Nouveau Gold Cocktail Ring
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Spinel, Gold, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Emerald, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Chrysophrase, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Chalcedony, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Vintage 1910s French Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold,...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sterling Silver, 9k G...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterlin...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, Tourmaline, Coral, Diamond, White Diamo...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow S...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Turquoise, Emerald, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Onyx, White Diamond, Diamond, Coral, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Topaz, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, Diamond, White Diamond, Sterling Silver, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, E...
21st Century and Contemporary Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Pink Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Tsavorite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold,...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Go...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling ...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Dia...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Black Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, 9k Gol...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, S...
21st Century and Contemporary German Artist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Yellow ...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Israeli Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sterling Silver, 9k Gold, Yellow ...
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Rock Crystal, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Ster...
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Ster...
Antique 19th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Freshwater Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Ster...
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Peridot, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Si...
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Whit...
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow G...
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Ruby, Peridot, Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Si...
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Nouveau Gold Cocktail Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Nouveau Gold Cocktail Ring?
A Close Look at art-nouveau Jewelry
Art Nouveau — generally considered to have begun in the late 1800s and ended with the start of World War I — was a movement in the decorative arts that drew inspiration from natural forms, such as trees, flowers and, of course, the human figure. The three main themes present in Art Nouveau jewelry and watches were flora, fauna and women.
Art Nouveau, which reached its pinnacle in the year 1900, spawned from artists who rejected the historicism of their predecessors to create an entirely new visual vocabulary. As compared to Art Deco jewelry’s geometric patterns and sharp lines, the extravagant style of antique Art Nouveau jewelry is characterized by curvilinear forms and whiplash lines, vibrant materials and dramatic imagery.
The first art and design movement of the 20th century, Art Nouveau was also a reaction against the Industrial Revolution, and took its inspiration from the theories of the Symbolists, the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, the ideas of John Ruskin and his follower William Morris and, most importantly Japanese crafts. (The country was a fertile ground for inspiration after it was opened to the West in 1854.) The Art Nouveau style touched all manners of the arts, including the most exultant jewelry.
Nature was a favorite muse for artists going back to the 18th and 19th centuries, but in the hands of 20th-century artists, it was depicted in new ways. For example, a withering flower was considered just as beautiful as one in full bloom. Winged creatures, such as insects and birds, were also a popular subject. Dragonflies and butterflies were particular favorites because they morphed so dramatically in different life stages.
This was also a reference to women, whose role in society was evolving. It was not uncommon to see a piece of jewelry that would at once reference a woman as a winged creature (think René Lalique’s famous Dragonfly brooch, circa 1897–98, at the Gulbenkian Collection in Lisbon). However, just as women’s roles were ambiguous, so was their image, as the femmes nouvelle were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized.
In addition to Lalique, vital figures in Art Nouveau jewelry included Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States, Vladimir Soloviev, who designed jewelry for Peter Carl Fabergé in Russia, Fuset Grau of Spain, Karl Rothmuller of Germany and Philippe Wolfers of Belgium.
Art Nouveau jewelers used every “canvas” imaginable, looking beyond brooches and necklaces to belt buckles, fans, tiaras, dog collars (a type of choker necklace), pocket watches, corsages and hair combs. Multicolored gems and enamel could complete this vision better than diamonds. Jewelers also favored pearls, particularly baroque pearls, for their large size and irregular shape. However, opal was the most popular stone — its iridescence harmonized perfectly with the enamel, and it could be carved into any shape. Art Nouveau jewelry was primarily set in yellow gold.
Find a range of antique Art Nouveau jewelry today on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right cocktail-rings for You
A flashy symbol of wealth during the early 20th century, antique and vintage cocktail rings have gained broader appeal in the decades since for the hefty dose of glamour they bring to any ensemble.
Cocktail rings earned their name for their frequent appearances during glitzy cocktail parties at the height of the Prohibition era. Back then, these accessories were seen not only as statement pieces but as statements in and of themselves. They openly represented a sense of freedom and independence as well as a demonstration of opulence. After all, the 1920s heralded the Harlem Renaissance and Art Deco design, and a slew of social and cultural shifts meant that women in particular were breaking from pre–World War I conventions and embracing newfound freedoms to express themselves as individuals.
Women expressly wore cocktail rings on the fingers of their right hand versus the left, which was “reserved” for an engagement ring or wedding band, accessories definitely paid for by a suitor. And for cocktail rings, the bigger the colored gem at the center — which is usually mounted in a high setting — and the more elaborate the design, the stronger the likelihood of being noticed.
Cocktail rings remained a popular piece of jewelry for women until the 1930s, when the Great Depression and the onset of war marked a change in behaviors nationwide. While the 1960s and ’70s saw a return in visibility for the accessory, it wasn’t until the 1980s that cocktail rings once again assumed their position as a beacon of luxury and glitz.
During the 20th century, the range of dazzling cocktail rings seems to have been limitless, from glimmering gold rings set with carved jade diamonds designed by David Webb to Pomellato’s pink quartz confections to striking Gucci butterfly rings with accent diamonds set in a pavé fashion.
So, how do you wear a cocktail ring? Cocktail rings “can be worn for almost anything — dinners, date nights, parties, special events, on the red carpet,” explains David Joseph of New York-based jewelry brand Bochic.
Can you wear cocktail rings with other rings? “In my opinion, cocktail rings should stand on their own since they showcase a large gem in the center,” says Joseph.
These glamorous jewels can be worn inside or outside crowded taverns, in either daytime or nighttime with casual or dressy attire. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique and vintage cocktail rings, including those offered by Chanel, whose elegant cocktail rings often feature pearls and, of course, diamonds, and sometimes were styled after showy flowers like the camellia, and Van Cleef & Arpels, whose detailed and intricate designs are viewed as miniature pieces of wearable art.