Sold|$3,400
Platinum Invisible Set Diamond Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: platinum Diamond: 12 princess cut = 0.60cttw Color: H Clarity: VS1-2 Diamond: 8 baguette cut = 0.50cttw Color: G Clarity: VS1-2 Size: 8 (complimentary siz...
Diamond, Platinum
Sold|$18,000
Invisible Set Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite ring mounted on platinum with invisible set blue sapphires and diamonds.
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Sold|$15,000
Invisible Set Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Ring in 18kt white gold with Invisible set rubies (4.8cts) and diamonds (2.7cts).
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Sold|$3,100
Invisible Set Ruby Gold Crossover Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A unique ring featuring 4.85 carats of princess cut rubies which are invisibly set.
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$4,750
Diamond Invisible-Set Gold Band Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A stylish ring featuring 3.64 carats of fine diamonds. In the center of the ring are 3 rows of princess-cut diamonds which are invisible set (famous diamond setting technique by Van ...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$4,250
Invisible Set Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Lovely 18kt White Gold Sapphire & Diamond Ring. Center set with 6 rows of Princess cut Sapphires - invisibly set - with a total of 10 full cut clean and white Diamonds set on either...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$5,250
Modern Invisibly Set Ruby Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Beautiful modern style invisible set style French cut ruby ring with diamonds in Two-Tone 18k yellow gold.
Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Sold|$4,200
Invisible-Set Ruby Diamond Gold Flame Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A sleek and chic gold ring featuring 2.90 carats of vivid red invisible-set rubies, the same technique Van Cleef & Arpels made famous.
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Invisible Set Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Towson, MD
One 10-karat yellow and white gold engagement style ring set with fourteen (14) baguette diamonds, eighteen (18) princess cut diamonds, and twenty-four (24) brilliant cut diamonds, a...
Diamond, 10k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Invisibly Set Diamond Platinum Eternity Band Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
With fabulous prestige in its essence and fascinating perfection in its appearance, this wonderfully scintillating wedding band boasts a neat platinum body and a brilliant arrangemen...
White Diamond, Platinum
Sold|$20,075
18 Karat Gold Ruby Invisibly Set Bombe Ring
Located in London, England
A truly amazing invisibly set ruby bombe 18ct white gold ring. Individually the square shaped rubies are of exquisite quality with a total carat weight of 17.24 carats.
Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$19,119
18 Karat Gold Ruby Invisibly Set Bombe Ring
Located in London, England
A truly amazing invisibly set ruby bombe 18ct white gold ring. Individually the square shaped rubies are of exquisite quality with a total carat weight of 17.24 carats.
Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier Diamond Invisible Set Sapphire Gold Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond and Invisible Set Sapphire Ring by Cartier. With 4 diamonds VVS1 clarity, E color total weight approximately .50ct 20 sapphires total weight approx. 1ct Deta...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Sold|$2,950
Invisibly Set French Cut Ruby Gold Band Ring
Located in Aspen, CO
39 fine fancy cut French cut invisibly set natural vivid red rubies create a wonderful statement for the finger. This 18K yellow gold band is now a size 6 and can be sized as the st...
Ruby, 18k Gold
Contemporary Estate Invisible Set Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
This phenomenal blue sapphire and diamond contemporary estate piece features an estimated 3 carats of sapphires, combined total weight. 27 graduated French cut blue sapphires are pai...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Diamond and Invisible Set Ruby Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
Given a distinct regal look by the combination of striking rubies and scintillating diamonds, this extraordinary ring boasts an eye-catching, luxurious appeal. The ring is made of cl...
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Invisibly Set Ruby Diamond Gold cocktail Ring
Located in Bay Harbor Islands, FL
Italian made ruby and diamond ring set with a round diamond weighing 4.00 carats, and 106 calibrated rubies weighing approximately 10 carats. The ring is size 6, and can be sized.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Cartier Invisible Set Diamond Multicolor Gold Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
Showcasing the brand’s everlasting dedication to excellence and sophistication, this majestic ring from Cartier boasts a spotlessly shimmering 18K white gold inner band and perfectly...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat Rose Gold Invisible Set Diamond Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom design Material: 14k rose gold Diamonds: 96 round brilliant cut = 3.60cttw Color: H Clarity: VS Ring size: 10 ¾ (please allow two additional shipping days for sizing...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Channel-Set Invisible Emerald and Diamond Platinum Bridal Ring
Located in New York, NY
A Channel-Set Invisible Emerald and Diamond Platinum Bridal Ring.
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Princess & Baguette Diamond Invisibly Set Wedding Anniversary Band Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Fabulous diamond band ring fashioned in 18 karat yellow gold. The ring is invisibly set with sparkling princess and baguette cut diamonds weighing 2.26 carat total weight.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14kt .50 Carat Invisible Set Diamond Ring with Halo
Located in Towson, MD
14kt white gold ring with four princess cut diamonds invisibly set in the center and a halo of round brilliant diamonds around it.
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Cartier Invisible Set Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond and Invisible Set Sapphire Ring by Cartier. With 12 round brilliant cut diamonds VS1 clarity and G color approx. .50ct total weight 8 sapphires total weigh...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Invisible Set 2.00 Carat Emerald Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Webster, NY
Invisible set Emerald shaped split shank halo diamond engagement ring crafted in 14K white gold.
Diamond, 14k Gold
Piaget Enamel Invisible Set Sapphire Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
By Piaget
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Invisible Set Sapphire Enamel Ring by Piaget. With 8 princess cut diamonds VS1 clarity, G color total weight approx. 1.20ct 16 princess cut sapphires total w...
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
18K and Invisibly Set Natural Fancy Cut Ruby Ring
Located in Aspen, CO
18K gold ring with fine vivid red Rubies. The natural rubies all invisibly set and faceted on the table of the stones - called French cut weigh an estimated 5.8 cts.
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
4.00 Carat Invisible Set Quad Style Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Webster, NY
Invisible cut approximately 4.00CTW diamond ring crafted in 14k white gold. Diamond Carat Weight: Approximately 4.00CTW Diamond Cut: 4 Princess Cut Diamonds, and 32 Round Brilliant ...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Tiffany & Co. Invisible Set Diamond Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
Understated elegance and alluring prestige are entwined in this gorgeous Tiffany & Co. band that boasts an exceptionally sophisticated appeal. Made of 18K yellow gold, the band is se...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari Spiga Invisible Set Sapphire Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Southampton, PA
Gorgeously designed and beautifully decorated, this 18K yellow gold ring by Bulgari boasts an exceptionally prestigious and fashionable appeal. The elegant ring is adorned with stunn...
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond Pave and Invisible Set Ruby Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
The marvelous arrangement of enchanting fancy-cut rubies amounting to 3.05 carats and scintillating setting of diamonds weighing in total 0.50ct embellish the classically designed bo...
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Adler Yellow Gold Diamond and Invisibly Set Ruby Ring
By Adler
Located in Southampton, PA
Paved with fabulous rubies weighing in total 6.01 carats and embellished also with glistening diamonds amounting to 0.72ct for a dazzling allure, this gorgeous 18K yellow gold ring f...
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
18 Karat Yellow Gold Invisible Set Diamond Gents Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: 18K yellow gold Diamond: 32 princess cut = 2.90cttw Color: G Clarity: SI2 Ring size: 11 (please allow two additional shipping days for sizing requests) Wei...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18k White Gold Invisible Set Princess Cut Diamond Ring
By Gregory Mikaelian & Sons, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Specifications: main stone: 4 PCS PRINCESS CUT DIAM APPROX 0.15CTW DIAMONDS: 36 PCS ROUND CUT DIAM carat total weight: APPROXIMATELY 0.20TW color: I clarity: si2...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Invisible-Set Ruby and Diamond Cocktail Ring, 18k Yellow Gold
Located in New York, NY
An Invisible-Set Ruby and Diamond Cocktail Ring made in 18k Yellow Gold.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat White Gold Invisible Set 1.17 Carat Diamond Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This awesome ring is designed in 14k white gold, invisible set with 24 princess diamonds on the top of the ring reaching a total weight of 0.72cttw.
14 Karat White Gold Invisible Set 1.17 Carat Diamond Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This awesome ring is designed in 14k white gold, invisible set with 24 princess diamonds on the top of the ring reaching a total weight of 0.72cttw.
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco Gold and Platinum and Invisibly Set Garnet Ring
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Art Deco 18 carat gold and platinum ring in a geometrical construct of two juxtaposed angled elements, one in 18 carat gold and the other in platinum with 21 square-cut invisi...
Garnet, 18k Gold, Platinum
Cartier Diabolo Invisible Set Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond and Invisible Set Sapphire Diabolo Ring by Cartier. With 12 round brilliant cut diamonds VS1 clarity and G color approx. .50ct total weight 8 sapphires total...
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Vintage Invisible-Set Sapphire and Pavé Diamond 18K Gold Ring
Located in Houston, TX
In addition, there are 54 square-cut invisible-set blue sapphires. It measures 7/8 inches by 3/8 inches and stands 5/16 inches off the finger.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Set in 18K Gold, invisible set Blue Sapphires, Rubies & Diamonds Cluster Ring
By JEWEL HUB
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The Rubies & Blue Sapphires are of Thailand origin and are invisibly set. The Diamonds weight is 0.20 carats.
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Art Deco Inspired Invisibly Set Sapphire Full Eternity Ring Set in Platinum
Located in London, England
A beautiful sapphire full eternity ring set in platinum. The ring is solely set with vibrant royal blue coloured sapphires which are all channel set in a 3mm flat sided platinum shan...
Sapphire, Platinum
18K Yellow Gold 1.64ct Diamond and Invisible-Set Sapphire Ring
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
Invisible set Sapphire gemstones with a total weight of 2.50 carats add color and texture to each side of the 18K Yellow Gold setting.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Diamond Pave Invisible Set Yellow Sapphire Gold Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
This exquisite 18K yellow gold ring by Cartier features a chic and elegant style. Its gorgeous design is adorned in a sparkling pave of 1.20ct yellow sapphires surrounded by 0.50ct o...
White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat White Gold Invisible Set Cluster Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: 14K white gold Diamond: 174 round cut = 3.50cttw Color: G Clarity: SI1 Ring Size: 7.75 (please allow two additional shipping days for sizing requests) Dime...
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
10 Karat White Gold Invisible Set Diamond Cluster Engagement Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: 10K white gold Diamond: 92 round, princess, and baguette cut = 2.28cttw Color: G Clarity: SI1 Ring Size: 6.5 (please allow two additional shipping days for...
Diamond, 10k Gold, White Gold
Platinum Invisible Channel Set Sapphire & Baguette Diamond Band Ring Size 6
Located in Montclair, NJ
–Stone(s)– (10) Natural Genuine Sapphire - Square Step Cut - Invisible Channel Set - Amazing Royal Blue Color - 2.2mm (approx.) (8) Natural Genuine Diamond - Straight Baguette - Inv...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Invisibly-Set Sapphire and Diamond Dome Cocktail Ring, 18k Yellow Gold
Located in New York, NY
An Invisibly-Set Sapphire and Diamond Dome Cocktail Ring made in 18k Yellow Gold.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Estate 18k Invisible Set Ruby Pave Diamond Bypass Cocktail Ring 7.25cttw
Located in Winter Springs, FL
A beautifully made ring done in 18K yellow gold set with approximately 6cttw in invisibly set French cut rubies as well as approximately 1.25cttw in G-I color Vs1-2 clarity round di...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Invisibly Set Princess Cut Diamonds Baguette Diamonds Yellow Gold Ring Band
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Invisibly set princess cut diamonds baguette diamonds and yellow gold ring band.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Platinum Calibre Cut Cabochon Sapphire & Diamond Heart Invisible Set Band Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (15) Natural Genuine Sapphire - Calibre Cut Cabochon - Invisible Set - Deep Blue Color - 1.10ctw (exact) (3) Natural Genuine Diamonds - Round Brilliant Cut -Pave Set - ...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Cartier Diabolo Invisible Mystery Set Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond and Invisible Set Sapphire Diabolo Ring by Cartier. With 12 round brilliant cut diamonds VS1 clarity and G color approx. .50ct total weight 8 sapphires total...
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Men's 18kt Yellow Gold Invisible Set Princess Cut Diamond Ring .40cttw
Located in San Diego, CA
The diamonds are g/h in color and si in clarity and invisible set. The setting of the diamonds is slightly uneven making this a good ring to achieve a diamond looked at a good price.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Ruby and Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Invisible Set Dome Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage Ruby and Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Invisible Set Dome Ring. Featuring 35 calibré cut rubies with a total weight of 2.77 carats.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Estate 18K Invisible Set Ruby Diamond Ring Yellow Gold Gold ~3.96ctw
Located in Fairfield, CT
Estate Invisible-Set Ruby Diamond Ring 18K Yellow Gold Gold ~3.96ctw This 18k yellow gold ring features ~2.2 carats total square-cut ruby, its deep red hue serving as the vivid cent...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond and Invisible Set Sapphire Yellow and White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
With its imaginative design and extravagant décor, this spectacular ring represents a statement piece of exceptional aesthetic value. Made of 18K yellow and white gold, the ring is l...
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Invisible Set Princess Cut Diamond Ring Made in 18k White Gold
Located in Webster, NY
Brilliant precision set princess cut diamond ring made in 18k white gold. Diamond Cut: Princess Cut Total Diamond Carat Weight: Approximately 2.58CTW Average Diamond Color: F-H Ave...
Diamond, White Gold
16.69 Carat Invisibly Set Blue Sapphire Bombe Cocktail Ring Set in 18 Karat Gold
Located in London, England
A beautiful invisibly set sapphire bombe ring set in 18k white gold.
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White 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.”
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.