$977Sale Price / item|44% Off
14k Gold Starfish Ring with Orange Sapphire and Diamonds
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
14 kt solid gold Starfish ring with orange natural sapphire and diamonds. September birthstone ring. Orange sapphire ring. Sea ring. Fish ring. 14k solid gold Total weight 2.2 g. d...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
$815Sale Price / item|20% Off
18k Gold Diamond Starfish Pendant Necklace Ocean Beach Jewelry
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Delicate Dainty Starfish Charm Necklace with natural diamond is made of 18k solid gold.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$716Sale Price / item|20% Off
14k Gold Diamond Starfish Pendant Necklace Ocean Beach Jewelry
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Delicate Dainty Starfish Charm Necklace with natural diamond is made of 14k solid gold.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,137Sale Price / item|20% Off
Tahitian Pearl Diamond Starfish Pendant Necklace 0.13 Carat 18 Karat White Gold
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
18K White gold pendant necklace featuring one diamond starfish motif weighing 0.13 carats and a Tahitian pearl measuring 11-12 mm. Color G-H Clarity SI
Diamond, Pearl, White Gold
Epic Australian Opal Starfish Pendant with Emerald, Diamonds & 14k Gold
By Jen Proudman Jewelry
Located in New York, NY
Epic Australian Opal Starfish Pendant (large) Australian Boulder Opal, Zambian Emerald, Diamonds & 14k Gold Carved Australian Boulder Opal with center 6mm round emerald bezeled in ...
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold
$732Sale Price / item|20% Off
14k Gold Diamond Starfish Necklace Ocean Nautical Sea Beach Jewelry
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Delicate Dainty Starfish Charm Necklace is made of 14k solid gold.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$828Sale Price / item|20% Off
18k Gold Diamond Starfish Necklace Ocean Nautical Sea Beach Jewelry
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Diamonds :- All Diamonds are genuine, natural, conflict free diamonds.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond Star Earring Dangle Starfish Earring Ocean Lovers Earring Jewelry Gift.
Located in Chicago, IL
Diamond Star Earring Dangle Starfish Earring Ocean Lovers Earring Jewelry Gift.
Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver
$792Sale Price / item|20% Off
18k Gold Diamond Starfish Necklace Nautical Starfish Charm Pendant
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Tiny Diamond Starfish Necklace is made of 18k solid gold available in three colors of gold: White Gold / Rose Gold / Yellow Gold.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$698Sale Price / item|20% Off
14k Gold Diamond Starfish Necklace Nautical Starfish Charm Pendant
By Oshi Jewels
Located in Bangkok, TH
Tiny Diamond Starfish Necklace is made of 14k solid gold available in three colors: White Gold / Rose Gold / Yellow Gold.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$4,720Sale Price / item|20% Off
14 Karat Diamond "Starfish" Earrings
By Gregory Mikaelian & Sons, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
14 karat diamond "Starfish" earrings containing 32 round diamonds encrusted in the starfish weighing .80pts. They are a right and left earring. Designed by "Andea" of Beverly Hills.
Diamond, 14k Gold
Ruby Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Starfish Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A striking brooch meticulously crafted in the shape of a starfish, adorned with cabochon-cut red rubies. The arms and center are embellished with these vibrant rubies, creating a viv...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Large Blue Topaz Diamond Gold Starfish Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A large, unique, and stylish brooch featuring a blue topaz and diamond studded starfish! There are a total of 39.25 carats of bright sky-blue topaz in a variety of shapes, mainly ova...
Diamond, Blue Topaz, Gold
Starfish Motif Enamel and Diamond Pendant Necklace
Located in New York, NY
A perfect statement piece for collectors of nature-inspired jewelry or lovers of the sea. Details: Metal: 18K White & Yellow Gold Gemstone: Old European Cut Diamond Measurement: St...
Diamond, Enamel
18 Karat Rose Gold Starfish Diamond Pendant
By Vitale 1913
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
18K rose gold pendant is from Jackpot Collection. This beautiful pendant is in a shape of starfish which is decorated by round colourless diamonds in total of 0.22 Carat. The total m...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
18 Karat White Gold Pave Diamond Starfish Pin
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom design Material: 18K white gold Diamond: 121 round brilliant cut= 7.45cttw Color: F / G Clarity: VS1-2 Dimensions: pin measures 74mm in length Weight: 10.70 grams
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cabochon Sapphire Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Starfish Brooch
By Valentin Magro
Located in New York, NY
Jewels of diamonds and sapphires recreate this saltwater creature. An 18k yellow gold base is furnished with pavé set diamonds. Bezel set in 18k white gold, sapphire cabochons decora...
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$782Sale Price|20% Off
14K Yellow Gold Round Diamond Starfish Pendant Necklace
Located in Antwerp, BE
Each of the five slender arms is meticulously pave-set with brilliant round diamonds, creating a continuous path of sparkle that catches the light beautifully. Suspended from a delic...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$782Sale Price|20% Off
14K White Gold Round Diamond Starfish Pendant Necklace
Located in Antwerp, BE
Each of the five slender arms is meticulously pave-set with brilliant round diamonds, creating a continuous path of sparkle that catches the light beautifully. Suspended from a delic...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
14 Karat White Gold and Diamond Starfish Pendant
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage 14 Karat White Gold and Diamond Starfish Pendant This sparkling pendant features a lovely starfish decorated with 44 round brilliant cut diamonds set in classic 14K white go...
Diamond, White Gold
$2,282Sale Price|20% Off
14k Gold & Silver Pave Diamond Starfish Earrings
By Artisan NYC
Located in New York, NY
14kt:2.68gms,D:6.68cts,Slv:19.669gms
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
TIFFANY & Co. Elsa Peretti 18K Gold Diamond Starfish Earrings
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
TIFFANY & Co. Elsa Peretti 18K Gold Diamond Starfish Earrings Metal: 18K Gold Weight: 5.50 grams Measurement: 16mm wide Diamond: 32 round diamonds, carat total weight .32 approx. Ha...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Starfish Ocean Inspired Diamond Ring 14k Yellow Gold
Located in beverly hills, CA
This delightful starfish ring is crafted in warm yellow gold, featuring a striking white gold star shape at the center adorned with a small diamond, totaling 0.11 ct.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Misahara Starfish 18k Gold Ring
Located in Saratoga, CA
Misahara’s Starfish Ring is a symbolic expression of infinite love and feminine strength, inspired by the powerful connection between the ocean and the moon. In nature, the starfish ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, 18k Gold
Starfish Pin with Diamond, Emeralds and Yellow Diamonds in 18k Yellow Gold
Located in La Jolla, CA
Starfish Pin Brooch with Diamond, Emeralds and Yellow Diamonds in 18k Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Starfish Pin features Round Brilliant Natural Yellow Diamonds Bezel set in 18k ...
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
18K White Gold Starfish Ring Moonstones Black Diamonds
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
18 K white Gold Starfish Ring featuring 16 Moonstone Cabochons weighing 5.13 ct, framed by 134 black Diamonds with a tortal weight of 1.51 ct. The mystic alallure of this ring is si...
Black Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold, White Gold
14 Karat White Gold Pave Diamond Starfish Necklace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom design Material: 14K white gold Diamonds: round brilliant cut = 0.45cttw Color: H Clarity: SI2 Dimensions: necklace measures 18-inches in length Weight: 5.16 grams
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Starfish Diamond Earrings 14 Karat White Gold Stud Earrings
Located in Jupiter, FL
Cute starfish earrings in 14Kt white gold with 0.30ct of diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold
Starfish Stud Earrings 14 Karat Gold Natural Diamonds Earrings
Located in Jupiter, FL
Pretty starfish studs with diamonds in 14KT white gold. GOLD: 14KT gold NATURAL DIAMOND(S) Clarity/Color: SI/G-H Carat:0.33ct Grams:2.30 Item#: 150-00154 PFT WHAT YOU GET AT STAMPA...
Diamond, 14k Gold
TIFFANY & Co. Elsa Peretti 18K Gold Diamond Starfish Pendant Necklace
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
TIFFANY & Co. Elsa Peretti 18K Gold Diamond Starfish Pendant Necklace Metal: 18K Gold Weight: 4.10 grams Chain: 16" long Pendant: 16mm wide Diamond: round diamonds, carat total weig...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Diamond Tipped Starfish Brooch Pin in Polished 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Five smaller diamonds are nestled along the tips of the arms, offering a subtle shimmer that enhances the starfish’s graceful shape.
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Extravagant Diamond and Gold Starfish Clip-On Earrings
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
Very extravagant and figural "starfish" earrings. Very attractive textured 18K yellow and white gold!
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Diamond Starfish Stud Earrings Set in 18k White Gold
Located in London, England
A lovely little pair of modern diamond set starfish earrings set in 18k white gold. Each stud earring is pave set throughout with 17 round brilliant cut diamonds. Due to their desig...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$3,272Sale Price|20% Off
4.58ct Diamond Starfish Pave Drop Earrings 18k White Gold
By Alexander Beverly Hills
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Beautiful pave set diamond starfish earrings. 4.58ct of round brilliant diamonds, approximately G/H color grade and SI clarity grade diamonds. 18-karat white gold. Accommodated with...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Platinum 0.36 Karat White Diamonds Handcrafted Starfish Stud Modern Earrings
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini "Silhouette" Collection Handcrafted Platinunm 0.36 Karat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Modern Earrings. Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings. Starfish is a lucky charm tha...
White Diamond, Platinum
Gold Starfish Brooch with Diamond, Ruby & Sapphire in 18k Gold by Alex Soldier
By Alex Soldier
Located in Geneve, CH
Featuring Alex Soldier’s proprietary interchangeable jewelry system, the Diamond Starfish transforms effortlessly into a brooch, necklace, ring, or cuff.
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, ...
IGI Certified 6.00 Carat Diamond and Sapphire Starfish Motif Statement Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
IGI Certified 6.00 Carat Diamond and Sapphire Starfish Motif Statement Ring This exclusive bespoke creation was specially handcrafted as a one-of-a-kind piece, and no identical desi...
Diamond, Black Diamond, Sapphire, Gold Plate
Alex Jona Burmese Moonstone White Black Diamond 18 Karat Gold Starfish Brooch
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona one-of-a-kind, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat white gold starfish brooch, showcasing 12.54 carats of Burmese cabochon moonstones, 22 white diamonds weighing 0.41 carats an...
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Starfish White Diamond Ruby Australian Pearl 18Kt Gold Pendant / Necklace
By Elisa Pozza by PETRONILLA
Located in Bussolengo, Verona
Starfish White Diamond Ruby Australian Pearl 18Kt Gold Pendant/Necklace Made in Italy This pendant is a starfish covered by many white diamonds, thirteen rubies cabochon cut and an A...
White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Brown Diamond and Yellow Diamond Starfish Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Brown Diamond 2.57 carats and Yellow Diamond 1.33 carats Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 2.1 cm Length: 2.4 cm Ring Size: 53 Total Weight: 23.18 grams "We first opened doors...
Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold
Diamond starfish pendant necklace 14KT yellow gold well crafted necklace
Located in Jupiter, FL
Cute startfish pendant necklace 18 inches long made with natural diamonds and 14KT solid yellow gold. GOLD: 14KT gold/16" NATURAL DIAMOND(S) Clarity/Color: VS-SI/F-G Cut:Round Brill...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
.925 Sterling Silver Prong-Set Diamond Accent Starfish Pendant Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Entice her with starbursts of light-reflecting beauty of this gorgeous diamond star fish pendant crafted in sterling silver. This open design star fish is adorn with 12 prong set spa...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1986 Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Diamond Starfish 18k Gold Necklace
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in University Place, WA
An iconic vintage design by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co., this Starfish necklace is crafted in 18k yellow gold and set throughout with brilliant cut diamonds. The sculptural f...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18K Rose & White Gold, Diamond & Pink Sapphire Starfish Cluster Dome Ring
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The center of the ring are 31 white diamonds 0.43 cts in the motif of a starfish. Surrounding the diamond starfish are 98 pink sapphires 2.03 cts.
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White G...
.925 Sterling Silver Prong-Set Diamond Accent Starfish Pendant Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Beguile her with starbursts of light-reflecting beauty of this gorgeous diamond star fish pendant crafted in sterling silver. The center of the star fish is adorn with a cluster of 7...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sterling Silver
One of a kind diamond starfish enamel art 14KT gold
Located in Jupiter, FL
One of a kind strfish made with elements of enamel on 14KT gold and set with fine diamonds, this piece is made so well it will last you generations to come! CENTER STONE: NATURAL DI...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
0.40Ct Yellow Diamonds 18K Gold Starfish Stud Earrings by Rossella Ugolini Italy
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
0.40 Carats Yellow Diamonds 18K Gold Starfish Stud Earrings by Rossella Ugolini Made In Italy. Inspired by the delicate beauty of starfish, these 18K white gold stud earrings reinter...
Yellow Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Georgios Collections 18 Karat Yellow Gold Starfish Diamond Thin Band Ring
By Georgios Collections Inc
Located in Astoria, NY
This S.Georgios designer thin band ring is 18 Karat yellow gold and microscopically decorated with hand-made granulation workmanship, and finished with a unique contrast velvet look...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat White Gold Multi-Gemstone and Diamond Starfish Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Material: 14K white gold Diamond: 118 round brilliant cut = 0.67cttw Color: BLK / I Clarity: SI2 Amethyst, Tsavorite, Sapphire: 17 mixed cut = 2.82cttw Ring Size: 7 (please allow up ...
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, 14k Gold, White Gold
Retro Gold Natural Blue-Green Tourmaline & Diamond Starfish Ring Circa 1980
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Retro 18K yellow gold starfish motif ring showcasing a vivid blue-green tourmaline, accented with approximately 0.40 carats of 44 natural round brilliant colorless diamonds.
Tourmaline, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
0.62 Carat Natural Diamond Starfish Necklace 14 Karat White Gold
Located in New York, NY
100% Natural Diamonds, Not Enhanced in any way Round Cut Diamond Necklace with 18'' chain 0.62CT G-H SI 14K White Gold Pave style 4.20 gram 7/8 inch in height, 3/4 inch in wi...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold 0.40 Carat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini "Silhouette" Collection Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold 0.40 Carat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings. Starfish is a lucky charm that wishes regeneration and prot...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold 0.40 Carat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini Design Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings. These exquisite earrings are crafted in 18 karat white gold and adorned with 0.40 carat...
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1.20 Carat Natural Diamond Starfish Earrings GSI 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in New York, NY
1.20 Carat Natural Diamond Starfish Earrings G SI 14K Yellow Gold 100% Natural, Not Enhanced in any way Round Cut Diamond Earrings 1.20CT Color G-H Clarity SI ...
Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Small Diamond Starfish Stud Earrings Set in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in London, England
A lovely little pair of modern diamond set starfish earrings set in 18k yellow gold. Each stud earring is pave set throughout with 17 round brilliant cut diamonds. Due to their desi...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
White and Yellow Diamonds 18K White Gold Starfish Stud Earrings Made in Italy
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
18K White Gold White and Yellow Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings Made in Italy By Rossella Ugolini. These star-shaped earrings are inspired by starfish. Diameter: 19mm. Weight: 4 Gram...
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Gold Starfish Ring with Diamonds, Rubies & Sapphires in 18k Gold by Alex Soldier
By Alex Soldier
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Starfish Ring with Diamonds, Rubies & Sapphires in 18k Gold by Alex Soldier.
Pink Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Ruby, Diamond, Wh...
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 diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.
From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!
There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.
Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.
In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).
When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And 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.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.