Roberto Coin Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Gold Martellato Hammered Band Ring
By Roberto Coin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Wide band ring featuring a strongly hammered finished and an organic edge Accented by an inset round brilliant cut diamond weighing approximately 0.02 carat; eye-clean and white Wi...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Rona Fisher Labradorite Dome Rose Gold White Diamond Hammered Silver Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
Labradorite Dome Ring handcrafted by jewelry artist Rona Fisher in beautifully hand-textured sterling silver featuring a cabochon-cut labradorite bezel-set in 18k rose gold and accen...
Diamond, White Diamond, Labradorite, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, ...
Byzantine Coral and Diamond Hammered Finished Ring 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Byzantine inspired coral and diamond hammered ring. Oval coral complimented by 0.67ct of round cut diamonds. 18k yellow gold, hammered finished with black rhodium.
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$1,700
Hidden Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Hammered Band
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Hidden Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Hammered Band. Featuring one hidden princess cut diamond weighing approximately 0.03 carat graded near-colorless, SI1 clarity.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Emilio Jewelry 22 Karat Gold Hand Hammered 3.22 Carat Diamond Ring
By Emilio!
Located in New York, NY
From the vault at Emilio Jewelry located on New York's iconic Fifth Avenue, Featuring natural pear shape champagne and white diamonds vvs-vs2 clarity, have been set in a hand made 2...
Diamond, 22k Gold
Tiffany &Co 18k White Gold Paloma Picasso Hammered Finish Solitaire Diamond Ring
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
This Ring by Tiffany & Co is from their Paloma Picasso Collection and features a single Round Brilliant Diamond Mounted in an 18k White Gold Hammered Finish 4.23mm Band.
Diamond, White Gold
Elizabeth Locke 18 Karat Yellow Hammered Gold Yellow Diamond Stacking Band Ring
By Elizabeth Locke
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Elizabeth Locke 18K Yellow Hammered Gold and Yellow Diamond Stacking Band Ring Size 6.5 This beautiful designer band is approx. 3.75 mm wide.
Yellow Diamond, Gold
Sold|$3,200
14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Diamond Band
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Material: 14k yellow gold Diamonds: 58 round brilliant cut = 1.00cttw Color: G-H Clarity: VS2-SI1 Ring size: 7 (please allow two additional shipping days for sizing requests) Dimen...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ippolita .72 Carat Diamond Hammered Eternity Ring 18 Karat Gold Wedding Band
By Ippolita
Located in Greensboro, NC
This ring is a size 6 - 6 1/4. Brand: Ippolita Metal Content: Guaranteed 18k Gold as stamped Stone Information: Natural Diamonds Clarity: VS1 Color: G Cut: Round Brilliant T...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Byzantine Style Coral and Diamond Hammered Finished Ring 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Byzantine inspired coral and diamond hammered ring. Oval coral complimented by 1.22ct of round cut diamonds. 18k yellow gold, hammered finished with black rhodium.
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
0.25ctw Diamond Bezel 1945 Dos Pesos Coin Ring 900 14k Gold Hammered
Located in McLeansville, NC
Gemstone Information: - Natural Diamonds - Total Carats - 0.25ctw Cut - Single Color - F - G Clarity - I1 - I2 Metal: 14k Yellow Gold Ring, 900 Yellow Gold Coin Weight: 18.2 Grams ...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Byzantine Style Coral and Diamond Hammered Finished Ring 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Byzantine inspired coral and diamond hammered ring. Oval coral complimented by 1.14ct of round cut diamonds. 18k yellow gold, hammered finished with black rhodium.
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Rose Gold Diamond Hammered Ring Size 53
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU AT-2432 Comes With Full Set (Pouch + Card) Date 2011 Model ARN9ZT53 Serial Number JB****** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stones Diamond Weight 8.5 g Ring Size 53 Size Chart Condition Excel...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Pamela Froman One of a Kind Rainbow Moonstone White Diamond Hammered Gold Ring
By Pamela Froman
Located in Dallas, TX
One of a Kind Ring handcrafted by jewelry designer Pamela Froman in hand-hammered 18k yellow gold featuring a spectacular 2.79 carat pear-shaped rainbow moonstone cabochon surrounded...
Diamond, White Diamond, Moonstone, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yello...
18 Karat Diamond Ring with Hammered Finish, circa 1960s
Located in Wailea, HI
Circa 1960's 18k Diamond Ring with Hammered Finish Ten Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds weighing .45 carats approximately GH VS-SI1 size 6 1/4 Classic 60's
White Diamond, 18k Gold
2.45 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Two-Tone 14 Karat Gold Hammered Split Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom design Material: 14k white and yellow gold Sapphire: oval 2.45 carat weight Diamonds: 17 round cut = 0.26 carat weight Color: H Clarity: SI1 Ring Size: 7 (please all...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Asprey 1960s Diamond Black Enamel Bow Ring Hammered 18 Karat Yellow Gold French
By Asprey
Located in Lisbon, PT
A 1960s Asprey Diamond and Enamel Bow Ring in 18 Karat Yellow Gold.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
New 18k Gold 7.70ct GIA Oval Bezel Emerald & Diamond Hammered Wide Cocktail Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
You are looking at a truly breathtaking, GIA certified, genuine emerald and diamond cocktail ring that is brand new and very well crafted in solid 18k greenish yellow gold.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Tiffany &Co Paloma Picasso Hammered Finish Solitaire Diamond Ring
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
MANUFACTURER Tiffany & Co. MODEL Paloma Picasso GENDER Women's ACCOMPANIED BY Box Only UK RING SIZE T EU RING SIZE 61 US RING SIZE 10 BAND WIDTH 4.23mm TOTAL WEIGHT 7.97g PRIMARY ST...
Diamond, White Gold
H. STERN Triple Band Ring In Solid Hammered 18Kt White Gold With 40 Diamonds
By H. Stern
Located in Miami, FL
The contemporary ring was crafted with a bold look in solid white gold of 18 karats with a delicate hammered finish.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Ancient, Sterling Bee Coin Dome Comfort Fit Ring w/ Diamonds Hammered 24K Gold
By Kurtulan
Located in Bozeman, MT
Ancient Bee Coin Ring with Diamond (Comfort Fit), 24kt Yellow Gold and Silver, by Kurtulan Jewellery, made to order. *SIZES AVAILABLE & READY TO SHIP: 6 (US) & 7 (US). All other si...
Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
Sold|$712
Diamond Concave Hammered Wide Band
Located in McLeansville, NC
A 14 karat yellow and white gold diamond concave hammered wide band. This band features a wide concave tapered design with a matte hammered finish in the center and a row of pavé set...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
David Webb 18K Diamond Hammered Nail-Shaped Ring, Size 7
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Nail Ring. Twisted nail made of hammered finish 18k yellow gold, with tip and nob encrusted with round cut diamonds.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Andrew Grima Rare Hammered Ring in 18Kt Yellow Gold with 1.50 Ctw in VS Diamonds
By Andrew Grima
Located in Miami, FL
Diamonds ring designed by Andrew Grima (1921-2007).
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Yossi Harari Rose Cut Diamond Yellow Gold Ring
By Yossi Harari
Located in Southampton, PA
24k Hammered Yellow Gold Rose Cut Diamond Ring by Yossi Harari.
Diamond, 24k Gold
David Webb 18K Yellow Gold And Diamond Cocktail Ring
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
This stunning David Webb Platinum & 18K Yellow Gold Pave Hammered Diamond Cocktail Ring is a true statement piece.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Striking 1.08ct Freeform Australian Boulder Opal Ring with Diamonds, 24K Gold
By Kurtulan
Located in Bozeman, MT
Striking, 1.08ct Freeform Australian Boulder Opal Ring with Diamonds, 24K Yellow, Solid Gold. One of a Kind Ring.
Opal, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
Bright Blue Freeform 2.5ct Australian Boulder Opal Diamonds 24K Gold Silver Ring
By Kurtulan
Located in Bozeman, MT
Striking, Bright Blue, Australian Boulder Opal, 24k Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver Hanedan Ring w/ 2.5ct Opal & Diamonds Slightly Adjustable Hanedan ring with freeform, opal and diamon...
Opal, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
Diamond and Pearl Hammered Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
Hand hammered 18kt gold gorgeous ring, with a 8.5mm round pearl in it center on each side of which 3 diamonds are set in a clover shaped white gold fitting.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Diamond and Hammered 22 Karat Gold Charm Ring
By Vicki Orr
Located in Naples, FL
Hand-forged, hammered 22k yellow gold ring with 2mm white Diamond charm.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Hand-Hammered 18 Karat Gold Diamond Ring by Jye's
By JYE'S
Located in Austin, TX
A contemporary hand hammered 18K yellow gold ring with diamonds Marked 18K JYE'S 26594.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Michael Kneebone Rutilated Quartz Black Diamond Hammered Gold Ring
By Michael Kneebone
Located in Austin, TX
A dramatic copper colored, 53.77 carat rutilated quartz (needles of titanium dioxide trapped within clear quartz, origin: Brazil) is flanked by eight, brilliant cut black diamonds al...
Black Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold
David Webb Vintage Hammered Gold and Diamond Cocktail Ring
By David Webb
Located in Nicosia, Cyprus
Superb vintage cocktail ring signed David WEBB with modernist looks in hammered gold adorned with 6 diamonds on its dome.
Diamond, Gold
2000s Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Hammered Finish Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 7.25 Metal Type: 18 Karat Yellow Gold Weight: 4.2 grams Color Stone Details: Type: Emerald Carat Weigh: 2.00 carat Color: Green Diamond Details...
White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Pamela Froman Cushion-Cut Tanzanite White Diamond Hammered Gold Ring
By Pamela Froman
Located in Dallas, TX
One-of-a-Kind Ring featuring a stunning 1.07 carat cushion-cut purplish-blue tanzanite bezel-set in 18k white gold with a pave' diamond border on a 'crushed' 18k yellow gold beaded s...
Diamond, Tanzanite, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond 9 Karat Rose Gold Hammered Ring Handcrafted in Italy
By Botta gioielli
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful ring crafted in 9 karat rose gold with hammered finishing, completely made by hand.
Diamond, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Ring
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Matte and Hammer-Finished Scallop-Edged 8mm Ring, Accented with 0.22 Carats of Pave Set Diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Natural Diamond & Hammered Gold Ball 14 Karat Yellow Gold Flower Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Natural Diamond & Hammered Gold Ball 14 Karat Yellow Gold Flower Cocktail Ring Approximately 25 Ct diamond are scattered in the center of the flower which is surrounded Hammered go...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Ring
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Hand-Crafted 8mm Matte and Hammer-Finished Ring, Centered with 0.12 Carats of a Pave Set Diamond Rectangle Motif.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1.24 Carat Channel Set Diamonds Gold Handmade Hammered Curve Band Ring
By Barbara Heinrich
Located in Dallas, TX
Curve Band handcrafted in 18k yellow gold featuring channel-set round brilliant-cut white diamonds totaling 1.24 carats and a signature hand-hammered finish accented with polished 18...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
YOSSI Rachel Diamond Cluster Ring - Yellow Gold 24k Round .13ctw Hammered
By Yossi Harari
Located in Greensboro, NC
Retail Price: $7375 Size: 4 1/2 Note: Please contact us for a resizing quote. Brand: YOSSI Design: Rachel Metal Content: 24k Yellow Gold Stone Information Natural Diamonds Carat...
Diamond, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Cigar Ring
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Matte and Hammer-Finished Scallop-Edged Cigar Ring, Accented with 0.24 Carat of Pave Set Diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Cigar Ring
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Hand-Crafted Matte and Hammer-Finished Scallop-Edged Ring, Enhanced with 0.18 Carats of Pave Set Diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Cigar Ring
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Hand-Crafted Matte and Hammer-Finished Cigar Ring, Enhanced with 0.43 Carats of Pave Set Diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Hammered Silver Ring with Pearl and Diamonds, 24kt Gold and Sterling Silver
Located in Bozeman, MT
Hammered Silver Ring with Pearl and Diamonds, 24kt Gold and Sterling Silver by Prehistoric Works of Istanbul, Turkey. 2 Diamonds - 0.04ct, Pearl - 0.70ct, Size 7 US
Pearl, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
Ancient Bee Coin Ring w/ Diamonds, Hammered Gold, 24kt Gold & Silver by Kurtulan
By Kurtulan
Located in Bozeman, MT
Ancient Bee Coin Ring w/ Diamonds, Hammered Gold, 24kt Gold & Silver by Kurtulan Jewellery of Istanbul, Turkey Please contact the gallery for different sizes as this ring is made to ...
Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
Ancient Bee Coin Ring w/ Diamonds, Hammered Gold, 24kt Gold & Silver by Kurtulan
By Kurtulan
Located in Bozeman, MT
Ancient Bee Coin Ring w/ Diamonds, Hammered Gold, 24kt Gold & Silver by Kurtulan Jewellery of Istanbul, Turkey Please contact the gallery for different sizes as this ring is made to ...
Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yellow Gold, 24k Gold, Gold
Moonstone & Diamond Fleur-de-Lis Hammered Finished Ring 18k Yellow & White Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Exquisite and unique hammered two-tone ring with Fleur De Lis design. Center 14.10ct brown moonstone complimented with 1.01ct of round brilliant diamonds. 18-karat yellow and white ...
Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage David Webb Hammered 18K Gold Bubble Ring Ruby Sapphire Emerald Diamond
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
Presenting the Vintage Hammered 18K Gold Bubble Ring, featuring a stunning arrangement of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Diamond.
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Filigree Cigar Ring
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Matte and Hammer-Finished Scallop-Edged Filigree Cigar Ring, Accented with 0.05 Carats of Bezel Set Diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Hammered Filigree Cigar Ring
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Matte and Hammer-Finished Scallop-Edged Filigree Cigar Ring, Accented with 0.05 Carats of Bezel Set Diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Hammered David Webb 18k Gold Marquise Diamond Huge GIA Pearl Bypass Ring
By David Webb
Located in Montclair, NJ
Every exposed gold surface of this ring is stunningly hammer finished giving it an even more unique look.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mens Asymmetrical Tablet Opal and Diamond Band Ring in 14 Karat Hammered Gold
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Ring size: 11.75 Bold and brilliant mens diamond and opal band ring.
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Elizabeth Locke 18K Hammered Yellow Gold Brown Diamond Stacking Band
By Elizabeth Locke
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Elizabeth Locke 18K Hammered Yellow Gold Diamond Stacking Band This Elizabeth Locke stacking band is set in hammered 18K yellow gold.
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Yellow Gold
1 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Handmade Solitaire Engagement Ring Hammered Finish
By Five Star Jewelry
Located in Austin, TX
Created by Five Star Jewelry in Austin, Texas this ring's materials are 100% recycled. Made with 14 karat yellow gold holding a .98 carat old mine cut diamond.
Diamond, 14k Gold
Tiffany & Co Paloma Picasso Hammered Diamond Band
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
This gorgeous band ring by Tiffany & Co. features a delicate array of round white diamonds, totaling approximately 0.3 carats. The diamonds are F/G in color and VVS1 in clarity, set ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
I. Reiss 14k Yellow Gold Matte Hammered .08 Carat Cut Out Ring Size 7
Located in Eagan, MN
I just love this ring. I love how it looks, how it fits and the fact that it doesn't roll on your finger. It is so cool looking and unique. There are 13 brilliant cut pave diamond...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.
From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!
There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.
Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.
In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).
When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.
No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.
Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.
Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry.
The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.
Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.
Ancient Egyptians referred to the vibrant stone as the “gem of the sun.”
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Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.