Estate South Sea Pearl Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s More Rings
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Cocktail Rings
Pink Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl
20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Ruby, South Sea Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
2010s German Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Cocktail Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
South Sea Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Cultured Pearl, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s Drop Necklaces
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1990s Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s Fashion Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
20th Century More Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Vintage 1980s American Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1990s American Modernist More Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1990s Japanese Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Dome Rings
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
South Sea Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Cocktail Rings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
South Sea Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Natural Pearl, Diamond, Platinum
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Estate South Sea Pearl Rings For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Estate South Sea Pearl Rings?
The Legacy of Pearl in Jewelry Design
The pearl has been synonymous with ladylike elegance since the Tudor period — learn what to look for when shopping for vintage and antique pearl jewelry as well as how to tell the origin of a pearl with our handy primer.
Every woman at some point in her life desires a simple strand of pearls. They are elegant, timeless, versatile — just ask Coco Chanel or Jacqueline Kennedy — and valuable. In 1917, Pierre Cartier famously traded a double-strand of natural pearls for a Fifth Avenue mansion, the Cartier brand’s flagship store ever since. And if you were born in the beginning of summer, pearl is the June birthstone.
It is possible to tell where a pearl originated from its appearance. Akoyas are usually round and white — the classic pearl, if you will. South Sea pearls are normally larger and vary in color; orangey yellow ones are not uncommon. Tahitian pearls are mostly black but can also be gray or brown, and between the Akoya and the South Sea varieties in size. Freshwater pearls, or Orientals, run the gamut in terms of color and size, but in shape, they tend to resemble Rice Krispies. Another important distinction is a round pearl versus a baroque pearl. A round pearl is self-explanatory, but there are two types of baroque pearls: symmetrical and asymmetrical. In general, the symmetrical variation commands a higher valuation. Within a strand of pearls, uniformity is prized — the more the individual pearls resemble one another, the more valuable the strand.
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the earliest recorded mention of a pearl was in 2206 BC by a Chinese historian. Centuries later, Christopher Columbus made it a point to visit pearl fisheries during his 15th-century exploration of the Caribbean. Since the late-19th century, the Japanese have been at the forefront of cultivating pearls, when jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto successfully cultured the world’s first pearl in 1893.
On 1stDibs, find vintage and antique pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and other accessories.
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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Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
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Alon Ruschin, of Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry, channels his passion for gems into helping clients find just the right ring.