16th Century Renaissance Agate Cameo Ring Alessandro de' Medici
Located in Firenze, IT
The cameo features an engraving of the face of Alessandro de Medici, known as the Moor because of his dark appearance, which has led historians in later periods to question his origi...
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-polished finish.
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Ancient Roman Sassanian Lapis Intaglio Ring, circa 600 AD
Located in Stamford, CT
The influence of design is a confluence of Iranian and Roman. The Medici family owned a ring like this hundreds of years later.
Lapis Lazuli, 22k Gold
Treasures of the Medici
By Filippo Tuena, Anna Maria Massinelli
Located in valatie, NY
A beautiful book covering the collections of the Medici family. The collection includes: rings, statuettes, vases, brooches, and other objects, made of gold, silver, jade, alabaster,...
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 band to ring. Ring is a size 8. This ring has a matching bracelet and ear clips a...
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian 18K Gold and Silver Micromosaic Medici
Located in London, GB
This beautiful micromosaic dates to the late-19th century, circa 1870. Wearing micromosaic jewellery became popular during the Grand Tour period where members of wealthy, aristocrati...
18k Gold, Silver
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
$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
An early 20th century diamond-set tiara by Skinner & Co
Located in London, GB
An early 20th century diamond-set tiara/necklace by Skinner & Co, the five principal old-cut diamonds estimated to weigh a combined total of 2 carats, each rub over millegrain-set to...
Diamond, Platinum
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,...
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 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
Late Victorian Opal and Diamond Tiara
Located in London, GB
A late Victorian opal and diamond tiara/necklace, consisting of seven knife-edge gold bars graduating from the centre, each set with two round cabochon-cut opals and an old-cut diamo...
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
$15,000
W 1.38 in L 2.07 in
Magnificent Antique Georgian 6TCW Rose Cut Diamond 26.3 TCW Amethyst Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Museum quality, magnificent large antique Georgian rose cut 6 TCW diamond and 26.3 TCW royal purple amethyst pendant Early 19th Century The scale and quality of this spectacular piec...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k 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
Antique French 18Kt Gold Chalcedony Cameo Ring, Circa 1870s
Located in Firenze, IT
18Kt gold ring set with a cameo on lavender chalcedony stylizing a profile of a man with a waving beard, the setting on five wires and openwork hearts. Top size is 23mm x 21mm Finger...
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique French Old Mine Cut Diamond Shell 18k Gold Brooch
Located in Cairo, EG
Antique french 18k gold shell brooch centered with 1 large natural white south sea pearl size 8mm diameter flanked with old mine cut diamonds and colorful enamel hall marked with 19t...
An early 19th century cameo ring
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century cameo ring, the oval brown and white sardonyx cameo measuring 2.7 1.5cm and depicting Hercules and the Nemean Lion, mounted in roman-style setting to gold tape...
Gold
Antique Late 17th Century Italian Silver Armorial Signet Ring, Size 9
Located in Firenze, IT
Engraved with the crest to a plain band. Size 9 Top size 22m diameter Weight: 25gr
Silver
Georgian Circa 1780 18K Gold Silver Ruby Diamond Urn Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Magnificent Georgian period Urn ring set with natural untreated Ruby and Diamond, possibly Burma, in 18 KT and silver Elaborate scroll work with the Urn in the middle beautifully ado...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
$11,838Sale Price|20% Off
24kt. yellow gold carved amethyst intaglio ring with a woman's portrait
Located in Braintree, GB
Antique 19th century 24kt. yellow gold carved amethyst intaglio ring with a woman's portrait. Made in Europe, Circa 1870's X-Ray has been tested positive for 24kt. yellow gold. T...
Yellow Gold
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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