Late Renaissance Agate Cameo Ring Alessandro de' Medici
Located in Firenze, IT
gold ring mount, cameo 2.0cm high, ring size 7 Alessandro de’ Medici (22 July 1510 – 6 January 1537
Agate, Gold
18k Yellow and White Gold Diamond Cocktail Ring w 1.79 Ct Round Ruby Cabochon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Medici ring inspired by Italian Renaissance is made in 18k yellow gold and white gold with high
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian 18K Gold and Silver Micromosaic Medici
Located in London, GB
beads which adjoins an 18K gold band. The ring weighs 2.29 grams. The bezel measures 15mm x 12mm and the
18k Gold, Silver
Ancient Roman Sassanian Lapis Intaglio Ring, circa 600 AD
Located in Stamford, CT
design is a confluence of Iranian and Roman. The Medici family owned a ring like this hundreds of years
Lapis Lazuli, 22k Gold
Treasures of the Medici
By Filippo Tuena, Anna Maria Massinelli
Located in valatie, NY
Treasures of the Medici, New York: The Vendome Press, 2000. Reprinted first edition thus hardcover
Paper
18 K White Jade, Jade, and Onyx Ring by Medici
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great heavy modernist design Ring featuring ovals of Onyx, White Jade, and Green Jade. Very thick
Vintage 22K Yellow Gold Alexander III the Great Antique Roman Coin Ring
Located in Miami, FL
22K carved yellow gold ring weighing 20.3 grams, featuring a striking Alexander III the Great Roman coin, in ring size 9.75. Alexander III The Great - Macedonian Kingdom (336-323 B...
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
$35,000
H 2.76 in W 3.55 in D 2.76 in
Victorian Opal and Diamond Crown Tiara Haircomb Necklace, circa 1880s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
Victorian Opal and Diamond Crown Haircomb Necklace, ca. 1880s A very unusual and stunning Victorian crown, set with fiery opal cabochons and old-mine cut diamonds, from the 1880s. T...
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Silver
Large Ancient Greek Rock Crystal Gold Ring 2nd Century BC
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2nd century BC. This highly unusual and heavy ancient Greek ring of a complex design is crafted in high karat gold (approximately 21.34 Kt). It features a large cabochon cut r...
Carnelian, Crystal, Rock Crystal, Gold, Silver
Antique Georgian Star Sapphire Diamond Guilloche Enamel 14K Gold Ring Circa 1830
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Georgian Period cabochon star sapphire, diamond, cobalt blue guilloche enamel 14K gold ring. Circa 1830 This beautiful antique ring dates from the George IV/Regency Period. ...
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold
Ancient Greek Gold Intaglio Ring Circa 4th Century BC
Located in Chicago, IL
A unique, museum quality ancient Greek gold ring, circa 4th century BC, likely a wedding ring. The ring is engraved with two wrestling Erotes. When Aphrodite (Greek goddess of love,...
Art Deco Style Diamond Sapphire Target Platinum Engagement Cocktail Dress Ring
Located in Lisbon, PT
Art Deco Style diamond and sapphire target stylized engagement or cocktail/dress ring in platinum, 2000s. This ring features a round brilliant-cut diamond millegrain-set to the cente...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Ancient Roman Cameo High Karat Gold Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Roman Empire, 2nd – 3rd century A.D. This massive solid gold ring with broad shoulders is of a very fine workmanship. The ring is crafted in high karat gold (about 24K). It is cente...
Gold
Roman Nicolo Intaglio Of A Cupid Circa 1st-2nd Century A.D.
Located in Firenze, IT
Period: I-II century A.D. Top size: 16 mm x 13 mm (intaglio: 14 mm x 10 mm) Ring size: 7 Weight: 12 gr The ring is characterized by a nicolo from the Roman era, dating back to the ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
An 18th century sapphire cameo depicting Hercules
Located in London, GB
An 18th century sapphire cameo depicting Hercules, the oval sapphire weighing 7.90 carats and finely engraved with the profile of Hercules facing right, rub-over set to a yellow gold...
Sapphire, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Roman Lapis-Lazuli Cameo Of Cupid Circa 2nd Century A.D.
Located in Firenze, IT
Period: 2nd century Dimensions: 1,3 x 1,0 cm Size: 7 1/4 Weight: 5.44gr. This delightful 2nd century Roman cameo is made of lapislazuli and is inserted in a 18 carat contemporary ...
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Small Ancient Roman Medusa Carved Cameo Gold Ring 2nd Century Gem Carving
Located in London, GB
A scarce and small ancient Roman gold Medusa cameo ring, circa 2nd to 3rd century AD. The carved layered onyx gemstone is white in colour and depicts the bust of Medusa engraved wit...
Onyx, Gold
Large Ancient Roman Carnelian Intaglio Gold Ring c.1st Century AD
Located in Chicago, IL
Roman Empire, circa 1st century AD This large hollow gold ring features a carnelian intaglio set in a raised broad bezel. The intaglio is engraved with the Roman goddess Minerva. She...
Carnelian, Gold
Ancient Greek Rock Crystal Gold Swivel Signet Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Greek, Archaic period, circa 500 B.C. An ancient gold swivel – signet ring with a finely carved rock crystal scarab (Scarabaeus beetle). In ancient jewelry, the scarab was a sy...
Rock Crystal
Antique 22 Karat Yellow Gold Hardstone Agate Cameo Roman Emperor Ring
Located in New York, NY
A large carved agate cameo ring depicting the Roman emperor Vespasian (9 - 79 AD). The high carat gold mounting is late 19th Century. The cameo is Italian, early 18th century. The...
Agate, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Massive Victorian French Diamond Gold Serpent Brooch
Located in Riverdale, NY
Extraordinarily crafted French serpent brooch from the mid 19th Century. The massive proportions and realistic detailing help to date this amazing 3 dimensional brooch. From the coil...
Diamond, 18k Gold
$53,002
W 2.49 in L 2.96 in
Antique 18th Century Minas Novas Earrings Pendant/Brooch Girandole Portuguese
Located in Lisbon, PT
Museum-quality rare and important antique 18th century Minas Novas rock crystal quartz girandole pendant and earrings demi-parure mounted in closed-back silver, Portuguese, circa 177...
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Silver
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.
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