18K Rose Gold Zirkonia Engagement Ring, 1 Carat, Netherlands
Located in Heemstede, NL
This ring is both stunning as elegant! With its beautiful design this vintage ring is a must-have for any jewelry lover. Whether as a gift or a personal addition to your collection,...
Spinel, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1920s Antique Art Deco Platinum Marquise Aquamarine Engagement Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1920s Antique Art Deco Platinum Marquise Aquamarine Engagement Ring This authentic Art Deco engagement ring is crowned with a marquise aquamarine of luminous ocean-blue hue, set in ...
Aquamarine, Platinum
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
1880's Victorian Navette 0.80ct Diamond Ring 14K Solid Gold Marquise Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Victorian Navette Diamond Ring 14K Solid Gold Antique Marquise Cluster Ring Old Cut Diamonds Engagement Heirloom Jewelry This authentic 1900’s Victorian navette ring is set with gli...
Diamond, Gold
Victorian 18K Gold Opal Five Stone Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Victorian 18K Gold Opal Five Stone Ring This Antique English Five-Stone Opal Ring, crafted in 18k gold, dates back to the late 19th to early 20th century. It features a stunning row...
Opal, 18k Gold
Victorian 18K Gold Opal Five Stone Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Victorian 18K Gold Opal Five Stone Ring This Antique English Five-Stone Opal Ring, crafted in 18k gold, dates back to the late 19th to early 20th century. It features a stunning row...
Opal, 18k Gold
1.28 D IF Diamond Platinum Solitaire Heart Ring
By Mattieu Wiewel
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A fine handmade platinum ring set with a brilliant cut diamond (1.28 carats, D, IF, with certificate of the HRD) on each side three small brilliant cut diamonds, the setting is decor...
White Diamond, Platinum
Renaissance Antique Inspired Ruby High Carat Gold Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Renaissance Antique Inspired Ruby High Carat Gold Ring This Renaissance antique inspired ring draws from historic European jewelry traditions and ancient symbolism, resulting in a d...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Genuine Tanzanite Statement 14K Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in GOES, NL
Radiant Elegance: The Tanzanite Statement Ring in 14K solid gold. Turn heads and steal the spotlight with this breathtaking statement ring, where timeless beauty meets bold design. ...
Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Renaissance Antique Inspired Ruby High Carat Gold Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Renaissance Antique Inspired Ruby High Carat Gold Ring This Renaissance antique inspired ring draws from historic European jewelry traditions and ancient symbolism, resulting in a d...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Renaissance Antique Inspired Tourmaline High Carat Gold Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Renaissance Antique Inspired Tourmaline High Carat Gold Ring This Renaissance antique inspired ring draws from historic European jewelry traditions and ancient symbolism, resulting ...
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold
1900's Dutch Antique Pearl Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique Dutch Rose-Cut Diamond Pearl Ring This original 19th-century Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the classic silver over gold style of the pe...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
1910's Marquise Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1900's Marquise Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Navette Ring This original Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the classic silver over gold style of the...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
Ring with brilliant and marquise cut diamonds up to 0.61ct platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
Platinum ring set with a central brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.48ct - G/H - VS - and sides set with marquise and brilliant-cut diamonds up to 0.13ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6....
Diamond, Platinum
1900's Marquise Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1900's Marquise Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Navette Ring This original Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the classic silver over gold style of the...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
1900's Dutch Antique Pearl Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique Dutch Rose-Cut Diamond Pearl Ring This original 19th-century Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the classic silver over gold style of the pe...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
Vintage Solitaire Sapphire Diamond 18K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Stunning Vintage 18K Solid Gold Sapphire & Diamond Ring – US Size 6.5 (Sizable) This exquisite vintage ring is finely crafted in 18K solid gold, set with a vibrant sapphire and shim...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
$6,450Sale Price|20% Off
1900's Victorian Dutch Antique 2.00 Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique Dutch 2.00ct Rose-Cut Diamond Ring This original 19th-century Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the classic silver over gold style of the p...
Diamond, 14k Gold
1900's Victorian Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring Heirloom Jewelry
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1900's Victorian Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring Heirloom Jewelry This original 19th-century Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the clas...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Vintage Dutch Garnet Entourage Ring in 14K Solid Gold
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
This vintage Dutch garnet entourage ring is crafted in 14K solid yellow gold and centered by a large oval faceted garnet with a deep, wine-red hue. The central stone displays strong ...
Garnet, 14k Gold, Gold
Vintage 0.50ct Diamond Princess Ring in 14K White Gold
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique Dutch Rose-Cut Diamond Pearl Ring This original 19th-century Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the classic silver over gold style of the pe...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1840's Georgian Dutch Antique Rosecut Half Hoop Ring Heirloom Jewelry
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
A delicate and timeless jewel from the Georgian era, this half-hoop ring is set with softly shimmering rose-cut diamonds, each catching the light with a gentle, candlelit glow. The h...
Diamond, 14k Gold
1900's Victorian Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring Heirloom Jewelry
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1900's Victorian Dutch Antique Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring Heirloom Jewelry This original 19th-century Dutch ring features a beautiful hand-cut rose-cut diamonds, set in the clas...
Diamond, 14k Gold
1880's Victorian Rosecut Diamond Navette Marquise Ring in 14K solid gold
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique Rosecut Diamond Navette Marquise Entourage Ring in 14K solid gold vintage antique ring heirloom jewelry Antique Dutch Rose-Cut Diamond Ring This original Dutch ring feature...
Diamond, 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
Vintage Large Dutch Garnet Entourage Ring in 14K Solid Gold
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
This vintage Dutch garnet entourage ring is crafted in 14K solid yellow gold and centered by a large oval faceted garnet with a deep, wine-red hue. The central stone displays strong ...
Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
1880's Victorian Navette 1.50cts Diamond Ring High Carat Gold
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1880's Victorian Navette 1.50cts Diamond Ring High Carat Gold This original Victorian navette ring, crafted in rich 18k gold, features approximately 1.5 carats of hand-cut antique s...
Diamond, 18k Gold
1880's Victorian Colosseum Micro Mosaic Ring in 14K Solid Gold Italian Souvenir
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique Victorian Colosseum Micro Mosaic Ring in 14K Solid Gold – Italian Souvenir Ring Size 6.5 US This extraordinary Victorian micro mosaic ring is a wearable work of art. Handcr...
Gold
1900s Antique Ruby Belcher Ring – High Carat Gold Edwardian Solitaire – Vintage
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1900s Antique High Carat Gold Ruby Belcher Ring This early 1900s ruby ring is crafted in rich high-carat gold, set in a classic Belcher mount where the prongs are carved directly fr...
Ruby, 18k Gold
18karat white gold ring pear-cut diamond 3.67 carat
By Bonebakker
Located in Amsterdam, NL
18 Karat white-gold ring with a pear-cut diamond of 3.67 carats. This white gold ring is an absolute showstopper. A giant pear-shaped diamond of 3.67ct, in J colour and of VS2 qual...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.60ct 18k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with two brilliant cut diamonds 0.60ct - L/M - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 8.0 - EU. 18.25(58) detailed description: the top of the ring is 1.1 cm wide, and 0.6 ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Genuine Pink Kunzite Diamond Statement 14K Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in GOES, NL
Radiant Elegance: The Kunzite Diamond Statement Ring in 14K solid gold. Turn heads and steal the spotlight with this breathtaking statement ring, where timeless beauty meets bold de...
Diamond, Kunzite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880's Victorian Ruby Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring 6.5 US 14K Solid Gold
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1880's Victorian Ruby Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring 6.5 US 14K Solid Gold Follow us on instagram @luxoriavita for previews and new arrivals.
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Antique 1.00 GH SI Oldmine Cut Diamond Ring 18K Solid Gold Size 9 US
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique 1.00 GH SI Oldmine Cut Diamond Ring 18K Solid Gold Size 9 US
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 1.00 GH SI Oldmine Cut Diamond Ring 18K Solid Gold Size 9 US
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique 1.00 GH SI Oldmine Cut Diamond Ring 18K Solid Gold Size 9 US
Diamond, 18k Gold
Art Deco 1920's Diana Sapphire Diamond in 18K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Art Deco 1920's Diana Sapphire Diamond in 18K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring A symbol of love and unity, this exquisite Art Deco “Toi et Moi” ring meaning “You and Me” in French, dates to...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Entourage Ring 14k Yellow Gold Natural Ruby 0.54 carat 24 Brilliant Cut Diamonds
Located in Heemstede, NL
This exquisite entourage ring is crafted from 14 carat yellow gold, featuring a stunning natural ruby and brilliant cut diamonds. The vibrant ruby is the centerpiece of this gem, sur...
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1880's Victorian Ruby Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring 6.5 US 14K Solid Gold
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
1880's Victorian Ruby Rosecut Diamond Entourage Ring 6.5 US 14K Solid Gold Message us for our best price. Follow us on instagram @luxoriavita for previews and new arrivals.
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
$2,799Sale Price|20% Off
Antique 1.00 GH SI Oldmine Cut Diamond Ring 18K Solid Gold Size 9 US
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Antique 1.00 GH SI Oldmine Cut Diamond Ring 18K Solid Gold Size 9 US Message us for inquiries.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ring alliance white gold 18k 10 natural diamonds, princes cut, 1.5 carat VS1-VS2
Located in Heemstede, NL
Timeless jewel! Turn heads with this stunning half alliance ring in solid 18k gold, fully set with brilliant princess cut diamonds. A perfect blend of elegance and timeless style — d...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 14K Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire & Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Rotterdam, NL
An elegant vintage sapphire and diamond cluster ring, crafted in 14 karat yellow gold and designed in a timeless floral halo style. At the center sits a deep blue faceted sapphire, b...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 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
F/SI 1.20 Carat Solitaire Natural Diamond Ring, 14K White & Yellow Gold
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A brand new solitaire diamond ring, we created this ring by setting a vintage diamond into a new 14K solitaire mounting. The diamond is graded as F color, with a clarity grade of SI ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,178Sale Price|20% Off
Art Deco 1920's Sapphire 0.70ct Diamond Toi Moi in 14K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Art Deco 1920's Sapphire 0.70ct Diamond Toi Moi in 14K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring A symbol of love and unity, this exquisite Art Deco “Toi et Moi” ring meaning “You and Me” in French,...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Art Deco 1920's Sapphire 0.70ct Diamond Toi Moi in 14K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Art Deco 1920's Sapphire 0.70ct Diamond Toi Moi in 14K Solid Gold Heirloom Ring A symbol of love and unity, this exquisite Art Deco “Toi et Moi” ring meaning “You and Me” in French,...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage 14K Gold and Silver Cluster Ring with Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Rotterdam, NL
A vintage 14 karat gold and silver ring set with bright rose-cut diamonds in a classic cluster design. The ring features thirteen rose-cut diamonds arranged around a larger central ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold
Unavailable|$10,566
Art Deco 1.45 Carat Old Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
A fantastic quality old cut diamond in a very pretty mount from The Netherlands. The slightly oval shaped stone is secured in an eight claw collet, leading pronounced diamond set sho...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Unavailable|$5,327
2.47 Carat Natural Diamond Yellow Gold Halo Engagement Ring
By Tears Undressed
Located in Tilburg, NL
A stunning hand-made creation with spirit, fire and style. Set in 18 karat yellow gold. A dazzling 1.38 carat tinted yellow radiant diamond creates an extraordinary show of light at ...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$10,750
White Gold Asscher Cut White Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
A timeless 1 carat Asscher cut diamond set amongst a brilliant backdrop of polished 18k Fairtrade white gold. This ensures this precious diamond takes centre stage.
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$11,320
Art Deco 1.45 Carat Old Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Essex, GB
A fantastic quality old cut diamond in a very pretty mount from The Netherlands. The slightly oval shaped stone is secured in an eight claw collet, leading pronounced diamond set sho...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$2,076 / item
Cober Jewellery with Princess Cut Diamond Modern Engagement Ring Total Handmade
By Vincent Cober
Located in OSS, NH
We invite you to see more of our collection from Cober Jewellery at 1stDibs! You can type Cober Jewellery in the search bar to view more pieces of jewellery at our webshop. Cober Je...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1.78 Carat Spinel Diamond Belle Époque Inspired White Gold Engagement Ring
By Tears Undressed
Located in Tilburg, NL
Beautiful Belle Époque inspired spinel and diamond engagement ring by Tears Undressed. This brand new 14 karat white gold hand-made ring is set with an elegant 1.78ct spinel center s...
Diamond, White Diamond, Spinel, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$1,868
1.05 Carat Ruby Diamond Belle Époque Inspired White Gold Engagement Ring
By Tears Undressed
Located in Tilburg, NL
Beautiful Belle Époque inspired ruby & diamond ring by Tears Undressed. This 14 karat white gold hand-made new engagement ring is set with an 1.05ct oval ruby center stone encirc...
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
GIA Certified 2.11 Carat Yellow Diamond Halo Engagement Ring 18 Karat White Gold
By Tears Undressed
Located in Tilburg, NL
A classic and elegant split shank halo ring by Tears Undressed. A hand-made new jewelry piece set in 18 karat white gold with an exceptional 1.61 carat yellow (W-X) center stone. Enc...
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$14,723
Stack ring
Located in EINDHOVEN, NB
Tweek Eek's signature is working with factories that don't normally make jewelry but are often active in the high-tech or furniture industries. These companies work with sheet materi...
14k Gold, Gold
Unavailable|$4,008
Contemporary Iris Diamond Ring
By Cardillac
Located in Dublin 2, Dublin 2
Fascinating hand-wrought floral ring in yellow gold with beautiful diamond at its centre. The Iris ring is made in 18k yellow gold with a modern matte finish. The ring seems to effor...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$10,950
Smoky Quartz Diamond Dress Ring
By Fred for Lyppens
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A large smokey quartz set in an entourage of old mine cut diamonds, total weight 3.50 ct, set in a white gold setting. All of our prices exclude VAT.
Diamond, Quartz, 14k 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.
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.
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Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.