Stefan Hefner

Stefan Hafner is a fine jewelry house with deep roots in European design, combining Swiss precision with Italian craftsmanship. Bringing imagination to life in striking jeweled art, this luxury brand collaborates with an eclectic and acclaimed team of goldsmiths, fashion designers, graphic artists and photographers to create a magnificent catalog of baubles and bijoux of the highest quality. Stefan Hafner earrings, necklaces and other accessories merge astonishing design conceptualization with astute creativity.

Stefan Hafner opened in 1967 in Bologna, Italy, and was named after its Italian founder. Hafner displayed an early, keen interest in the beauty of jeweled art. He marveled at what could be achieved through technical experimentation and precious metals and gems. Hafner earned a name for himself by traveling the world with his designers, personally attending to the jewelry needs of royal families. Above all, he paid close attention to his clients’ desires and dreams.

Stefan Hafner’s collections often pay homage to masterful artists. The Venus collection was inspired by the Birth of Venus, the Renaissance painting by Botticelli, while the Monet ring collection pays tribute to the Water Lilies series of paintings by Impressionist artist Claude Monet.

Others are influenced by nature or materials. The Rugiada collection captures the elegance of morning dewdrops, and the Tulle collection references the delicate fabric in a graceful range of white gold and diamond necklaces, chandelier earrings and cocktail rings.

The luxury house’s modernist jewelry has achieved many prestigious awards, including the Best Design in Diamonds which it received three years in a row at the JCK Couture Jewelry Show in Las Vegas, where it also was honored with the Best Design in Show award in 2011.

On 1stDibs, find Stefan Hafner necklaces, earrings, rings and other jewelry.

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.