Emerald Diamond Cocktail Ring Yg
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Modern Engagement Rings
Blue Diamond, Morganite, 18k Gold
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Early 20th Century Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Retro Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1990s American Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
20th Century American Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Engagement Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
20th Century Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Pink Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Edwardian More Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian More Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
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21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Engagement Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald...
2010s Israeli Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Black Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yello...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Finding the Right cocktail-rings for You
A flashy symbol of wealth during the early 20th century, antique and vintage cocktail rings have gained broader appeal in the decades since for the hefty dose of glamour they bring to any ensemble.
Cocktail rings earned their name for their frequent appearances during glitzy cocktail parties at the height of the Prohibition era. Back then, these accessories were seen not only as statement pieces but as statements in and of themselves. They openly represented a sense of freedom and independence as well as a demonstration of opulence. After all, the 1920s heralded the Harlem Renaissance and Art Deco design, and a slew of social and cultural shifts meant that women in particular were breaking from pre–World War I conventions and embracing newfound freedoms to express themselves as individuals.
Women expressly wore cocktail rings on the fingers of their right hand versus the left, which was “reserved” for an engagement ring or wedding band, accessories definitely paid for by a suitor. And for cocktail rings, the bigger the colored gem at the center — which is usually mounted in a high setting — and the more elaborate the design, the stronger the likelihood of being noticed.
Cocktail rings remained a popular piece of jewelry for women until the 1930s, when the Great Depression and the onset of war marked a change in behaviors nationwide. While the 1960s and ’70s saw a return in visibility for the accessory, it wasn’t until the 1980s that cocktail rings once again assumed their position as a beacon of luxury and glitz.
During the 20th century, the range of dazzling cocktail rings seems to have been limitless, from glimmering gold rings set with carved jade diamonds designed by David Webb to Pomellato’s pink quartz confections to striking Gucci butterfly rings with accent diamonds set in a pavé fashion.
So, how do you wear a cocktail ring? Cocktail rings “can be worn for almost anything — dinners, date nights, parties, special events, on the red carpet,” explains David Joseph of New York-based jewelry brand Bochic.
Can you wear cocktail rings with other rings? “In my opinion, cocktail rings should stand on their own since they showcase a large gem in the center,” says Joseph.
These glamorous jewels can be worn inside or outside crowded taverns, in either daytime or nighttime with casual or dressy attire. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique and vintage cocktail rings, including those offered by Chanel, whose elegant cocktail rings often feature pearls and, of course, diamonds, and sometimes were styled after showy flowers like the camellia, and Van Cleef & Arpels, whose detailed and intricate designs are viewed as miniature pieces of wearable art.
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