Henry Dunay Textured Gold Ring
Late 20th Century Fashion Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Dome Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Dome Rings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Art Deco Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Dome Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Dome Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Retro Cocktail Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Signet Rings
Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Signet Rings
Diamond, Jade, 14k Gold
Vintage 1920s Swiss Edwardian Signet Rings
Carnelian
Vintage 1980s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Dome Rings
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Dome Rings
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Chinese Artisan Signet Rings
Jade, Silver
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Lever-Back Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Signet Rings
Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Modern Dome Rings
Yellow Gold
1990s Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
Antique Mid-19th Century Fashion Rings
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Dome Rings
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Band Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Fashion Rings
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Modern Dome Rings
Morganite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Contemporary Band Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Fashion Rings
18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Contemporary Dome Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
American Cocktail Rings
1990s Fashion Rings
18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modernist Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Modern Dome Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Fashion Rings
18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Modern Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Fashion Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Dome Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Modern Dome Rings
Moonstone, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Engagement Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Dome Rings
18k Gold
20th Century American Cocktail Rings
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Dome Rings
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Fashion Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Quartz, 18k Gold
Henry Dunay for sale on 1stDibs
Henry Dunay is one of the finest goldsmiths and jewelry makers of the 20th century. The seasoned American designer has for decades created exquisite jewelry by hand that is characterized by bold proportions and precise craftsmanship. Dunay’s breathtaking brooches, bracelets, rings and other accessories have garnered worldwide renown and — on the secondary market — are being reappraised by collectors as icons of contemporary design.
Dunay was born Henry Loniewski in Jersey City, New Jersey, and apprenticed for a downtown New York City jeweler named Rudolph Cacioli in his early teens. He spent a little less than seven years working under Cacioli, and set off to open his own business in 1956. He took on his mother's maiden name Dunay, believing his family name would be an obstacle to his success. At first, Dunay secured work designing pieces for other jewelers, including Harry Winston, one of the first figures in the field to recognize the branding power of lending glitzy fine jewelry for red-carpet events. As his skill set broadened, Dunay began handcrafting his own designs and built a name for himself.
Dunay’s business exploded thanks to the publicity around the De Beers Diamonds International Award he won in 1967. From then on, his fame grew and demand increased for his unique adornments, which feature distinctive metal finishes as well as blue sapphires, pavé set diamonds and a range of other gems. Dunay went on to win more awards from De Beers Diamonds and a wealth of other national and international awards throughout his career.
Dunay garnered acclaim for a sophisticated engraved-surface technique he calls Sabi, which draws on the traditional Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, and iconic figures such as Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan and Princess Diana all wore his elegant pieces for public appearances. At the 2003 Academy Awards, many celebrities donned Dunay’s Dove of Peace pin, commissioned by Global Vision for Peace and inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso. The designer is a member of the Gemological Institute of America and a past president of the American Jewelry Design Council. In 2009, he sold his company and later established H.D.D., Inc.
Find vintage Henry Dunay necklaces, earrings and other 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 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.