Tetra Zenith Ring with Grey Mother of Pearl and Diamonds in 18k Rose Gold
By Butani
Located in Hong Kong, Kowloon
A 18k yellow gold band, set with glittering pavé diamonds, features a distinctive rhombus motif that gleams with panels of iridescent grey mother of pearl, framed by a geometric gol...
Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold
Unavailable|$3,100
Tetra Apex Ring with Grey Mother of Pearl and Diamonds in 18k Rose Gold
By Butani
Located in Hong Kong, Kowloon
An 18k rose gold band, set with glittering pavé diamonds, features a distinctive pyramid motif that gleams with panels of inridescent Grey Mother of Pearl and diamonds, all framed by...
Diamond, Pearl, Rose Gold
Unavailable|$12,000
Grey Pearl, Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring in 18KT White Gold
Located in Houston, TX
Uniquely designed cocktail ring in 18KT white gold featuring a grey South Sea pearl measuring 8-9mm set within a pinwheel of alternating pave set round diamonds and round blue sapphi...
White Gold
Unavailable|$8,578
18 Karat White Gold Grey Tahitian Cultured Pearl Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Wiernsheim, DE
Smooth, curvy, big look but not bulky A very elegant Ring with a real big Tahitian Culture Pearl, greyish color with pinkish tone 18 Karat Whitegold with 106 fine diamonds in top top...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$6,500
Margaret De Patta Pearl Gold Cluster Ring
Located in New York, NY
De Patta, who worked in San Francisco, is considered one of the most influential designers of the modern jewelry movement. She designed this ring with a textured gold setting simula...
Pearl, 14k Gold
Unavailable|$2,500
14 Karat Yellow Gold Black Enamel, Gray Pearl and Diamond Cocktail Ring
By Charlotte Allison
Located in Mountain Brook, AL
14k YG "Coal" Enamel Ring with Grey Pearl and Diamond Halo (Dia 0.28cts).
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
White Gold Maxi Splash with a 0.25 Carat Diamond and Grey-Blue Keshi Tube Ring
By Puck Eigenmann
Located in Den Haag, Zuid Holland
The weight of the gold is 7,3 gram ( 3095 euro) The 3 mm ring size is 55, but can be custom made. It is accompanied by 3 mm tube ring a white gold ring with a grey-blue keshi pearl.
Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$4,150
18 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Band Ring with Pink-Grey Faceted Pearl
By Sweet Pea
Located in London, GB
The unique faceted pearl is 13mm in diameter and is a soft pink-grey colour.
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Sold|$119
14 Karat Yellow Gold Grey Pearl Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Grey Pearl Ring Size 5.5 This lovely ring features one 6 mm grey pearl set in classic 14K yellow gold.
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Sold|$14,000 / item
A pair of Chanel white and grey pearl rings with diamonds
By Chanel
Located in London, GB
The ring with the white pearl measures 5.25 and the ring with the grey pearl measures 6.25.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Sold|$43,420
Grey Pearl Diamond Ring
Located in Geneva, CH
Ring in 18kt white gold set with one grey pearl and 151 diamonds 3.39 cts Size 53
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$1,850
Diamond and Grey Pearl Platinum Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
Perfectly round, impeccably smooth, and intriguingly dark, the remarkable gray pearl is placed neatly upon a magnificent pedestal of precious platinum and glittering diamonds totalin...
White Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Sold|$2,900
Grey Pearl and Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
The sublime allure of the gray pearl is beautifully complemented by the elegant sheen of platinum in this superb ring that exudes opulence and refinement. The ring is also decorated ...
White Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
White Diamonds White Pearl Grey Pearl White Gold Contrariè Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). Gorgeous contrariè ring in 14K white gold structure mounted with one glossy white pearl and one grey ...
White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Streamlined William Richey Grey Pearl Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in New York, NY
The side section is pave set with about 1/2 carat of clean white modern cut diamonds, and the lustrous deep grey pearl measures 9 mm in diameter. In addition to being worn as a ring...
Black Pearl, Diamond, Platinum
Sold|$25,971
Art Deco Grey Natural Pearl and Diamond Ring
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
This is a pretty Art Deco ring from the 1920s, mounted with a rare grey natural saltwater bouton pearl (certified) of 41 grains and surrounded by diamonds.
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
10 Karat White Gold Grey Pearl and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage 10 Karat White Gold Grey Pearl and Diamond Ring Size 4.5- This stunning ring features one grey pearl (7 mm) and 14 round single cut diamonds set in classic 10K white gold.
Pearl, White Gold
Ring Grey Gold 18 Carats Diamonds Tahiti Pearl
Located in Vannes, FR
Ring Grey Gold 18 Carats Diamonds Tahiti Pearl This 18-carat white gold ring features a modern, elegant design.
Black Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
A Grey Natural Pearl and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
A pearl and diamond cluster ring. A pearl surrounded by eight cushion shaped old-mine cut diamonds in a cluster to carved shoulders. Mounted in yellow gold. Each diamond is approx. 0...
Natural Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Scafia South Sea Grey Pearl Multi-band Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Sumptuous constructed Ring with a 13mm South Sea Pearl Ring floating on a nest of Bands set with clean cut & sparkling white Diamonds. Over the top!
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Grey South Sea Pearl and White Gold Ring with Diamonds
Located in Dallas, TX
18K White Gold South Sea Pearl Cocktail Ring with Pave Diamonds,. Ring Size 6.5. Previously adored and in mint condition. Stamped 18K and 750
Pearl, 18k Gold
Mauboussin Paris Diamond Grey Mother of Pearl Yellow Gold Ring
By Mauboussin
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Gray Mother Of Pearl Ring by Mauboussin Paris. With 69 Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds VVS1 clarity, G color total weight approximately 4ct Mother Of Pearl Ston...
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Cartier Yellow Gold and Grey Tahitian South-Sea Pearl Ring
By Cartier
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2000 Cartier 18K Yellow Gold and Tahitian Pearl Ring, the 5 M.M. wide ring is set with a 7.5 M.M. Dark Gray South Sea Peal with a nice Luster with a hint of Pink, finger size 5...
South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Mikimoto Grey South Sea Pearl 0.40 Carat Diamond Platinum Ring
By Mikimoto
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring an 11 mm gray South Sea Pearl with purplish hues and great luster Accented by 8 round brilliant diamonds weighing approximately 0.40 carats, F-G color and VS clarity Cir...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
1970s Naturalist Grey Baroque Pearl 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat yellow gold. Incredible retro ring, it is formed of a setting stylizing a tree branch and its leaves that wrap around a large pearly anthracite grey baroque pearl.
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
South Sea Metallic Grey Pearl Diamonds Emeralds Ring 18k White Gold, 1980
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
15 mm Grey South Sea Pearl Ring with round-cut Diamonds and Emeralds.
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, White Gold
1950s Ed Wiener 14K Gold Grey Baroque Pearl Diamond American Modernist Ring
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1950's 14K gold ring with baroque pearl and diamond, possibly created by Ed Wiener of New York City, New York. Ring features a 9.8mm baroque pearl set within an oxidized, 14K gold bi...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
South Sea Grey Big Pearl, Diamonds, 14 Karat White Gold Dome Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). Elegant vintage ring in 14 kt white gold structure, mounted with a big grey south sea pearl set on ...
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
White and Grey Pearl, Emeralds, Sapphires, Diamonds, 14 Karat White Gold Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). Beautiful ring in 14 karat white gold structure mounted with a a grey ( 11 mm )and white ( 10 mm) p...
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Grey Tahitian South Sea Pearl Diamond Ring Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold 5.75
Located in Torrance, CA
Stylish vintage 10.5mm cultured Tahitian South Sea pearl & diamond ring crafted in 18 karat yellow gold. 10.5mm grey South Sea Tahitian cultured pearl is accented with an estimated...
Diamond, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18k Yellow Gold Grey Mother of Pearl Black Onyx Alhambra Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold Grey Mother of Pearl and Black Onyx Magic Alhambra Between the Finger Ring.
Onyx, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Mikimoto 18 Karat Rose Gold Grey Diamond, Pink Sapphire and Black Pearl Ring
By Mikimoto
Located in Southampton, PA
Offering a delightfully feminine look that is attractively accentuated by the offbeat allure of the black pearl and the gray diamonds, this extraordinary ring will add an incredibly ...
Diamond, Rose Gold
Tiffany & Co. Victoria Large Tahitian Pearl Diamond Platinum Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
Platinum "Victoria" Diamond & Tahitian Pearl Ring by Tiffany & Co. With 8 marquise shape diamonds VS1 clarity G color total weight approx. 1.59ct 1 Greenish Grey pearl 11.60mm x ...
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
1950s European Modernist 14ct Gold Lapis Lazuli Pearl Ring
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1950's European modernist 14ct gold ring featuring a conical cut bezel set lapis lazuli with mabé grey pearl accent.
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Gold
Vintage 1970s Finnish Cultured Pearl and Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring by Lapponia
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Condition This unusual Finnish dress ring is fine quality set with a grey cultured pearl.
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Gray Mother-of-Pearl Gold Cocktail Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Pure Alhambra Ring by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 1 alhambra shape grey mother of pearl This ring comes with Van Cleef & Arpels certificate.
Pearl, 18k Gold
Sold|$4,200
Gold and Tahitian Pearl Necklace
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A handsome yellow gold and Tahitian pearl choker. The 17 3/4" necklace with 35 (9.5-12.5mm) dark grey South Sea ring pearls and 34 hand-crafted 18k yellow gold spacer beads.A great c...
Sold|$1,450
1960s Grey Baroque Pearl Gold Modernist Ring
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An 18k gold grey baroque pearl ring, circa 1960's. Ring is a finger size 5.5 and is unsigned.
Pearl, 18k Gold
Jack Nutting Grey Baroque Pearl Sterling Silver Ring
By Jack Nutting
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Sterling silver and grey baroque pearl ring in constructivist style created by Jack Nutting of San Francisco.
Black Pearl, Sterling Silver
Luise Flower Grey Pearl Diamond White Gold Ring
By Luise
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Delicate colors earrings in 14Kt white gold composed of 6 little grey pearls , and diamonds. pearls (3.59gr) with a diameter between 1.5 and 1.7 cm diamonds (0.35Kt). Rf.18367 US S...
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Grey Pearl, Diamonds, 14 Karat White Gold Ring.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Amazing ring in 14 kt white gold structure mounted with a grey pearl in a frame of diamonds.
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
14K Yellow Gold and Grey Pearl Organic Design Ring
Located in Old Tappan, NJ
Preowned one of a kind 14K yellow gold organic style ring with two grey baroque pearls and two round diamonds approximately 0.05 carat
Pearl, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage Brutalist Grey Baroque Pearl, Diamond & 14 Karat Gold Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine Brutalist Baroque pearl, diamond and 14k gold ring. With a large grey-ish purple hued Baroque pearl set in the center of on organic, stippled Brutalist setting.
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
Grey Pearl, Diamonds, Sapphires, 14 Karat White Gold Bee Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Fantastic ring in 14 kt white gold structure, with a design representing a bee embellished with diamonds and a grey pearl as body and two blue sapphires as eyes.
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Ring Tahitian Pearl Grey Peacock Overtones Diamonds 18 Karat White Gold
Located in München, DE
Ring with a huge Tahitian pearl of 13 mm diameter, round shape, natural gray with shimmering overtones of silver, peacock green and rosé, fine luster, smooth surface with slight pear...
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Grey Mother Of Pearl Gold Cocktail Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Pure Alhambra Ring by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 1 alhambra shape grey mother of pearl Details: Size - 10.5 (resize is available) Width: 16mm Weight: 13.2...
Pearl, 18k Gold
White and Black Diamonds, Grey South Sea Pearl, 18 kt White Gold Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
This ring was totally handmade by Italian master goldsmiths White diamonds 0.83ct, round cut, G color, VS clarity Black diamonds 0.60ct Grey South Sea Pearl 3g, 13mm total weight 17....
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White ...
Modernist Diamond Cut 14K White Gold Natural Freshwater Gray Pearl Twig Ring
Located in Eagan, MN
Vintage 14K White Gold Real Grey Twin Pearl Ring Size 7.5 features two real pearls in a matched grey color, one 6.5mm and the other slightly larger at 7mm in size.
Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother of Pearl Magic Alhambra Ring Size 52
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k yellow gold grey mother of pearl ring by Van Cleef & Arpels from the Magic Alhambra collection.
Yellow Gold
Estate Vhernier Cabochon Moonstone 18K Yellow Gold Ring
By Vhernier
Located in New York, NY
Size 7.25 US Very good condition- light surface wear commensurate with age Marks: Vhernier, 750 for 18K gold, Italian registry mark Moonstone measures 18mm by 12mm, approximately 12 ...
Moonstone, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$31,000
A Rare Belle Epoque Natural Grey Pearl Ring
Located in Greenwich, CT
A Belle Epoque oriental pearl ring, the central grey pearl with pave-set diamond shoulders to the scroll pierced platinum mount
Natural Pearl, Diamond, Platinum
Tahitian Grey Pearl Ring 18 Karat Gold with Graduated Natural Blue Sapphires
Located in Daytona Beach, FL
The grey pearl measures 10.5 millimeters and has a very high luster with no blemishes.
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Sold|$1,040
18 carat yellow gold grey Tahiti pearl ring
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
18 carat yellow gold ring designed with 1 grey Tahiti pearl. Weight : 7.50 gr.
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Tahitian Grey South Sea Pearl 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
This 18k yellow gold ring features a medium Tahitian grey south sea pearl that is accented by six round brilliant cut diamonds on either side, weighing a total of .14 carats.
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$1,292
Tahitian Grey Pearl on a Gold Chain
Located in London, GB
A Tahitian grey pearl attached to a 18ct white gold chain
Black Pearl, 18k Gold
Circa 1980s Blue Grey Mabe Pearl Vintage 9 Carat Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Hamilton, AU
Sometimes the most beautiful pieces need only be simplistic. The Elenore Ring Gem Details A light bluish grey mabe pearl measures 10.10mm.
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sweet Pea 18k Yellow Gold Hammered Band Ring With Pink-Grey Faceted Pearl
By Sweet Pea
Located in London, GB
The unique faceted pearl is 13mm in diameter and is a soft pink-grey colour.
South Sea Pearl, 18k 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.
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.
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.
Ancient Egyptians referred to the vibrant stone as the “gem of the sun.”
There are many ways to showcase a diamond, from traditional prongs to a smooth, streamlined bezel. Here’s everything you need to consider.
The vintage bombé ring is bursting with color and timeless style.
Zircon is a magnificent and underrated natural gemstone that has been worn and adored for centuries.
Givers of fine gems enjoy surprise more than receivers, and women more than men. Find out what else our survey of 3,000 Americans revealed.
If diamonds don’t seem right, what about a magnificent sapphire, ruby or emerald?
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.