VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Mystery Set Sapphire and Diamond Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A striking vintage Van Cleef & Arpels ring from the 1970’s featuring the maison’s iconic mystery set technique. Deep blue calibré-cut sapphires are invisibly set in curved panels...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring Set in 18k Rose Gold, circa 1940
Located in London, England
This ring is estimated to be made in the 1940's and is designed with a central plaque of 12 invisibly-set calibre-cut sapphires. These sapphires have a gorgeous cornflower blue colou...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
Yellow Sapphire Taper Baguette Diamond Circle Yellow Gold Pendant Earrings Set
By Vaibhav Dhadda
Located in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Each gemstone is calibre-cut by master lapidaries into tapered baguettes to meet exact design specifications, enhancing brilliance, fire, and seamless symmetry. These baguette-cut sa...
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
18 Karat White Gold 4.52 Carat "Illusion-Set" Diamond and Sapphire Drop Earrings
By Gems Paradise
Located in Jaipur, IN
18 Karat White Gold 4.52 Carat "Illusion-Set" Diamond and Sapphire Drop Earrings in Modern Style This fantastic vivid blue sapphire and invisible set brilliant round-shaped diamond ...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2.65 Carat Diamond/1.15 Carat Blue Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Pave Set Ring
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Pave Set Diamond Ring with Oval Shaped Center comprised of 20 Invisible Set Princess Cut Blue Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 1.15 Ct) surrounded by 3 Rows of Pave Set Halo of ...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
$2,553Sale Price|20% Off
Vibrant Sapphire & Diamond Ring in 14k white gold
Located in Bloomington, MN
Vibrant Sapphire & Diamond Ring in 14k white gold This ring is crafted in 14k white gold and features an invisible-set arrangement of rainbow sapphires, creating a seamless, uni...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Platinum 0.62ct Diamond and Sapphire Ring MF55-101625
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
A channel of invisibly set baguette diamonds flanks the sapphire, radiating a mirror-like brilliance.
Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 5.30 carat sapphire diamond 18k yellow gold earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Invisibly set throughout the design, the sapphires create a seamless field of rich blue color with a polished and architectural appearance.
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Sapphire, Diamond and Platinum Ring, Circa 1930
Located in London, GB
An Art Deco sapphire and diamond oval plaque ring, with an Edwardian-cut diamond, in the centre of a decorative openwork cluster of round brilliant and Edwardian-cut diamonds, in mil...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Sabbadini Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Doorknocker Day/Night Earrings
By Sabaddini
Located in Houston, TX
A pair of estate Sabbadini doorknocker earrings with round diamonds and calibré-cut invisible set yellow sapphires in 18k yellow gold.
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
Dilamani 10.78 Carat Sapphire Diamond Gold Bracelet
By Dilamani
Located in Stamford, CT
18k white gold blue sapphire and diamond bracelet. Underside safety. Sapphires are invisibly set with round accent diamonds.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
5.41 Carat Certified Natural Sapphire and Diamonds Cluster Pendant 18 Karat
Located in Miami, FL
The tapered baguette surrounding the natural yellow sapphire are invisible set and the round diamonds are prong set.
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sabbadini 18 Karat Gold Bracelet with Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire House Charms
By Sabbadini
Located in New York, NY
Created by the famed jewelers Sabbadini of Italy, this 18KT yellow gold charm bracelet is quite the unique piece displaying the message,"home is where the heart is". The blue sapphir...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yello...
Blue-Sapphire Diamond 18k White Gold Band Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A chic and stylish wide band featuring 3.26 carats of invisible set blue sapphire. Invisible setting was first introduced by Van Cleef.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Pair of 18 Karat White Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Ear Clips
By Sabbadini
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A chic and timeless pair of 18 karat white gold ear clips, designed in a leaf form and beautifully set with invisibly mounted blue sapphires. A central row of baguette-cut diamonds a...
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
32.85 Carat Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Dangle Detachable Earrings
By Royaal Stones Ltd
Located in Bangkok, Thailand
Featuring 32.85 carats of invisibly set yellow sapphires in a graceful drop silhouette, their vibrant hue evokes the warmth of sunlight captured in gemstone form.
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Deco Diamond and Sapphire Barberpole Platinum Filigree Tennis Link Bracelet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This exquisite Art Deco platinum bracelet showcases a mesmerizing design featuring 6 carats of old-cut white diamonds and intricately faceted carré-cut synthetic blue sapphires, all ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Gold Diamond Rainbow Multi Sapphire Band Ring
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer 18 Karat Yellow Gold Multicolor Eternity Band Ring with a row of an invisible set Rainbow color baguette Cut Sapphires of the total weight of 4.60 Carat and 0.60 ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green...
1.00 Carat Sapphire Diamond Halo White Gold Heart Pendant Necklace
Located in Stamford, CT
Sapphire and diamond heart pendant necklace. Invisible set blue square sapphire heart with a halo of round brilliant cut diamonds set in 18k white gold with a 16 inch 18k chain. 21 ...
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$5,410Sale Price|20% Off
18k Yellow Gold Diamond & Sapphire Cocktail Ring, 1.06ct & 3.40ct
Located in Mayfair, London, London
Further complementing the diamond are 10 princess cut sapphires invisible set to the shoulders with an approximate total weight of 3.40ct and displaying a medium blue hue.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
7.18 ct. yellow Sapphire & 0.87 diamonds Flower Ring, 18K White Gold
By Ajami Diamonds
Located in Ramat Gan, IL
The invisible-set design ensures each Sapphire seems to melt seamlessly into the next, creating a vivid, continuous burst of color.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Multi-Color Sapphire Bracelet
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer is presenting 18 Karat Solid Yellow Gold Bracelet with a row of an invisible set Rainbow color Princess Cut Sapphires of the total weight of 8.80 Carat and 1.80 ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Multi-Color Sapphire Bracelet
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer is presenting 18 Karat Solid Yellow Gold Bracelet with a row of an invisible set Rainbow color Princess Cut Sapphires of the total weight of 8.80 Carat and 1.80 ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green...
Georgios Collections 18 Karat White Gold Diamond Multi-Color Sapphire Bracelet
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer is presenting an 18 Karat Solid White Gold Bracelet with a row of invisible set Rainbow color Princess Cut Sapphires total weight of 9.25 Carat and brilliant-cut ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green...
4.29 Carat Pink Sapphire & Diamond 18K White Gold Dragonfly Brooch Pin Pendant
Located in Miami, FL
Enchanting 18K white gold dragonfly brooch and pendant featuring 58 invisibly set princess cut pink sapphires totaling 4.29 carats across the four wings, with 40 round brilliant diam...
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
18K White Gold Blue Sapphire and Diamond Drop Earrings
By Royaal Stones Ltd
Located in Bangkok, Thailand
Featuring 58.10 carats of invisibly set blue sapphires in a flawless drop silhouette, they exude a rich, celestial hue reminiscent of the night sky.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Platinum, 2.96 Carat Diamond and 3.94 Carat Blue Sapphire Band Ring
Located in New York, NY
This elegant platinum ring centers four rows of invisibly set Princess cut diamonds.The diamonds are bordered on each side by two rows of Princess cut blue sapphires.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Deep Intense Blue Sapphire Bee Brooch in 18K Yellow Gold with Diamonds & Rubies
Located in Old Tappan, NJ
Pre owned vintage estate 18K yellow gold deep intense blue sapphire bee pin. The body of the bee has 39 invisibly set square cut blue sapphires with an approximate total weight of 4...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat White Gold Princess Cut Sapphires and Diamond Ring
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer invisible set blue sapphire Ring crafted from 18 Karat white gold.
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
32.53 Carat Blue Sapphire and 1.47 Carat Diamond Detachable Dangle Earrings
By Royaal Stones Ltd
Located in Bangkok, Thailand
.* Timeless Sophistication: 18K White Gold Blue Sapphire and Diamond Drop Earrings A vision of modern elegance, these breathtaking earrings feature 32.53 carats of invisibly set pr...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Yellow Sapphire Hibiscus Flower Earrings with Diamonds in 14 Karat Gold
By Estaa
Located in Mumbai, IN
“Yellow Sapphire Hibiscus Flower Earrings“ 22.21 carats of Invisible set Yellow Sapphires and 3.50 carats of diamonds set in 14kt Gold 18.558 gms
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold
$4,680Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant 18K White Gold Sapphire and Diamond Fan Earrings, 2.56ct
Located in New York, NY
Elegant earrings designed in the shape of a fan and embellished with invisibly set baguette sapphires and round diamonds. 18 sapphires weighing 2.56 carats total. 26 round diamonds w...
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
$1,297Sale Price / item|36% Off
14 Karat White Gold Multicolored Princess Cut Sapphires Surrounded by Diamonds
By Gregory Mikaelian & Sons, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
14k white gold multi colored princess cut sapphires surrounded by diamonds, containing 36 princess cut invisible set multi colored sapphires weighing .75pts. and surrounded by 50 rou...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Estate Art Deco Diamond & Sapphire Platinum 4.7 Gm Pin / Broach VS Quality
Located in New York, NY
There are Invisible set princess cut sapphire to give an accent **Antique Estate Art Deco Pin" Weighing in at4.7 grams of platinum, this piece measures 2.2 inches in length and 0...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Blue Sapphire Hibiscus Flower Earrings with Diamonds in 14 Karat Gold
By Estaa
Located in Mumbai, IN
“Blue Sapphire Hibiscus Flower Earrings“ 26.25 carats of Invisible set Blue Sapphires and 3.18 carats of diamonds set in 14kt Gold 14.940gms
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
Bee Brooch with Square Yellow Sapphires, Diamonds, Ruby Eyes in 18k Yellow Gold
Located in Old Tappan, NJ
Pre owned vintage estate 18K yellow gold sapphire bee pin. The body of the bee has 67 invisibly set square cut natural yellow sapphires with an approximate total weight of 8.71 cara...
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$4,800Sale Price|50% Off
NWT $9, 600 Important 18KT Large 4CT Rainbow Sapphire Diamond Heart Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Necklace is comprised of over 4 Carats of Fine Invisibly Set Glittering Diamonds with Blue Sapphires, Pink Sapphires, Beautiful shades of Orange Sapphires, Yellow Sapphires, and Gree...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Sapphire Greek Key Ring
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
S.Georgios designer greek key ring crafted from 18 Karat yellow gold and decorated with invisible set princess cut natural blue sapphires of total weight 1.04 Carat.
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Mens Blue Sapphire and Diamond Squared Band Ring in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This unique ring features 9 square sapphires invisible set at the center of the piece.
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat Gold Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Half Hoop Earrings
Located in Zurich, CH
Elegant pair of 18 karat gold, yellow sapphire and diamond half hoop earrings. Of bombé design, crafted in 18 karat yellow and white gold and invisibly-set with 110 yellow sapphires...
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Square 3 Ct. Sapphire and Diamonds 0.60 Carats 18K White Gold Earrings
Located in New York, NY
A pair of invisibly set Square 3 ct. Sapphire and Diamonds 0.60 carats 18K White Gold Earrings.
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
0.81 Carat Diamond/0.97 Carat Blue Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Pendant
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Square Shape Diagonal Pendant with 9 Invisible Set Princess Cut Blue Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 0.97 Ct) surrounded by a pave set Halo of diamonds and channel set Bale with...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Charles Krypell 18KT Yellow Gold 2.30 Carat Sapphire and 1.16ct Diamond Earrings
By Charles Krypell
Located in New York, NY
Charles Krypell Jewelry is a New York Based fine jewelry brand that became internationally known for its exquisite use of color, novel designs, and outstanding craftsmanship. These ...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat White Gold 3.61 Carat Diamond and Sapphire "Illusion-Setting" Eternity
By Gems Paradise
Located in Jaipur, IN
The invisible set of identically sized blue sapphire forming the emerald cut shape with emerald cut diamonds in-between each sapphire creates the perfect contrasting fabulous look of...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
0.51 Carat Diamond/1.47 Carat Blue Sapphire 18K Gold Hearts Pendant Necklace
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Heart shaped Pendant with 21 Invisible Set Princess Cut Blue Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 1.47 Ct) surrounded by a Channel set Halo of diamonds with total weight of 0.51 Ct.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
0.18 Carat Diamond/0.80 Carat Blue Sapphire 18K Gold Hearts Pendant Necklace
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Heart shaped Pendant with 21 Invisible Set Princess Cut Blue Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 0.80 Ct) surrounded by a Channel set Halo of diamonds and diamond set Bale with tota...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
0.24 Carat Diamond/0.75 Carat Blue Sapphire 18K Gold Hearts Pendant Necklace
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Heart shaped Pendant with 21 Invisible Set Princess Cut Blue Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 0.75 Ct) surrounded by a Channel set Halo of diamonds with total weight of 0.24 Ct.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
0.42 Carat Diamond/0.46 Carat Blue Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Pendant Necklace
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Cushion Shape Diagonal Pendant with 4 Invisible Set Princess Cut Blue Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 0.46 Ct) surrounded by a pave set Halo of diamonds with total weight of 0.4...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
0.42 Carat Diamond/0.46 Carat Yellow Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Pendant Necklace
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Cushion Shape Diagonal Pendant with 4 Invisible Set Princess Cut Yellow Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 0.46 Ct) surrounded by a pave set Halo of diamonds with total weight of 0...
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
A'lor by Charriol Blue Sapphire and Diamond Pendant Necklace 18 Karat White Gold
By Charriol
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
At its center, four princess-cut natural blue sapphires are invisibly set to form a singular deep blue focal point.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
0.81 Carat Diamond/0.92 Carat Blue Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Heart Split Shank Ring
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Heart shaped Split Shank Ring with 21 Invisible Set Princess Cut Blue Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 0.92 Ct) surrounded by a Channel set Halo of diamonds and channel set split...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
0.41 Carat Diamond/0.41 Carat Pink Sapphire 18K Gold Hearts Pendant Necklace
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18K Gold Heart shaped Pendant with 8 Invisible Set Princess Cut Pink Sapphires (Total Gem Weight 0.41 Ct) surrounded by a Channel set Halo of diamonds and Diamond Bale with total wei...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
$18,900
vj-95142
By Royaal Stones Ltd
Located in Bangkok, Thailand
.* Golden Fire: 18K White Gold Deep Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Drop Earrings Radiating warmth and brilliance, these exceptional earrings showcase 33.20 carats of deep yellow princ...
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Marcel Boucher Jean Fouquet Inspired Clip Brooch
By Marcel Boucher
Located in New York, NY
Of 14 kt gold plate and rhodium base metal, crystal pave and calibre invisibly set faux sapphires. 1930's USA. Clip back fittings.
Gold Plate, Rhodium, Base Metal
$14,161Sale Price|25% Off
Platinum Sterling Silver Aquamarine Blue Topaz Bangle
By AENEA Jewellery
Located in Salzburg, Salzburg
Material: Platinum 950; White Gold 750; Sterling Silver 925 Bangle handcrafted in Platinum and Rhodium-plated Sterling Silver with invisible set of Aquamarines, Blue Sapphires, Blue...
White Diamond, Topaz, Aquamarine, Platinum, Sterling Silver
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.
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (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.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.