Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 2.53 carats with Diamond 0.26 carat Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 1.6 cm
2010s Thai Art Deco Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 2.53 carats with Diamond 0.26 carat Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 1.6 cm
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
$1,035Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Ruby, Amethyst & Multi Sapphire Ring - 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Ruby, Amethyst & Multi Sapphire Cocktail Ring in 18K Gold & Silver A
Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Sapphire and Diamond Antique Style Cocktail Ring in 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
A stunning blend of elegance and intricate artistry. A round sapphire set in a sleek bezel takes
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,275Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Multi Fancy Sapphire Ring Set 18K & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Multi Fancy Sapphire Cocktail Ring Set 18K & Silver Natural rubies
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...
Emerald with Pink Sapphire Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Emerald 1.15 carats with Pink Sapphire 1.10 carat Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 1.4 cm
Emerald, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Yellow Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Yellow Sapphire 6.16 carats with Diamond 0.71 carat Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 1.6 cm
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
Blue Sapphire Eternity Ring set in 18K White Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 0.25 carat Eternity Ring set in 18K White Gold Settings Width: 2.0 cm Length: 0.1
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Orange Sapphire with Diamond Ring in 18K White Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Orange Sapphire 3.76 carats with Diamond 1.08 carats Ring in 18K White Gold Settings Width: 0.9
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Yellow Sapphire and Emerald Ring set in 18K Gold Setting
Located in Bangkok, TH
Yellow Sapphire 1.01 carats and Emerald 8.12 carats Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 1.1 cm
Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Sapphire, Blue Topaz & Emerlad Ring 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Sapphire, Blue Topaz & Ruby Ring 18K Gold & Silver Center Natural
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Top...
Blue Sapphire Eternity Ring Set in 18 Karat White Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 1.01 carat Eternity Ring set in 18 Karat White Gold Settings Width: 2.0 cm Length
Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Pink Sapphire, Ceylon Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring set in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
Pink Sapphire 1.24 carats, Ceylon Blue Sapphire 1.41 carats and Diamond 0.40 carat Ring set in 18K
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Royal Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Royal Blue Sapphire 9.66 carats with Diamond 2.37 carats Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings Width
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Unheated Color Change Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond Ring in 18K Rose Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
Ring set in 18K Rose Gold Settings (Certified by GIT: The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand) Width
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Blue Sapphire Ring Set in 18 Karat White Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 1.33 carats Ring set in 18 Karat White Gold Settings Width: 0.9 cm Length: 0.8 cm
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Blue Sapphire Ring Set in 18 Karat Rose Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 1.13 carats Ring set in 18 Karat Rose Gold Settings Width: 0.9 cm Length: 1.1 cm
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Blue Sapphire Ring Set in 18 Karat Rose Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 1.37 carat Ring set in 18 Karat Rose Gold Settings Width: 1.9 cm Length: 0.4 cm
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
14K Yellow Gold Diamond and Blue Sapphire Vintage Style Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
to order Origin: Thailand Metal: Solid 14K Yellow Gold Ring Size: US 3-8 Total Gemstones Weight: 0.57
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
$1,447Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Flamenco” Opal & Multi Fancy Color Sapphires Cocktail Ring 18K Gold
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Flamenco” Opal & Multi Fancy Color Sapphires Cocktail Ring 18K Gold Opal - 12 Carat
Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Cylon Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Cylon Blue Sapphire 8.40 carats with Diamond 1.16 carats Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings Width
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Royal Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Royal Blue Sapphire 3.77 carats with Diamond 0.36 carat Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings Width
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Blue Sapphire with Cubic Zirconia Ring set in 14k Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 0.60 carat with Cubic Zirconia Ring set in 14k Gold Settings Width: 1.0 cm Length
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Ceylon Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Ceylon Blue Sapphire 6.17 carats with Diamond 0.65 carat Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 1.3
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
$225Sale Price|50% Off
Vintage Sterling Silver 1.76ct Black Star Sapphire & Quartz Ring, Size 7.5
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
A sleek sterling silver ring showcasing a 1.76ct strong black star sapphire with a sharp six‑ray
Star Sapphire, Black Star, Quartz, Sterling Silver
Royal Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Royal Blue Sapphire 5.02 carats with Diamond 0.93 carat Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Blue Sapphire Ring with Engraving Set in 18 Karat Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 3.99 carats Ring set in 18 Karat Gold Settings Width: 3.1 cm Length: 1.0 cm Ring
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Round Blue Sapphire with Diamond Ring Set in Platinum 950 Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 1.49 carats with Diamond 0.34 carats Ring set in Platinum 950 Settings Width: 0.7
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Multi Sapphire Cocktail Ring Set 18K Gold&Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Natural Ruby & Multi Sapphire Cocktail Ring Set In 18K Gold&Silver Natural
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Orloff of Denmark, Smoky Quartz & Yellow Sapphire Statement Ring - 925 Silver
Located in Hua Hin, TH
total of 0.50 carats of Yellow Sapphires. Introducing a striking 925 silver statement ring that
Quartz, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Sapphire Diamond Art Deco Style Engagement Ring in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
A deep, captivating sapphire takes center stage, surrounded by a halo of shimmering diamonds that
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
$1,072Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Natural Sapphire & Emerald Ring Set In 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Natural Sapphire & Emerald Ring 18K Yellow Gold & Silver – Signed A commanding
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
$1,350Sale Price|55% Off
18k Gold 0.90ct Oval Blue Sapphire & 0.50ct Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
This beautiful engagement band ring boasts a fine oval blue sapphire! The sapphire is an oval cut
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
$967Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Sapphire & Orange Citrine Ring Set In 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Natural Sapphire & Orange Citrine Cocktail Ring Set In 18K Yellow Gold
Citrine, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Blue Sapphire Ring 18K White Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 4.92 carats Ring 18K White Gold Settings Width: 1.7 cm Length: 0.8 cm Ring Size
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
$8,500Sale Price|50% Off
18K White Gold 2.46ct Vivid Blue Sapphire & 0.34ct Diamond Ring
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
band fine ring boasts an astonishingly beautiful oval cut blue sapphire! The sapphire has some natural
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
$1,424Sale Price|20% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Fancy Sapphires & Tourmaline Ring Set 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Fancy Sapphires & Tourmaline Ring Set 18K Gold & Silver Natural
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Silver
$1,386Sale Price|30% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Fancy Sapphire & Tanzanite Ring Set 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Blue & Fancy Sapphire & Tanzanite Cocktail Ring Set In 18K Gold & Silver
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire,...
$7,500Sale Price|50% Off
18K White Gold 2.10ctw Blue Sapphire & 1.35ctw Diamond Ballerina Ring
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
This amazing vintage ballerina statement ring boasts an oval vivid blue sapphire of 2.10 carats
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
9K Yellow Gold Solid Sapphire and Diamond Vintage Style Floral Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
This sapphire and diamond vintage-style floral ring blossoms with timeless elegance, featuring a
Sapphire, Diamond, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,335Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Panthere Emerald & Sapphire Ring Set In 18K White Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Panthère Emerald & Sapphire Ring in 18K White Gold & Silver An extraordinary and
Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
$4,450Sale Price|50% Off
18K White Gold 1.50ctw Pink Sapphire & 0.77ctw Diamond Ballerina Ring
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
This amazing vintage ballerina statement ring boasts a stunning oval purplish pink sapphire of
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Cocktail Ring in 18k White Gold
Located in Hong Kong, HK
A masterclass in high jewelry design, this extraordinary ring brings together three of the most
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Blue Sapphire Ring Set in 18 Karat White Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 2.44 carats with Blue Sapphire 2.57 carats Ring set in 18 Karat White Gold Settings
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
18K Gold 1.09ct Oval Pink Sapphire & 0.14ct Brilliant Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
: Natural, round brilliant cut, VS-SI, G-H, 0.14 total carats Ring Face height (face of sapphire) = 7.00 mm
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Blue Sapphire & Tsavorite Garnet Ring 18k Gold by Kavant & Sharart
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 1.34 carats with Tsavorite 0.65 carat and Blue Sapphire 0.79 carat Ring set in 18
Garnet, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
Sapphire and Diamond Classic Style Engagement Ring in 18K Yellow Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
A vivid Sapphire at the center, set in a classic bezel. Surrounded by a striking target-style halo
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Pink Sapphire with Diamond Ring set in 18K White Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Pink Sapphire 2.59 carats with Diamond 0.37 carat Ring set in 18K White Gold Settings Width: 1.7
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Emerald with Pink Sapphire Ring set in 18K Rose Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Emerald 2.20 carats with Pink Sapphire 2.29 carats Ring set in 18K Rose Gold Settings Width: 1.3
Emerald, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
$4,450Sale Price|50% Off
18K White Gold 2.25ct Blue Sapphire & 0.74ct Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
This beautiful cocktail fine ring boasts an astonishingly beautiful oval cut blue sapphire! The
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
$933Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Natural Opal & Sapphire Ring Set In 18K & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Natural Opal & Sapphire Ring Set In 18K & Silver Natural Oval
Opal, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
14K Yellow Gold Peridot and White Sapphire Vintage Style Engagement Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
A vibrant emerald cut peridot shines at the center of this vintage-style ring, radiating fresh
Peridot, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,072Sale Price|20% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Panthere Emerald & Sapphire Ring Set 18K White Gold &
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Panthere Emerald & Sapphire Ring Set In 18K White Gold & Silver Fantastic
Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold, Silver
$1,312Sale Price|30% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby, Tourmaline & Sapphires Cocktail Ring 18K & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby, Tourmaline & Sapphires Cocktail Ring Set 18K White Gold & Silver
Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Silver
9K Yellow Gold Blue and White Sapphire Vintage Style Band Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
This vintage-inspired ring features two square-cut blue sapphires, deep and mysterious like
Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Aquamarine, Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Aquamarine 5.27 carats, Pink Sapphire 1.46 carats and Diamond 0.41 carat Ring set in 18K Gold
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Blue Sapphire with Yellow Diamond Ring set in 18K Gold Settings
Located in Bangkok, TH
Blue Sapphire 1.82 carats with Yellow Diamond 0.42 carat Ring set in 18K Gold Settings Width: 1.2
Yellow Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
$1,050Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Fancy Sapphire & Blue Topaz Cocktail Ring — 18K Gold & S
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Multi Fancy Sapphire & Blue Topaz Cocktail Ring — 18K Gold & Silver Signed
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Topaz, Blue To...
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.
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (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.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire 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.
Whether or not a sapphire ring is a good investment will depend upon a range of factors such as condition, rarity and more. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. (Kashmir is the birthplace of the most famous sapphires.) According to the Geological Institute of America, the stones from this mountainous region on the India-Pakistan border display a potent combination of a rich, intense blue color and a soft and velvety appearance.
Sapphires can be colorless, or white, although examples are very rare, since the corundum from which they are formed has to have been untouched by any other element. Non-blue colored sapphires are referred to as “fancy sapphires” and can be pink, purple, orange, yellow or green. The rarest, and the most valuable, fancy sapphire is the pinkish-orange padparadscha (from the Sinhalese word for “lotus blossom”).
Determining the value of any collectible depends upon a variety of aspects. In the case of assessing the value of an antique or vintage sapphire ring, as with other gems, the 4Cs are crucial. The 4Cs is the grading system established by the GIA to determine how precious stones are evaluated. The 4Cs are color, clarity, cut and carat weight. The most desirable cut is the one that shows to best advantage the particular stone’s individual combination of color, clarity, and brilliance.
At 1stDibs, we believe in buying what you love. Our shopping experience enables discovery and learning, whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or just beginning your collection. Buyers should keep in mind that the value of any investment is subject to fluctuation, and any investment decisions should be made according to the guidance of a financial advisor. Find a range of antique and vintage sapphire rings on 1stDibs.
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