Diamond and Sapphire Pave Encrusted Ring 18 Karat White Gold
Located in New York, NY
Pave diamond and sapphire cluster ring. Blue Sapphire & Diamond Wave Pave Ring. This ring is made
Diamond and Sapphire Pave Encrusted Ring 18 Karat White Gold
Located in New York, NY
Pave diamond and sapphire cluster ring. Blue Sapphire & Diamond Wave Pave Ring. This ring is made
RUCHI Blue Sapphire with Diamond Pavé White Gold Snake Bypass Wrap Ring
By Ruchi New York
Located in New York, NY
This 18k white gold snake bypass wrap ring features two blue sapphires and a diamond micro-pavé
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Lovely 0.68ct Sapphire Pave Ring with Side Diamonds in 18K White Gold
Located in רמת גן, IL
This stunning 18k white gold ring features a captivating 0.68ct fancy pink sapphire as its
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Pavé Pink Sapphire & Diamond 18k Rose Gold Band Dome Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Cartier Pavé Pink Sapphire & Diamond 18k Rose Gold Band Ring. This beautifully made
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Rare Vintage Cartier Pavé Pink Sapphire & Diamond 18k Rose Gold Band Dome Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Cartier Pavé Pink Sapphire & Diamond 18k Rose Gold Band Ring. This beautifully made
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
18 Karat White Gold Pave Pink Sapphire and Diamond Flying Butterfly Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
: VS2 Pink Sapphire: round brilliant cut = 8.60cttw Dimensions: ring top measures 45.85mm Ring Size: 7
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
18 Karat White Gold Pave Diamond and Pink Sapphire Rectangle Fashion Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
: G Clarity: VS1-2 Pink Sapphire: 50 round cut = 2.18cttw Dimensions: ring top measures 22.40 X
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Carrera y Carrera Jazmín 18 Karat White Gold Green Sapphire Pave Cylinder Ring
By Carrera y Carrera
Located in Southampton, PA
boasts intricate décor that is gorgeously accentuated by sublime green sapphires. The ring is wonderfully
Sapphire, White Gold
Joke Quick Black Opal, Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, Burmese Jadeite Pave Ring
By Joke Quick
Located in Antwerp, BE
53/US 6.5). This ring can be resized. Dimensons oval pave 23,2 x 18 mm. The Starstruck collection
Diamond, Opal, Blue Sapphire, Jade, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Picchiotti 18k White Gold 1.42 Carat Diamond Pave and Sapphire Royal Blue Ring
By Picchiotti
Located in Southampton, PA
This Picchiotti ring is crafted from platinum and weighs 9 grams, boasting band thickness of 3 mm
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
10 Carat Purple Star Sapphire and Diamond Pave in 18k Yellow Gold Handmade Ring
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This impressive, one-of-a-kind star sapphire ring packs a "phenomenal" punch! Handmade in 18k
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18...
1960s Huge Heart Ring 2.50ct Pave Diamond Sapphire 18k Yellow Gold Sz 8
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed vintage diamond & sapphire heart ring crafted in 18 karat yellow gold (circa 1960s
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Contemporary 3.20 carat total weight pink sapphire 18k white gold pave ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This contemporary ring dazzles with 84 vibrant pink sapphires set in sleek 18k white gold, offering
Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Pigeon's Blood Red Ruby Red Spinel Sapphire White Diamond Mosaic Pave Ring
By Joke Quick
Located in Antwerp, BE
sapphires from Burma 0,035 ct., white diamonds 0,055 ct. Size EU 53 US 6 1/2. This ring can be resized
Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Ruby, Spinel, 18k Gold, Silver, Rose Gold
Stephen Webster Forget Me Knot Enameled Silver and Black Sapphire Pave Bow Ring
By Stephen Webster
Located in Southampton, PA
this remarkable ring from Stephen Webster's 'Forget Me Knot' collection which is beautifully made of
Sapphire, Silver
Pave Pink Sapphire Fashion Illusion Cluster Ring Black Rhodium 14 Karat Gold
By Alberto
Located in GREAT NECK, NY
14K White Gold 37 Round Pink Sapphires at 0.28 Carats Alberto offers complimentary sizing on all
Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Magnificent 1.16ct Sapphire and Diamonds Pave Ring in 14k Yellow Gold - IGI Cert
Located in רמת גן, IL
Magnificent 1.16ct Sapphire and Diamonds Pave Ring in 14k Yellow Gold - IGI Certified Elevate your
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Fascinating 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire & Diamond Pave Ring w/1.02 ct-IGI Certified
Located in רמת גן, IL
Fascinating 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Pave Ring w/1.02 ct - IGI Certified This
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Stunning 3.85ct Sapphire and Diamonds Pave Ring in 18k Rose Gold - IGI Certified
Located in רמת גן, IL
Stunning 3.85ct Sapphire and Diamonds Pave Ring in 18k Rose Gold - IGI Certified Elevate your
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
33.3 Carat Bi-Color Cabochon Topaz Platinum Ring Blue Sapphire Pave and Diamonds
By Leon Mege
Located in New York, NY
High-dome candy-like bi-colored 33.3-carat topaz set in a ring with intricate filigree basket with
Topaz, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
1.02 Carat Fancy Green, Grey, Pink Diamond, Unheated Violet Sapphire Pave Ring
By Joke Quick
Located in Antwerp, BE
One of a kind ring in 18K White gold 10,2 g. Set with a GIA certified fancy Olive green diamond
Diamond, Blue Diamond, Pink Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Charriol 18 Karat White Gold Pave Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Dome Cable Ring
By Charriol
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
= 0.10cttw Sapphires: 53 round yellow sapphires Ring size: 7 ¾ (please allow two additional shipping days for
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Leo Pizzo 18k White Gold 1.51ctw Oval Royal Blue Sapphire & Pave Diamond Ring
By Leo Pizzo
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Sapphire - Oval Cut - Half Bezel / Channel Set - True Clean Royal
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Leo Pizzo 18k White Gold 1.51ctw Oval Royal Blue Sapphire & Pave Diamond Ring
By Leo Pizzo
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Sapphire - Oval Cut - Half Bezel / Channel Set - True Clean Royal
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1.68ct Oval Bi-Color Sapphire Diamond Pave 14K Yellow Gold Engagement Ring R6287
Located in Osprey, FL
♥ 1.68ct Oval Bi-Color Sapphire with Diamond Pave Band 14K Yellow Gold Engagement Ring ♥ Solid
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
1.83ct Bi-Color Parti Sapphire on Diamond Pave Engagement Ring 14K Gold R6776
Located in Osprey, FL
♥ This ring features a gorgeous bi-color heart-shaped sapphire, set in a sea of diamond pave
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Cartier Mimi 18 Karat Rose Gold Diamond and Pink Sapphire Pave Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
splendid white diamonds and feminine purple sapphires, this spectacular ring from renowned Cartier boasts
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
LB Exclusive Platinum 0.38 Carat Diamond Pave and Sapphire Ring
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
mm and top height of 10 mm, while top dimensions measure 14 by 14 mm. The ring is set with a sapphire
Diamond, Platinum
18 Karat White Gold Diamond and Sapphire Pave Dome Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
This ring is crafted from 18K white gold and set with blue sapphire that weigh 5.25 carats and with
Diamond, White Gold
Jona Pink Sapphire White Diamond Pavé 18 Karat Rose Gold Eternity Band Ring
By Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
of brilliant cut pink sapphires and 0.35 carats of white diamonds. Ring size US 7.5 . This ring has
White Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
18 Karat White Gold Pave Diamond, Ruby, and Pink Sapphire Wave Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: Custom Material: 18K white gold Diamond: round brilliant cut = 1.25cttw Color: H Clarity: SI1 Size: 6 (complimentary sizing available upon request) Weight: 14.28 grams
Diamond, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier Mimi 18 Karat Rose Gold Diamond and Pink Sapphire Pave Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
splendid white diamonds and feminine purple sapphires, this spectacular ring from renowned Cartier boasts
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2.3ct Oval Sapphire Ring in Solid 14k White Gold w Natural Diamonds Pavé Shank
Located in Columbus, OH
This lovely blue sapphire from Ceylon makes a beautiful ring in this setting of 14k solid white
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Oscar Heyman Diamond Pave and Invisible Set Sapphire 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
By Oscar Heyman
Located in Southampton, PA
crafted 18K yellow gold body. The diamonds total 0.75 carats and the sapphires 1.80 carats. Ring Top
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond Pave and Yellow Sapphire Marquise White and Yellow Gold Wide Band Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
gems. The ring is set with a sublime yellow sapphire that weighs 3.94 carats and with a total of 3.04
White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2.25ctw Blue Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Pave Gold & Platinum Navette Ring
Located in Addison, TX
sapphire in surrounded by 1.25 carats of impeccable old miner cut diamonds. This ring can easily be sized
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum
Captivating 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Pave Ring w/1.51 ct - IGI Cert
Located in רמת גן, IL
Captivating 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Pave Ring w/1.51 ct - IGI Certified The
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2.25ctw Blue Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Pave Gold & Platinum Navette Ring
Located in Addison, TX
sapphire in surrounded by 1.25 carats of impeccable old miner cut diamonds. This ring can easily be sized
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum
Van Cleef & Arpels 18k Yellow Gold Oval Cut Yellow Sapphire Pave Diamond Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Oval modified step-cut yellow sapphire, round diamonds, 18k yellow gold, signed VCA, numbered
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Chopard Polar Bears Diamond Pave Set Blue Sapphire Black Onyx White Gold Ring
By Chopard
Located in Tysons, VA
Of toi et moi design, the two polar bears hugging pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds with
Diamond, Onyx, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco 14 Karat Two-Tone Sapphire and Diamond Pave Vintage Statement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
This is a beautiful example of the art work of the art deco era. The beautiful blue sapphire sits
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Fancy Lemon Yellow, Pink, Blue, Yellow, No Heat Blue Sapphire Pave Cocktail Ring
By Joke Quick
Located in Antwerp, BE
. This ring can be resized. Dimensons oval pave 20,4 x 15,7 mm. The Starstruck collection displays a
Diamond, Pink Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Blue...
Italian Collection 18 Karat Gold Diamond and Multicolored Sapphire Pave Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
sapphires. Ring Top Dimensions: 25mm x 28mm
Diamond, Rose Gold
18 Karat White Gold Diamond and Pink Sapphire Pave Dolphin Ring
By Chopard
Located in Southampton, PA
gleaming 18K white gold. The diamonds and the sapphires total 0.14ct and 2.21ct respectively. Ring Top
Diamond, White Gold
Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Pave Sapphire Cabochon Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
ring is made of 18K yellow gold and set with an eye-catching sapphire and 0.75 carats of diamonds. Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Cartier Panthere Platinum Full Diamond Pave, Sapphires, Emeralds, and Onyx Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
captivating manner then this fabulous Cartier ring is an excellent choice. The ring is masterfully crafted
Diamond, Platinum
Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond and Sapphire Pave Band Ring
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
resplendence of diamonds and the regal allure of sapphires in this exceptional ring that is designed by Cartier
Diamond, Yellow Gold
18 Karat White Gold 0.42 Carat Diamond Sapphire Pavé Ladies Ring
Located in New York, NY
A symbol of eternal love, the humble wedding ring has been about for years, older than any of us
Pink Orange Sapphire Emerald Diamond Pave 18 Karat Rose Gold Frog Animal Ring
By Galt & Bro. Jewelers
Located in Tysons, VA
18 Karat Rose Gold 2.00 CT Pink Orange Sapphire 0.15 cts Diamonds Size 7, Resizable upon request
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
Cartier Yellow Gold Diamond Sapphire Pave Panthere Band 1994 Mimi Ring SZ5
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
white diamonds and feminine blue sapphires, this spectacular ring from renowned Cartier boasts
French Collection 18 Karat Gold Amethyst and Sapphire Pave Ring HF03780RA-WAMS
By French Collection
Located in Southampton, PA
sapphires, 1.33ct amethyst and 0.30ct diamonds wrap the concave expanse of 18K white gold.
Amethyst, Gold
Sapphire Ring w Diamond Pave Shank in 14k Yellow gold East West Emerald Cut 6x4
Located in Columbus, OH
This dainty inspired ring features a stunning vibrant wine colored sapphire in 14K yellow Gold with
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$14,500
Cartier Tri Pave Cabochon Ring Yellow Gold
By Cartier
Located in Dallas, TX
Cartier Tri Pave Cabochon Ring in 18K Yellow Gold. The ring features two sapphire cabochons and one
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1.44ctw White Diamond Yellow Sapphire Pave Ring 14k Yellow Gold Size 8
Located in McLeansville, NC
This ring is a size 8, but it can be resized up 3 sizes for a $30 fee per size.
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Sold|$5,731
Jona Tutti Frutti Pave Gold Cocktail Ring
By Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Jona Design Collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18k white gold ring featuring 2.59 carats of
Diamond, Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, White Gold
Sold|$3,200
Dior Precious Gemstone Pave Gold Band Ring
By Christian Dior
Located in Southampton, PA
gold, 0.30ct of regal sapphires, 0.30ct of passionate rubies and 0.30ct of elegant emeralds bring a
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18 Karat Gold Diamond Pave Multi-Color Sapphire Flower Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
sparkling diamonds and colorful sapphires that weigh in total 0.67 and 2.65 carats respectively. Ring Top
Diamond, Yellow 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.
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.
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.
Whether or not a sapphire ring is a good investment will depend upon a range of factors such as condition, rarity and more. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. (Kashmir is the birthplace of the most famous sapphires.) According to the Geological Institute of America, the stones from this mountainous region on the India-Pakistan border display a potent combination of a rich, intense blue color and a soft and velvety appearance.
Sapphires can be colorless, or white, although examples are very rare, since the corundum from which they are formed has to have been untouched by any other element. Non-blue colored sapphires are referred to as “fancy sapphires” and can be pink, purple, orange, yellow or green. The rarest, and the most valuable, fancy sapphire is the pinkish-orange padparadscha (from the Sinhalese word for “lotus blossom”).
Determining the value of any collectible depends upon a variety of aspects. In the case of assessing the value of an antique or vintage sapphire ring, as with other gems, the 4Cs are crucial. The 4Cs is the grading system established by the GIA to determine how precious stones are evaluated. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The most desirable cut is the one that shows to best advantage the particular stone’s individual combination of color, clarity, and brilliance.
At 1stDibs, we believe in buying what you love. Our shopping experience enables discovery and learning, whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or just beginning your collection. Buyers should keep in mind that the value of any investment is subject to fluctuation, and any investment decisions should be made according to the guidance of a financial advisor. Find a range of antique and vintage sapphire rings on 1stDibs.
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