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Gold Buckle Ring 1940

Retro Tri Color Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
A 1940's 14 Kt gold buckle ring carries forward the Victorian form so popular in the 1`870's along
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold

Retro 14k Gold Diamond and Ruby Buckle Ring
Located in Venice, CA
weighs 4.85 grams. The ruby buckle measures approximately 1/2” x 5/8”. Ring size 4.5. Circa 1940.
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold

Vintage 1940s Retro Gold Buckle Ring with Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in 14k yellow gold featuring six Round Brilliant cut Diamonds weighing a total of
Category

Vintage 1940s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Retro 14k Diamond Adjustable Buckle Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
gold, this wide ring wraps around the finger, fastening with a stunning 3-dimensional "buckle" at the
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

French Retro Buckle 18K Yellow Gold Ruby Ring
Located in London, GB
A French 18 karat (18K) yellow gold retro ring designed as a buckle with a double-level spray of
Category

Vintage 1940s French Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Retro Vintage Tiffany Belt & Buckle Ring of 14k Gold Sapphire and Diamond
Located in Lewisburg, PA
silhouette. The ring bears the Tiffany mark on the underside of the clasp and weighs 9.09 grams. The gold
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Tiffany & Co ruby cocktail buckle ring, circa 1945.
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in London, GB
Tiffany & Co ruby cocktail buckle ring. Set with eight round old cut diamonds in open back grain
Category

Vintage 1940s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Recent Sales

Ruby and Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in London, GB
A diamond set dress ring, with stylised ruby set ‘buckle’. Mounted in 18ct yellow and rose gold
Category

Vintage 1940s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

1940s Buckle Ring with Diamonds and Rubies
Located in Bellmore, NY
20th century. This wonderful diamond buckle ring is made up of 14 karat pink and white gold
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

1940s Buckle Shaped Ring Set with Diamonds
Located in London, GB
1940's 3 color Gold ring set with 8 / cut Diamonds Finger size H
Category

Vintage 1940s British Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1940s Retro Citrine Ruby Gold Stylized Buckle Motif Ring
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This ring has great lines from every angle. The calibration of both the rubies and the citrines are
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Citrine, Ruby, 14k Gold

Retro Era Ruby and Diamond Handmade Buckle Cocktail Ring
Located in Seattle, WA
Circa 1940. This striking Retro Era ring sparkles with four, step-cut rubies weighing .25 carats
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Vintage 1940’s 9ct Yellow Gold Buckle / Belt Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Buckle Ring 9ct Yellow Gold Hallmarked London 1977 Makers Mark L W & G Lovely
Category

Late 20th Century English Band Rings

Materials

9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Retro Emerald Diamond Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
approximately 3.50 carats. Crafted in 18k gold. Ring size 6-3/4 and can easily be resized to fit, if needed this
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Cartier 1940's Diamond 14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Retro Adjustable Buckle Ring
By Cartier
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ring is comprised of malleable brick links - polished yellow gold Terminating as white gold buckle
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Gold and Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in New York, NY
This splashy European Retro gold ring with diamonds re-imagines the buckle ring as a chic
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold

Retro Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Enamel Buckle Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Circa 1940s buckle ring made of 14k (tested) yellow gold. Featuring diamond, ruby and enamel. Total
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Retro Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The coolest ring! What makes it so special is its mechanism. The buckle ring functions as a real
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Retro 14 Karat Yellow Gold Meshed Vintage Belt Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
karat gold With partial makers mark Circa: 1940's Ring size: adjustable from 4 1/2 to 8 and not sizable
Category

Vintage 1940s Fashion Rings

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14Y White & Chocolate Diamond Buckle Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
An estate 14 karat yellow and white gold diamond buckle band ring. This ring features a buckle
Category

Vintage 1940s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Retro Diamond 14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Adjustable Vintage Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band ring is designed as a malleable oyster link strap terminating with buckle motif clasp and tail
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold

Retro 0.56 CTW Diamond 14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Vintage Mesh Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a belt and buckle comprised of yellow gold panther link mesh Terminating with a white
Category

Vintage 1940s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Retro Black Opal Diamond 14 Karat Gold Platinum Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
strong spectral play-of-color. especially flashes of red and blue Flanked by a buckle shoulder motif
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

1940s Retro 1.20 Carat Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Rose Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band style ring designed as a buckle with round cut rubies weighing approximately 0.50 carat
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Bailey Banks & Biddle Retro 0.60 Carat Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Gold Buckle Ring
By Bailey, Banks & Biddle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band ring is designed as a high polished gold malleable strap with a stylized buckle clasp Bead
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Retro 0.54 Carats Sapphire Diamond 14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Vintage Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
fastener completed by hinged closure. Stamped 14 for 14 karat gold. Circa: 1940's. Ring size: adjustable
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White G...

Retro Diamond Ruby Platinum 14 Karat Two-Tone Gold Vintage Buckle Mesh Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
rose gold buckle Platinum is bead set with round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing approximately 0.12
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Cartier Ruby Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Greenwich, CT
gold stacked mesh pattern, the ring is movable and adjustable in size. Buckle loop and mesh tip are
Category

Vintage 1940s French Fashion Rings

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Retro, Gold, Diamond, and Ruby Buckle Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This lovely 14K yellow gold buckle ring was made by Tiffany & Co in the 1940s. The six diamonds set
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Vintage Retro 14k Gold & Platinum 32ct Diamond Adjustable Mesh Buckle Band Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This incredible vintage buckle band ring is crafted from solid 14k yellow gold with solid platinum
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Retro 0.45 Carat Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Tri-Colored Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
a white gold buckle bar Ring is malleable and completes as a functional white gold buckle bar that
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yel...

18k Gold Mesh Flexible Belt Buckle Ring
Located in Sausalito, CA
This lovely 18k gold mesh buckle ring has a slight rose gold tint. Size: 0.27" (7 mm) width X 3
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

18k Gold

Adjustable 1940s Retro 14k Gold Platinum Mesh Flexible Belt Buckle Ring
Located in Sausalito, CA
Stylish 1940's retro 14k gold, platinum, diamond and ruby mesh buckle ring. The folding buckle is
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Platinum

1940s Retro 14k Gold Platinum Mesh Flexible Belt Buckle Ring Tiffany & Co
Located in Sausalito, CA
Stylish 1940's retro 14k gold, platinum, diamond and ruby mesh buckle ring attributed to Tiffany
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Platinum

Flexible 1940's Gold And Diamond Belt Buckle Adjustable Ring
Located in New York, NY
18kt yellow gold adjustable belt buckle ring with four holes to make any size you want embellished
Category

American Jewelry

Vintage Diamond Yellow Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage 14K yellow gold and diamond buckle design ring, bead set with 19 full cut round diamonds G
Category

Vintage 1940s American Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

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18K Yellow Gold Turquoise and Diamonds Tennis Bracelet
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
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Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Tennis Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K Yellow Gold Turquoise and Diamonds Tennis Bracelet
18K Yellow Gold Turquoise and Diamonds Tennis Bracelet
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Diamond Scatter Signet Ring in 9 Karat Gold by Allison Bryan
By Allison Bryan
Located in London, GB
This contemporary take on the classic signet ring is crafted from solid 9-carat yellow gold and features eight diamonds ranging in size and color from pale champagne to cognac and a ...
Category

2010s British Signet Rings

Materials

Diamond, Brown Diamond, Gold, 9k Gold

GIA Certified No Heat Sapphire 6.46 Carat Diamond 0.75 Carat White Gold Ring 5.5
By OGI Ltd
Located in New York, NY
GIA Certified No Heat Sapphire 6.46 Carat Diamond 0.75 Carat 14 Karat White Gold Ring 5.5 This exquisite engagement ring features a stunning oval-shaped Ceylon sapphire, certified by...
Category

2010s American Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Bulgari Knot Ring Sapphire Emerald 18k Yellow Gold Sz 5 Signed Jewelry
By Bulgari
Located in Torrance, CA
Vintage Bulgari knot ring set with a blue sapphire and emerald in 18k yellow gold. Pointed cabochon cut sapphire and emerald measure 3mm each. The sapphire is in good condition an...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Band Rings

Materials

Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels Ladies Diamond Emerald Yellow Gold Wristwatch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Stamford, CT
The Van Cleef & Arpels Ladies Diamond Emerald Yellow Gold Wristwatch is an exquisite blend of timeless elegance and modern artistry. This luxurious timepiece sparkles with an array o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pave Diamond Bombe 14K Yellow Gold Ring, circa 1970s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This bold 1970s bombe-style ring is crafted in 14K yellow gold and features a stunning array of 71 pave-set old European and round brilliant cut diamonds. The diamonds total approxim...
Category

20th Century Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold

Miami Cuban Chain Bracelet, 14K Yellow Gold, Wide Chain Link Bracelet
By Five Star Jewelry
Located in Austin, TX
Miami Cuban chain bracelet made in 14k yellow gold. This bracelet is the hottest chain bracelet in today's fashion! Big, gold jewelry is back and better than ever! Add this chain to ...
Category

2010s American Contemporary Chain Bracelets

Materials

Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Invisibly Set Diamond Sapphire Double Boule Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Invisibly Set Diamond Sapphire Double Boule Ring From Our Signed Jewels Vintage Collection. Invisible sapphires and diamonds set in platinum Fully signed V...
Category

Vintage 1980s European Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

CHANEL pearly white 22C DUBAI CC HEART Dangle Earrings
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
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Category

21st Century and Contemporary Bangles

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Located in Rotterdam, NL
This Antique Gold Family Book Locket Pendant is a charming and sentimental piece of jewelry, designed to hold the memories of loved ones close. Crafted from 9 karat gold, the pendant...
Category

Early 20th Century European Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 9k Gold

18k Yellow Gold 5.45 Carat Aquamarine and Diamond Cocktail Ring
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
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Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 18ct Two Colour Gold, 1920s Art Deco Ruby, Diamond & Onyx Tank Earrings
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Tank Earrings 18ct Yellow & White Gold Circa 1920s Step back in time with these exquisite original Art Deco earrings, expertly crafted from 18ct yellow and white gold. Sh...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Stud Earrings

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Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Zip Necklace-Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
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Category

Early 20th Century Pendant Necklaces

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Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 14ct Yellow Gold, 1940s Large 20 Carat Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Cocktail Ring 14ct Gold Tested Circa 1940s This vintage cocktail ring is a stunning piece of jewellery that is bound to turn heads. It is crafted from 14ct yellow gold and...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings

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Diamond, 14k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Atlas 18k Yellow Gold Numeric Ring 6.5
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
TIFFANY & CO. Atlas 18K Yellow Gold Numeric Ring 6.5 Metal: 18K Yellow Gold Size: 6.5 Band Width: 7mm Weight: 8.80 grams Hallmark: TIFFANY&CO.©1995 750 ITALY Condition: Excellent c...
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2010s Band Rings

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Yellow Gold

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Gold Buckle Ring 1940 For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate gold buckle ring 1940 for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 14k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. For this particular piece, are consistently popular carat weights. Creating a gold buckle ring 1940 has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Tiffany & Co., Bailey, Banks & Biddle and Cartier are consistently popular. A round cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also baguette cut and cabochon versions for sale. When shopping for a gold buckle ring 1940, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Gold Buckle Ring 1940?

The price for a gold buckle ring 1940 starts at $985 and tops out at $21,775 with these rings, on average, selling for $2,533.

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.