 14k Gold Pendant Necklace with Pearl & Diamonds, Circa 1880
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold necklace with pendant set with pearl and old mine cut diamond total approximately 0.70 ct G/H - SI - 40 cm long detailed description the pendant is 2.3 cm high and ...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Earrings with pearl, square and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold stud earrings set with pearl and square and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct - F/G - VS/SI detailed description: the size of the stud is 2.4 cm long by 1.0 cm wi...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.20ct 18k gold 9.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring with brilliant-cut diamond total 1.20ct – F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 4.75 – EU. 15.5(49) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.0 cm wide and 4.5 mm hi...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Victorian 14k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring, Rose-Cut Diamond 0.40ct
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold solitaire ring set with a rose-cut diamond up to 0.40 ct - G/H - SI - ring size US 3.5 - EU 14.5(45) Detailed description: The front of the ring is 7.9 mm wide and ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 3.6 grams 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolour gold ring set with brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.40ct – F/G – VS/SI - ring size U.S. 5.75 - EU. 16.25 (51) detailed description: The top of the ring is 6.9 mm wide by ...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamond up to 0.03ct 18k white gold 3.4 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring with brilliant-cut diamond total 0.03ct – F/G – VS/SI – ring size U.S. 8 - EU 18.25(57) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.2 cm wide and 8.6 mm high ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Victorian Earrings with rose cut diamonds up to 0.10ct 18k gold 2.2 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k rose gold earrings set with rose-cut diamonds totaling 0.10ct – G/H - SI detailed description: The dimensions of the earrings are 1.6 cm long by 4.5 mm wide Weight 2.2 grams ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Earrings with pearl, brilliant and marquise cut diamonds up to 3.50ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold earrings set with pearls and various brilliant-cut diamonds, 3.50 ct - F - VS Detailed description: The earrings are 4.5 cm long and 1.1 cm wide. Weight: 14.7 grams...
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
14k Bicolor Gold Link Bracelet with 1.00ct Old Mine Cut Diamonds
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolor gold link bracelet set with old mine cut diamond up to 1.00ct - G/H - SI - 19.5 cm long detailed description: the length of the bracelet is 19.5 cm long by 8.2 mm wide ...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Ring set with baguette and brilliant cut diamonds 0.60ct, 18k gold 5.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold ring set with baguette and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.60ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 5.25 - EU 16 (50) detailed description: the ring is approximately 1.2 cm ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.60ct 14k gold 7.9 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolour gold ring with brilliant-cut diamond total 0.60ct – F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 7.75 – EU 18(56) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.2 cm wide and 8.3 mm hi...
Diamond, 14k Gold
CITIOR 18k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring with Emeralds & Diamonds
Located in The Hague, ZH
CITIOR - 18k yellow gold ring set with emerald to. 0.40ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to. 0.30ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 9 - EU. 19(59) detailed description: the top of th...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 18k gold 5.4 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold ring with brilliant-cut diamond total 1.00ct – F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6.5 – EU. 17(53) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.0 cm wide and 3.4 mm high...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ring with single cut diamonds up to 0.50ct 14k gold 3.5 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolour gold ring with single cut diamond total 0.50ct – F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6.5 – EU. 17(53) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.1 cm wide and 5.3 mm high ...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Solitaire ring with brilliant cut diamond up to 0.47ct 14k gold 4.1 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k pink gold solitaire ring set with a brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.47 ct - N/A - Pique - ring size US 9 - EU 19 (59) Detailed description: The top of the ring is 7.4 mm wide by ...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.60ct 18k gold 7.9 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolour gold ring with brilliant-cut diamond total 0.60ct – F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 7.5 – EU 17.75(56) Detailed description the top of the ring is 1.2 cm wide and 8.9 mm ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Victorian Brooch with rose cut diamonds up to 0.25ct 14k gold 7.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold brooch set with rose diamonds up to 0.25ct - G/H - SI detailed description: The size of the brooch is approximately 4.1 cm by 2.7 cm wide weight: 7.3 grams set wi...
Diamond, 14k Gold
14k Red Gold Pendant Necklace with Rose-Cut Diamonds, Circa 1880
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k red gold necklace with pendant set with rose-cut diamonds, totaling approximately 0.15 ct – G/H - SI - 45 cm long Detailed description The necklace is 45 cm long and 0.7 mm wid...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
RIng with solitaire ring with rose cut diamond up to 0.60ct 14k gold 2.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k gold solitaire ring set with rose-cut diamond up to 0.60 ct - H/I - SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5(55) Detailed description The top of the ring is 6.7 mm wide by 7.8 mm high....
Diamond, 14k Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.30ct 18k gold 9.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold ring set with a brilliant-cut diamond up to 1.30 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 9 - EU 19 (60) Detailed description The top of the ring is 1.2 cm wide and 5.0 mm ...
Diamond, 18k 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.