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Stomacher Diamond

Mashallah Antique Rose Cut Diamond and Emerald Stomacher Brooch
Mashallah Antique Rose Cut Diamond and Emerald Stomacher Brooch

Mashallah Antique Rose Cut Diamond and Emerald Stomacher Brooch

Located in Geneva, CH

Impressive Stomacher Brooch set by Rose cut Diamond on silver and gold. Five Emerald Beads pending

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Egyptian Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald

Victorian Large Scale Rose Cut Diamond Brooch Pendant Stomacher
Victorian Large Scale Rose Cut Diamond Brooch Pendant Stomacher

Victorian Large Scale Rose Cut Diamond Brooch Pendant Stomacher

Located in Napoli, IT

Glorious Victorian Rare brooch , pendant or stomacher from the Victorian period – 1880 ca Glorious

Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Antique Edwardian 14K Gold & Silver Old Cut Diamond Openwork Stomacher Brooch
Antique Edwardian 14K Gold & Silver Old Cut Diamond Openwork Stomacher Brooch

Antique Edwardian 14K Gold & Silver Old Cut Diamond Openwork Stomacher Brooch

Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB

An antique diamond, silver, and yellow gold brooch/stomacher, comprising seventy-seven old and rose

Category

Early 20th Century Russian Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant
14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant

Located in New York, NY

eyes are set with black diamonds, while the stomach and legs are with white diamonds totaling 0.29

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant
14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant

Located in New York, NY

eyes are set with black diamonds, while the stomach and legs are with white diamonds totaling 0.29

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant Necklace
14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant Necklace

14K Yellow Gold Diamond Teddy Bear Pendant Necklace

Located in New York, NY

total weight of 7.3 grams, Including diamonds on the stomach and legs with dark diamond eyes for added

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 18th Century Iberian Emerald Cabochon & Rose-Cut Diamond Pendant/Brooch
Antique 18th Century Iberian Emerald Cabochon & Rose-Cut Diamond Pendant/Brooch

Antique 18th Century Iberian Emerald Cabochon & Rose-Cut Diamond Pendant/Brooch

Located in OVIEDO, AS

Antique 18Th Century Iberian Emerald Cabochon & Rose-Cut Diamond Pendant/Brooch Stomacher

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Spanish Georgian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique 18th/19th Century Rose-Cut Diamonds Devant de Corsage Silver Portuguese
Antique 18th/19th Century Rose-Cut Diamonds Devant de Corsage Silver Portuguese

Antique 18th/19th Century Rose-Cut Diamonds Devant de Corsage Silver Portuguese

Located in Lisbon, PT

Antique Late 18th / 19th Century rose-cut diamond devant de corsage or stomacher in closed-back

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Portuguese Georgian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Silver

1.50 Carat Round Brilliant Diamond and Ruby Yellow Gold Dancing Bear Brooch
1.50 Carat Round Brilliant Diamond and Ruby Yellow Gold Dancing Bear Brooch

1.50 Carat Round Brilliant Diamond and Ruby Yellow Gold Dancing Bear Brooch

Located in Chevy Chase, MD

gold dancing bear brooch. The bear is handcrafted in textured yellow gold, with an all Diamond stomach

Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Coral, Akoya Pearl, Diamond Mala / Prayer / Meditation Necklace 18 K YG
Vintage Coral, Akoya Pearl, Diamond Mala / Prayer / Meditation Necklace 18 K YG

Vintage Coral, Akoya Pearl, Diamond Mala / Prayer / Meditation Necklace 18 K YG

By Kiersten Elizabeth

Located in Southport, CT

of the disorders of the heart, breast, stomach, and reproductive organs. Diamond For Devine

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Beaded Necklaces

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Recent Sales

Victorian Diamond Stomacher Brooch
Victorian Diamond Stomacher Brooch

Victorian Diamond Stomacher Brooch

Located in New York City, NY

A fantastic and large silver and gold diamond stomacher brooch from the Victorian period. Highly

Category

Unknown Brooches

Materials

18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Spectacular Flaming Table Cut Diamond Stomacher Pendant Necklace
Spectacular Flaming Table Cut Diamond Stomacher Pendant Necklace

Spectacular Flaming Table Cut Diamond Stomacher Pendant Necklace

Located in Napoli, IT

aura to them and attractive magnetism It is the case with this truly spectacular Diamond large pendant

Category

Antique 1670s Renaissance Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Silver

Victorian Large Scale 8.0 Carat Rose Cut Diamond Brooch Pendant Stomacher
Victorian Large Scale 8.0 Carat Rose Cut Diamond Brooch Pendant Stomacher

Victorian Large Scale 8.0 Carat Rose Cut Diamond Brooch Pendant Stomacher

Located in Napoli, IT

Glorious Victorian Rare brooch , pendant or stomacher from the Victorian period – 1880 ca Glorious

Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold

Art Nouveau Gold and Platinum Stomacher Brooch, circa 1900
Art Nouveau Gold and Platinum Stomacher Brooch, circa 1900

Art Nouveau Gold and Platinum Stomacher Brooch, circa 1900

Unavailable

W 1.97 in D 0.2 in L 4.14 in

Art Nouveau Gold and Platinum Stomacher Brooch, circa 1900

Located in Paris, FR

Large unusual gold and platinum stomacher brooch. Openwork structure with latticed decor, leaves

Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Mellerio Stomacher Diamond Brooch
Mellerio Stomacher Diamond Brooch

Mellerio Stomacher Diamond Brooch

By Mellerio

Located in New Orleans, LA

diamond drops. Meant to draw the eye and elevate a woman’s ensemble and status, stomacher trembler

Category

Antique 19th Century French Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond

French Georgian 25.00 Carat Diamond Tremblant Stomacher Brooch
French Georgian 25.00 Carat Diamond Tremblant Stomacher Brooch

French Georgian 25.00 Carat Diamond Tremblant Stomacher Brooch

Located in New York, NY

Finely crafted in silver and 18k yellow gold with Old Mine and Rose cut diamonds weighing

Category

Antique 1830s French Georgian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

French Early 19th Century En Tremblant Diamond Pearl Stomacher Brooch
French Early 19th Century En Tremblant Diamond Pearl Stomacher Brooch

French Early 19th Century En Tremblant Diamond Pearl Stomacher Brooch

Located in Geneva, CH

Unique and Awesome En Tremblant Stomacher Brooch. Old-mine cut Diamond and Natural Pearl (not

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Silver

Diamond Pearl 18 Karat Gold Baroque Style Stomacher Enhancer Pendant Pin Brooch
Diamond Pearl 18 Karat Gold Baroque Style Stomacher Enhancer Pendant Pin Brooch

Diamond Pearl 18 Karat Gold Baroque Style Stomacher Enhancer Pendant Pin Brooch

Located in Philadelphia, PA

size. In the style of a Georgian stomacher or devant de corsage - worn on bodices in antique fashions

Category

Early 2000s Baroque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Diamond Pearl 18 Karat Gold Baroque Style Stomacher Enhancer Pendant Pin Brooch
Diamond Pearl 18 Karat Gold Baroque Style Stomacher Enhancer Pendant Pin Brooch

Diamond Pearl 18 Karat Gold Baroque Style Stomacher Enhancer Pendant Pin Brooch

Located in Philadelphia, PA

size. In the style of a Georgian stomacher or devant de corsage - worn on bodices in antique fashions

Category

Early 2000s Baroque Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

1890s antique Yellow Sapphire Diamond silver gold Tiara Stomacher Brooch

1890s antique Yellow Sapphire Diamond silver gold Tiara Stomacher Brooch

Located in Geneva, CH

A very high quality antique silver, gold 18k 750, Old-mine and rose-cut diamond tiara. Centered by

Category

Antique 1890s More Jewelry

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, Silver

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Victorian, 23.17 Carat Old Cushion Shape Diamond Earrings
Victorian, 23.17 Carat Old Cushion Shape Diamond Earrings

Victorian, 23.17 Carat Old Cushion Shape Diamond Earrings

Located in New York, NY

Stunning Victorian drop earrings! 36 gradual old European diamonds set in gold & silver in a circular shape & filigree workmanship, with estimated total weight of 8 carats Center di...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

1950s Mellerio dits Meller Paris Emerald Diamond Plat. Bracelet
1950s Mellerio dits Meller Paris Emerald Diamond Plat. Bracelet

1950s Mellerio dits Meller Paris Emerald Diamond Plat. Bracelet

By Mellerio dits Meller

Located in New York, NY

This Estate bracelet by Mellerio features five stunning Emerald-cut Emeralds float within a braid of baguette and round brilliant-cut Diamonds, in a platinum setting. This unique bra...

Category

Vintage 1950s French Retro Retro Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Platinum Burmese 25 Ct Ruby No Heat Necklace- His Majesty Qaboos Bin Said Estate
Platinum Burmese 25 Ct Ruby No Heat Necklace- His Majesty Qaboos Bin Said Estate

Platinum Burmese 25 Ct Ruby No Heat Necklace- His Majesty Qaboos Bin Said Estate

Located in Antwerp, BE

Platinum Burmese 25 Ct Ruby No Heat Necklace to His Majesty Qaboos Bin Said Estate Qaboos bin Said Al Said was Sultan of Oman from 23 July 1970 until his death in 2020 Completely h...

Category

20th Century French Artisan Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Van Cleef & Arpels Oval Sapphires and Baguette Diamond Bracelet Circa - 1938
Van Cleef & Arpels Oval Sapphires and Baguette Diamond Bracelet Circa - 1938

Van Cleef & Arpels Oval Sapphires and Baguette Diamond Bracelet Circa - 1938

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in New York, NY

Van Cleef & Arpels Bracelet of Oval Sapphires Surrounded by Baguette Diamonds Which Embrace the Sapphires. 15 Oval No Heat Sapphires Consisting of, 6 - Kashmir, 8- Burma, 1 - Ceylon....

Category

Vintage 1930s Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

1940s French Set of Diamond and Burma No Heat Ruby Necklace and Earrings
1940s French Set of Diamond and Burma No Heat Ruby Necklace and Earrings

1940s French Set of Diamond and Burma No Heat Ruby Necklace and Earrings

Located in New York, NY

1940's French Diamond and Ruby Necklace and Earrings Set The necklace has approximately 75ct of rubies and 40-42ct of diamonds all set in Platinum, and the clasps are white gold. The...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

An Important Giuliano Renaissance-Revival Brooch
An Important Giuliano Renaissance-Revival Brooch

An Important Giuliano Renaissance-Revival Brooch

By Giuliano

Located in London, GB

An important Giuliano Renaissance-Revival gold and enamel gem-set brooch, the brooch decorated with the figure of Venus enamelled en ronde bosse, holding up a diamond-set mirror and ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 1996 “Dante” Brown Blazer Skirt Suit w/ Hair + Birth Label
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 1996 “Dante” Brown Blazer Skirt Suit w/ Hair + Birth Label

ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 1996 “Dante” Brown Blazer Skirt Suit w/ Hair + Birth Label

By Alexander McQueen

Located in Thiensville, WI

ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 1996 “Dante” Brown Blazer Skirt Suit w/ Hair + Birth Label Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: A/W 1996 “Dante”-Runway look #37 (skirt) Designe...

Category

1990s Italian Skirt Suits

Pierre Balmain Couture Ballgown  1955 Iconic Gown Dress
Pierre Balmain Couture Ballgown  1955 Iconic Gown Dress

Pierre Balmain Couture Ballgown 1955 Iconic Gown Dress

By Pierre Balmain

Located in Berlin, BE

'La Robe Broderie À Ramages' PIERRE BALMAIN PARIS Made In France, ca.1955 Majestic evening gown in silk and cream satin with the most astonishing embroiderery by PIERRE BALMAIN Haut...

Category

1950s French Evening Dresses and Gowns

Cartier Tutti Frutti Bangle
Cartier Tutti Frutti Bangle

Cartier Tutti Frutti Bangle

$160,000Sale Price|20% Off

Cartier Tutti Frutti Bangle

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

A masterpiece of design and craftsmanship, this Tutti Frutti Bangle by Cartier Paris, created in 1947, captures one of Cartier’s rarest and most celebrated motifs. Inspired by Jacque...

Category

20th Century French Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany & Co. Edwardian Diamond Crescent Brooch
Tiffany & Co. Edwardian Diamond Crescent Brooch

Tiffany & Co. Edwardian Diamond Crescent Brooch

By Tiffany & Co.

Located in New York, NY

This diamond crescent brooch by Tiffany & Co. New York dates from circa 1890-1900. The delicate crescent is set with 21 old European and old mine-cut diamonds mounted in platinum-top...

Category

Early 20th Century American Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

New Atelier Versace Wisteria Purple Silk Fully Beaded Dress Gown
New Atelier Versace Wisteria Purple Silk Fully Beaded Dress Gown

New Atelier Versace Wisteria Purple Silk Fully Beaded Dress Gown

By Atelier Versace

Located in Montgomery, TX

Atelier Versace Wisteria Purple Fully Beaded Silk Dress Gown Designer size 42 ( run smaller - measurements provided ) 100% Silk Wisteria Purple Dress with Tulle Fully Embellished Ove...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Gowns

Bulgari Burma Ruby and Diamond Bypass Ring
Bulgari Burma Ruby and Diamond Bypass Ring

Bulgari Burma Ruby and Diamond Bypass Ring

By Bulgari

Located in New Orleans, LA

This exquisite Bulgari "Toi et Moi" ring, meaning "you and me" in French, displays both the finest gemstones and the exceptional craftsmanship of the renowned jeweler. The bypass rin...

Category

20th Century Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

IGI Platinum Ascher Cut 31.5 ct Diamonds Cuff Bracelet to H.M.Qaboos Bin Said
IGI Platinum Ascher Cut 31.5 ct Diamonds Cuff Bracelet to H.M.Qaboos Bin Said

IGI Platinum Ascher Cut 31.5 ct Diamonds Cuff Bracelet to H.M.Qaboos Bin Said

Located in Antwerp, BE

IGI Certified Platinum Ascher Cut 31.5 ct Diamonds Cuff Bracelet to His Majesty Qaboos Bin Said Qaboos bin Said was Sultan of Oman from 23 July 1970 until his death in 2020 Comple...

Category

20th Century Unknown Artisan Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Tiffany & Co. Diamond Bow Brooch
Tiffany & Co. Diamond Bow Brooch

Tiffany & Co. Diamond Bow Brooch

$32,500

W 1.25 in L 2.5 in

Tiffany & Co. Diamond Bow Brooch

By Tiffany & Co.

Located in New York, NY

Dating from circa 1997, this 18K gold Tiffany & Co. bow brooch is set with over 7 carats of diamonds. It is designed as a highly three dimensional bow of five loops pavé-set througho...

Category

Late 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Folie des Pres Broderie Diamond Gold Earrings & Ring Set
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Folie des Pres Broderie Diamond Gold Earrings & Ring Set

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Folie des Pres Broderie Diamond Gold Earrings & Ring Set

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in New York, NY

This impressive Van Cleef & Arpels clip-on earrings and ring Demi-Parure set from the floral Folie des Près is crafted in 18k white gold and set round pink sapphires, marquise tsavor...

Category

Early 2000s Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

CARTIER Paris 1928 Art Deco Bracelet In Platinum With 19.86 Cts In Diamonds
CARTIER Paris 1928 Art Deco Bracelet In Platinum With 19.86 Cts In Diamonds

CARTIER Paris 1928 Art Deco Bracelet In Platinum With 19.86 Cts In Diamonds

By Cartier

Located in Miami, FL

An art deco bracelet designed by Cartier Paris. This is an absolutely fabulous bracelet, created in Paris France during the high art deco period by the jewelry house of Cartier, bac...

Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

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Stomacher Diamond For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact stomacher diamond you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, Silver and 18k Gold — can elevate any look. You’re likely to find the perfect stomacher diamond among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 18th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Take a look at a stomacher diamond featuring Diamond from our inventory today to add the perfect touch to your look. A rose cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also antique cushion cut and old european cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for a stomacher diamond, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Stomacher Diamond?

On average, a stomacher diamond at 1stDibs sells for $22,000, while they’re typically $6,500 on the low end and $135,000 for the highest priced versions of this item.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

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.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

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 ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.