Victorian Peridot Seed Pearl Engraved 15K Gold Ring
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Absolutely stunning Victorian piece! This is a beautiful green marquise peridot, surrounded by seed pearls set in a stunning yellow 15K yellow gold, engraved around the enti...
Pearl, Peridot, 15k Gold
Victorian 15K Gold Opal, Emerald, Ruby Ring, Circa 1850
Located in Lewisburg, PA
An enchanting Victorian era ring (circa 1850), set with a unique arrangement of opals, emeralds, and rubies, all mounted in 15 karat gold.
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 15k Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Opal Asclepios Carved Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Opal Asclepios Carved Ring.
Opal, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Estate Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Tourmaline Cabochon Ring - VHK#292a
Located in Hicksville, NY
Estate Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Tourmaline Cabochon Ring - VHK#292a Item Details: Year: 1880s Ring Size: 6 (Sizable) Metal Type: 15c Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 8....
Tourmaline, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Garnet and Pearl Ring of 15k Gold, Circa 1880
Located in Lewisburg, PA
A beautiful Victorian ring hallmarked in Chester England in 1888.
Garnet, Pearl, 15k Gold
Victorian Paste and 15k Yellow Gold Cannetille Style Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This Victorian cocktail ring is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card.
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 15k Yellow Gold Agate Cameo Cocktail Ring, Circa 1890
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This fine and impressive Victorian carved agate ring has been crafted in 15k yellow gold.
Agate, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Sapphire and Pearl Band Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian sapphire, pearl, and yellow gold ring, comprising one round cut blue sapphire, and ten seed pearls, set in 15 karat yellow gold, to a band of 15 karat yellow gold.
Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Hairwork Floral Chased Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique hairwork and gold ring, comprising brunette hairwork, set in a 15 karat yellow gold band. This unusual ring is adorned with beautiful floral and foliate chasing around t...
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 0.32ct Pink Ruby & 0.36ct Diamond Cocktail Ring, 15k Gold
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This fine and impressive ruby and diamond cocktail ring has been crafted in 15k yellow gold with a platinum and yellow gold setting.
Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Victorian 15k Yellow Gold 0.54ctw Diamond & Black Enamel Solitaire Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Old English Cut - Claw Set - J Color -VS2 Clarity - 5.3mm (approx.) - 0.54ct (approx.) Material: Solid 15k Yellow Gold - Black Enamel Wei...
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Victorian 15k Yellow Gold and Georgian Amethyst and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Victorian 15k Yellow Gold and Georgian Amethyst and Diamond Ring c.1830-80
Amethyst, Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian c1896 Almandine Garnet, Seed Pearl 15K Rose Gold Cannetille Style Ring
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
This delightful late Victorian – c1896 - 15ct Rose Gold Ring, is set with a row of richly coloured oval Natural Almandine garnets, interspersed with delicate seed pearls. The sto...
Garnet, Pearl, Rose Gold, 15k Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Gold Rhodolite Garnet and Pearl Ring with Engraved Band
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
My favourite thing about this Victorian 15K Gold Garnet and Pearl Ring is the purplish pink of the garnets.
Garnet, Pearl, Rhodolite, 15k Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Diamond and Pearl Trilogy Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
My favourite thing about this Victorian 15K Gold Diamond and Pearl Ring is the sparkling diamond.
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Gold Forget Me Not Sardonyx Cameo Sliding Mourning Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique sardonyx, and gold ring, comprising one panel of carved sardonyx, set in 15 karat yellow gold, to a 15 karat gold band concealing hairwork. This unique ring is ever so b...
Agate, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Ruby and Pearl 5 Stone Band Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
My favourite thing about this Victorian 15K Gold Ruby and Pearl Ring, is the soft hue of the rubies.
Pearl, Ruby, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Love Token Double Heart 15K Diamond Emerald Bow Gold Ring
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Two red gold hearts side by side, one is set with an emerald, the other with a diamond. They are joined by a silver bow set with nine old cut diamonds. The ring is marked 15K on the ...
Diamond, Emerald, 15k Gold
Victorian 15K Gold Pearl, Garnet and Demantoid Garnet Ring, with Heart Shoulders
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
My favourite thing about this Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Pearl and Garnet Ring, is the beautiful combination of gemstones.
Garnet, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 0.88 Carat Diamond 15k Yellow Gold Trilogy Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This fine and impressive Victorian trilogy ring has been crafted in 15k yellow gold.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Antique 15K Gold Engraved Betrothal Ring, Gunter, Circa 1900, Germany
Located in Baltimore, MD
Late Victorian 15K polished gold betrothal ring engraved in a lovely calligraphy with the name 'Gunter' and dated 17/12 (17th day of December).
15k Gold
C1880 15K Banded Agate Ring size 9 1/2
Located in Baltimore, MD
Victorian banded agate signet ring set in a 15 carat (stamped) gold band. Banded agate is a form of quartz with parallel bands of black and white resulting from mineral deposits laye...
Agate, 15k Gold
Hallmarked Birmingham 1877 15K opal and diamond 7 stone ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
This ring is a classic Victorian 15K, 3 stone carved half hoop design with claw set opals assayed in Birmingham, England, 1877.
Diamond, Opal, 15k Gold
Antique Opal, Emerald, and Ruby Ring of 15k Gold, Circa 1850
Located in Lewisburg, PA
An enchanting Victorian era ring (circa 1850), set with a unique arrangement of opals, emeralds, and rubies, all mounted in 15 karat gold.
Emerald, Opal, Ruby, 15k Gold
Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold and Silver Blue Enamel & Old Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, enamel, silver, and yellow gold ring, comprising one old mine cut diamond, twenty rose cut diamonds, and blue enamel, set in silver and 15 karat yellow gold, to ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
c1860 15K yellow gold Turquoise snake ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
We love this unusual and extremely rare 18ct gold Victorian snake ring with a cushion cut diamond head and studded with pave turquoise. It was made during the Darwin years when n...
18k Gold
Victorian Pearl Double Heart Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a charming double heart ring. This romantic piece has been crafted from 15ct yellow gold and features two interlocking hearts which have been set with an array of natura...
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Rose Gold Opal Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
This antique piece was skillfully handcrafted sometime during the Victorian design period (1840-1900). The setting is 15K Victorian rose gold and features three oval white opals.
Opal, Gold, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
Victorian Gold Serpent Ring with Diamond Head
Located in Stamford, CT
Why should the serpent not smile when a pear cut half carat diamond is on its forehead making it a serpent with an difference. It is the only pear shaped diamond I have seen in a sna...
15k Gold
Late Victorian Pearl Mourning Ring, c.1902
Located in London, GB
A rare piece of history, this Mourning ring dated back to c.1902. A trio of pearls adorn the face of the piece, the central on being 3mm whilst the flanking pair are 2.25mm a piece. ...
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
Victorian Burmese jade locket ring, circa 1870.
Located in London, GB
Victorian Burmese jade locket ring. Set to centre with an oval cabochon natural unenhanced Burmese jade in an openback rubover setting with an approximate weight of 4.00 carats, to a...
Jade, 15k Gold
Victorian 0.75ct Diamond Snake Ring, c.1860s
Located in London, GB
This intricate snake design ring dates back to the 1860s. The Victorian rarity features an unusual square rose cut diamond set atop the snakes head, surrounded by standard rose cut d...
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver
Victorian .35 Ct Diamond Solitaire Gent Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
A fine Victorian period Diamond solitaire ring, 1900 ca Hand crafted of 15 KT gold Traditional setting designed in the classy Victorian Gent multiclaw setting Centrally set with an o...
Diamond, 15k Gold
Victorian Memorial Memento Yellow Gold and Woven Hair Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1908 Victorian Memorial Memento 15K Yellow Gold Ring, the top of the ring measures 13 X 10 M.M. with intricately Woven Hair under Glass, a fine Beaded Border and Hand Engraved ...
15k Gold
Victorian 0.80ct Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
Each stone is claw set into beautifully aged silver with a contrasting basket and band of 15 carat yellow gold. Gemstone: Ruby Stone Shape: Old Cut Carat Weight: 0.80 Metal: 15ct Ye...
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold, Silver
Victorian 2.33 Carat Aquamarine and Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This fine and impressive Victorian aquamarine ring has been crafted in 15k yellow gold.
Aquamarine, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 15 Karat Gold Warrior Profile Shell Cameo Round Signet Ring
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a Victorian signet ring crafted in 15K gold. Circa 1890.
Gold, 15k Gold
Victorian 2.50ct Diamond Cluster Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This impressive Victorian cluster ring centres around a beautiful old cut diamond surrounded by a dazzling halo of old cut diamonds. The central stone weighs 2.50 carat with a colour...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold
Victorian Old Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful 15ct rose gold antique diamond cluster ring. The ring features a central 0.45 carat old cut diamond that is surrounded by a further 12 smaller old cut diamonds. E...
Diamond, 15k Gold
8.61 Carat White Opal and 0.04 Carat Diamond 15K Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique 8.61 carat opal and 0.04 carat diamond, 15 karat yellow gold and 15 karat white gold set cocktail ring; part of our diverse antique opal jewel...
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
Victorian Opal, Diamond & Demantoid Garnet Cluster Ring, Circa 1900
Located in Altrincham, GB
This stunning late Victorian cluster ring is set with the most gorgeous combination of stones- opal, diamond and demantoid garnet.
Diamond, Garnet, Opal, 15k Gold
Victorian 0.50ct Diamond Cluster Cocktail Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This Victorian ring has been hand crafted in a distinct rope style design from 15 carat rose gold. The centre of the ring houses a 0.50 carat old cut diamond surrounded by 7 rose cut...
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver
Victorian Pearl Emerald Amethyst Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This fine and impressive antique Victorian ring has been crafted in 15k yellow gold.
Amethyst, Emerald, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Turquoise and 15 Carat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This delightful cluster ring holds six bright turquoise and in the middle sits a shimmering 3pt diamond. The ring is modelled out of 15ct gold and is beautifully engraved all the way...
Diamond, Turquoise, 15k Gold, Gold
Victorian Coral and 15 Carat Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The pop of the coral against the 15ct gold is absolutely stunning. The ring holds five stones in total and are held is very simple settings. Ring Size: O or 7 1/4 Band Width: 7mm
Coral, 15k Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Seed Pearl & Ruby Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Pearl & Ruby Ring 15ct Gold Stamped Hallmarked Birmingham 1874 Makers Mark W G This exquisite Victorian ring is crafted from 15ct yellow gold and features six lustrous se...
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Turquoise & Pearl Band Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Ring 15ct Gold Stamped Hallmarked Birmingham 1868 Lovely, Victorian gold ring. Set with four centre turquoise stones & two natural seed pearls either side. The stones ar...
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Coral & Pearl Band Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Gold Band 15ct Gold Stamped Circa 1880 Makers Mark H H Pretty, little Victorian band ring. Decorated with a lovely, gold boat shape- set with pretty, natural coral & s...
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Cabochon Amethyst & Pearl Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Amethyst Ring 15ct Gold Tested Circa 1880 Fabulous, Victorian amethyst ring. Set with a gorgeous sized, cabochon amethyst stone. Surrounded by a beautiful halo of natural...
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Ruby Diamond & Pearl Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Ring 15ct Gold Stamped Hallmarked Chester 1885 Beautiful Victorian Ring. Set with a Star-Set Centre Diamond, Plus Natural Rubies & Seed Pearls. Face of the ring measur...
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Ruby, Diamond & Pearl Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique 15ct Gold Ring 15ct Gold Stamped Circa 1880 Beautiful Victorian Ring. Set with Rubies, Diamonds & Seed Pearls. UK Size M 1/2 US Size 6 3/4 Can be resized using our ...
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Almandine Garnet & Diamond Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Almandine Garnet Ring 15ct Gold Hallmarked Birmingham 1899 Absolutely Stunning, Victorian Ring. Set with Gorgeous Almandine Garnets & Diamonds. The Detailing is Just Fa...
Diamond, Garnet, Gold, 15k Gold
Victorian 0.30ct Rose Cut Diamond Cluster ring, c.1870s
Located in London, GB
This charming cluster ring features a collection of rose cut diamonds. The central diamond is 0.30 carats and surrounded by 24 rose cut diamonds, totalling to an additional 0.40 cara...
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver
Antique 15ct Yellow Gold, Victorian Almandine Garnet & Pearl Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Almandine Garnet Ring 15ct Gold Circa 1880 This exquisite Victorian ring is a true testament to the craftsmanship of its era, crafted from 15ct gold. The ring features st...
Garnet, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian 1.40ct Garnet and Pearl Cannetille Ring, hallmarked 1883
Located in London, GB
With a full suite of hallmarks still intact, this delightful Cannetille ring dates to 1883 in Chester. At its heart sits five oval cut purple garnets. The centre garnet sits the larg...
Garnet, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold
Antique Victorian 15ct Gold Turquoise & Pearl Ring Hallmarked Birmingham 1899
Located in Brighton, GB
Turquoise & Pearl Ring 15ct Gold Victorian- Hallmarked Birmingham 1899 Fabulous Hand Engraved Shoulders.
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold
Victorian 0.60 Carat Unheated Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a 15ct yellow gold sapphire and diamond cluster ring from the Victorian era. The central sapphire is oval shaped and sits amidst a diamond claw setting which in turn is encom...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.
Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.
The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.
Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs.
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.
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.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.