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Vintage Diamond and Ruby 18 karat Yellow Gold Ring
Vintage Diamond and Ruby 18 karat Yellow Gold Ring

Vintage Diamond and Ruby 18 karat Yellow Gold Ring

Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette

This type of bezel is called "entourage". An entourage ring is a ring with a large center stone surrounded by a row of smaller stones, usually diamonds.

Category

20th Century Belgian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

IGI jewel report Ring wth brilliant cut diamond sup to 1.50ct 14k gold
IGI jewel report Ring wth brilliant cut diamond sup to 1.50ct 14k gold

IGI jewel report Ring wth brilliant cut diamond sup to 1.50ct 14k gold

Located in The Hague, ZH

IGI Jewel Report - 14k white gold entourage ring set with brilliant-cut diamonds up to 1.50ct - ring size U.S. 7.25 - EU. 17.5 (55) detailed description The top of the ring has a d...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

1880's Victorian Rosecut Diamond Navette Marquise Ring in 14K solid gold
1880's Victorian Rosecut Diamond Navette Marquise Ring in 14K solid 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...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Ring with sapphire and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 14k gold
Ring with sapphire and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 14k gold

Ring with sapphire and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 14k gold

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k white gold entourage ring set with sapphire and entourage brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.40ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 7.25 - EU. 17.5 (55) Detailed description the to...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.15ct 14k gold 6.3 grams
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.15ct 14k gold 6.3 grams

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.15ct 14k gold 6.3 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k white gold entourage ring set with brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 1.15ct - G/H, F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6 - EU. 16.5 (52) detailed description: top of the ring is 1.6 cm ...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.55ct 18k gold 7.8 grams
Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.55ct 18k gold 7.8 grams

Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.55ct 18k gold 7.8 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

18k white gold entourage ring set with a pearl and brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.55 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.5 - EU 17.75 (56) Detailed description The top of the ring is ...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 14k white gold 4.5 grams
Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 14k white gold 4.5 grams

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 14k white gold 4.5 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k white gold entourage ring set with brilliant-cut diamonds up to 1.00 ct - F-G - VS/SI - Ringsize U.S. 7 - EU 17.25 (54) Detailed description The top of the ring is 1.4 cm wide...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Ring with chrysophrase and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 14k gold 5.4 gram
Ring with chrysophrase and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 14k gold 5.4 gram

Ring with chrysophrase and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 14k gold 5.4 gram

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k white gold entourage ring set with a central chrysoprase and a brilliant-cut diamond totaling 0.30ct on the entourage - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 8.25 - EU. 18.25 (57) detail...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Chrysophrase, Diamond, 14k Gold

Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 4.0 gram
Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 4.0 gram

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 -...

Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Ring with opal and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 14k gold 10.1 grams
Ring with opal and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 14k gold 10.1 grams

Ring with opal and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 14k gold 10.1 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k yellow gold entourage ring set with a central oval-cut opal and entourage brilliant-cut diamonds up to 1.50ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 8.25 - EU. 18.25 (57) detailed descr...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold

Ring with ruby up to 0.90ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.24ct 18k gold
Ring with ruby up to 0.90ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.24ct 18k gold

Ring with ruby up to 0.90ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.24ct 18k gold

Located in The Hague, ZH

18k white gold entourage ring set with a central ruby ​​up to 0.90 ct and an entourage brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.24 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5 (55) Detailed ...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Ring with sapphire and old European cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 14k gold 3.7 grams
Ring with sapphire and old European cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 14k gold 3.7 grams

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) ...

Category

Vintage 1920s Dutch Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

18k White Gold and Platinum Diamond Cocktail Ring, Circa 1910
18k White Gold and Platinum Diamond Cocktail Ring, Circa 1910

18k White Gold and Platinum Diamond Cocktail Ring, Circa 1910

Located in The Hague, ZH

18k white gold with platinum entourage ring set with brilliant and single cut diamonds up to 0.50ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 6 - EU 16.5 (52) detailed description: The top of t...

Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

14k Bicolour Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring, 5.1 gr - US 7.25
14k Bicolour Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring, 5.1 gr - US 7.25

14k Bicolour Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring, 5.1 gr - US 7.25

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k bicolor gold entourage ring set with a central sapphire up to 1.10ct and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.50ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5 (55) detailed description...

Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold

18 Karat Rose Gold Cocktail Ring with Diamonds
18 Karat Rose Gold Cocktail Ring with Diamonds

18 Karat Rose Gold Cocktail Ring with Diamonds

Located in AMSTERDAM, NL

18 karat rose gold entourage ring set with 24 brilliant cut diamonds with a total weight of approx. 0.30 ct H/VS.

Category

2010s European Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Ring with sapphire and single cut diamonds up to 0.43ct 18k gold 3.2 grams
Ring with sapphire and single cut diamonds up to 0.43ct 18k gold 3.2 grams

Ring with sapphire and single cut diamonds up to 0.43ct 18k gold 3.2 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

18k yellow gold entourage ring set with a sapphire up to 0.50 ct and an entourage single-cut diamond up to 0.43 ct - K/L - VS/SI - ring size US 9 - EU 19(60) Detailed description: ...

Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Ring with pearl, ruby and brilliant cut diamonds 0.23 ct, 14k gold 3.1 grams
Ring with pearl, ruby and brilliant cut diamonds 0.23 ct, 14k gold 3.1 grams

Ring with pearl, ruby and brilliant cut diamonds 0.23 ct, 14k gold 3.1 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k white gold entourage ring with a central pearl and as entourage ruby ​​and brilliant cut diamond 0.23ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 8.5 - EU 18.5 (58) detailed description: th...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold

Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.52ct 14k white gold 5.8 grams
Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.52ct 14k white gold 5.8 grams

Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.52ct 14k white gold 5.8 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k white gold entourage ring set with a central pearl surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds up to 0.52 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5 (55) Detailed description: The...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold

Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 14k gold 3.5 grams
Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 14k gold 3.5 grams

Ring with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 14k gold 3.5 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k yellow gold entourage ring set with a central pearl and a brilliant-cut diamond of up to 0.30ct on the entourage - G/H - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 5.25 - EU. 16 (50) detailed descr...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.88ct 14k gold 4.5 grams
Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.88ct 14k gold 4.5 grams

Ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 0.88ct 14k gold 4.5 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

14k white gold entourage ring set with old European cut diamonds and entourage single cut diamonds up to 0.88ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 7.25 - EU. 17.5 (55) detailed descript...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Ring with emerald up to 4.00ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.70ct 14k gold
Ring with emerald up to 4.00ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.70ct 14k gold

Ring with emerald up to 4.00ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.70ct 14k gold

Located in The Hague, ZH

18k white gold entourage ring set with an emerald up to 4.00 ct and a brilliant-cut diamond of 1.70 ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size US 8 - EU 18.25 (57) Detailed description The top o...

Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

Ring with emerald and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 8.3 grams
Ring with emerald and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 8.3 grams

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...

Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Ring with emerald up to 5.00ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 4.00ct 14k gold
Ring with emerald up to 5.00ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 4.00ct 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 ...

Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

Ring with emerald and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.26ct 18k gold 3.4 grams
Ring with emerald and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.26ct 18k gold 3.4 grams

Ring with emerald and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.26ct 18k gold 3.4 grams

Located in The Hague, ZH

18k bicolor gold entourage ring set with emerald and a brilliant-cut diamond of up to 0.26 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5 (55) Detailed description: The top of the ...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

18 Kt. Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring with 1.00 Ct Sapphire and Diamonds
18 Kt. Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring with 1.00 Ct Sapphire and Diamonds

18 Kt. Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring with 1.00 Ct Sapphire and Diamonds

Located in AMSTERDAM, NL

On offer is an 18 carat yellow gold entourage ring decorated in the center with 1 piece of oval cut natural sapphire of approx. 1.00 ct and with 16 brilliant cut diamonds of approx....

Category

2010s European Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ring with emerald up to 0.74ct nd brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.26ct 18k gold
Ring with emerald up to 0.74ct nd brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.26ct 18k gold

Ring with emerald up to 0.74ct nd brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.26ct 18k gold

Located in The Hague, ZH

18k bicolor gold entourage ring set with emerald and a brilliant-cut diamond of up to 0.26 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5 (55) Detailed description: The top of the ...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

New French Pink Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Platinum Daisy Ring
New French Pink Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Platinum Daisy Ring

New French Pink Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Platinum Daisy Ring

Located in Poitiers, FR

This splendid entourage ring is set with a cushion-cut pink sapphire and 10 modern brilliant-cut diamonds in a millegrain setting.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...

Platinum Colombian Green Emerald Diamond Entourage Cocktail Ring 10.44Cttw
Platinum Colombian Green Emerald Diamond Entourage Cocktail Ring 10.44Cttw

Platinum Colombian Green Emerald Diamond Entourage Cocktail Ring 10.44Cttw

Located in New York, NY

This spectacular platinum cocktail ring presents an excellent quality Green Emerald of 2.92 carats in the center.

Category

2010s American Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Vintage 18 K white Gold Ring double Diamond Entourage Ruby Ring
Vintage 18 K white Gold Ring double Diamond Entourage Ruby Ring

Vintage 18 K white Gold Ring double Diamond Entourage Ruby Ring

Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse

Stunning 18 K white Gold Ring featuring a fancy cut natural Ruby weighing approximately 5 ct, surrounded by 2 rows of 36 round brillinat cut Diamonds weighing approximately 3.20 ct, ...

Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

HRD Certified Vintage 18 Karat White Gold and Diamonds Cocktail Ring
HRD Certified Vintage 18 Karat White Gold and Diamonds Cocktail Ring

HRD Certified Vintage 18 Karat White Gold and Diamonds Cocktail Ring

Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette

An entourage ring is a ring with a center stone surrounded by one or two rows of smaller stones.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

An 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring with a Pink Tourmaline and a diamond entourage
An 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring with a Pink Tourmaline and a diamond entourage

An 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring with a Pink Tourmaline and a diamond entourage

Located in Amsterdam, NL

An 18 carat yellow gold ring set with a large unheated oval facetted pink tourmaline (app. 17.40 carat with an entourage of brilliant cut diamonds (app. 0.96 carat in total, colour G...

Category

Vintage 1960s European Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold

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Entourage Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate entourage ring for your needs in our varied inventory. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and White Gold. Our collection of these items for sale includes 18 vintage editions and 17 modern creations to choose from as well. Making the right choice when shopping for a entourage ring may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but .5 Carat and 1 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. A entourage ring from Joke Quick, Doris Hangartner and Les Pierres de Julie — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. A entourage ring can be a stylish choice for most occasions, but Diamond rings, from our inventory of 25, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. Today, if you’re looking for an oval cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut and brilliant cut alternatives. If you’re browsing our inventory for a entourage ring, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Entourage Ring?

The price for a entourage ring starts at $762 and tops out at $46,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $7,325.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

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.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

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 ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Finding the Right Rings for You

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 ringsvintage 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.