Stephen Dweck Bronze Ring

Stephen Dweck is known as the “romancer of the stones” for his bold use of faceted gemstones and semiprecious stones in silver settings. The Brooklyn-born jeweler is inspired by a deep love of nature, handpicking gemstones and minerals, such as moonstones and white quartz, from around the world to create colorful, sculptural necklaces, earrings and other pieces that have been worn by the likes of Drew Barrymore and Barbara Walters.

“I use stones as an artist works with paints,” Dweck once told Robb Report. By selecting stones for their color, shape and other features, rather than just their value, no two pieces are alike, and each reflects a distinctive vision.

Dweck, who studied sculpture at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, founded his eponymous house with a collection of stone bangles in 1981. He continues to operate his family-run business in the working-class neighborhood of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. While his rings and other accessories can be found in major department stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, he also consults with clients on special commissions from his atelier. Among his most unique details are the small “Adam” silver and bronze beetles that often adorn his pieces.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the scene — a few decades of operation is the blink of an eye in the jewelry world — Dweck’s pieces are already in impressive collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Dallas Museum of Art in Texas. They’ve also been seen on screen in such shows as Fox’s Empire.

Find a collection of vintage Stephen Dweck 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.